The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most alluring of all the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They are also the most mysterious of them all, in every sense of the word. The questions of when they were built, who built them, where they stood, what form they took, and even whether they ever really existed at all have been vexing historians and archaeologists for centuries. This book, a shorter installment in the Wonders of the World series, peels back the layers of myth and fact that surround this vivid vision of Oriental decadence. Within its pages, you'll explore dusty ancient texts and crumbling ancient ruins alongside those who have tried to solve the mystery in years past, before meeting the modern scholar who believes she has actually done so. And you'll explore the fascinating culture and history of Mesopotamia, the birthplace of human civilization, the only place that could have given birth to a legend as tempting, as almost primally evocative, as that of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.