Book Review: Die Hängenden Gärten von Babylon by S. Schweizer
I came across this German book on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in a local castle gift shop. “It”Die Hängenden Gärten von Babylon” was written by Stefan Schweizer, a professor of European garden design in Düsseldorf, Germany. I was intrigued by the cover and the title as I had done some research on gardens in Mesopotamia a long time ago.
What I liked
The book is well written and includes chapters on the myths surrounding the Hanging Gardens, the visual history of their depiction, and several chapters on actual Hanging Gardens around the world, including the most recent ones. The author begins with the premise of what a hanging garden actually is: An elevated garden where plants are planted in the open ground and not confined to pots. This definition runs throughout the book, defining what does and does not count as a hanging garden.
What I found most interesting was his historical approach to gardens (as opposed to the archaeological one I had been following). This book is therefore a very good place to start researching gardens in Mesopotamia in general. It is especially the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and Semiramis (the reputed creator of one of the Seven Wonders of the World) in particular. I also liked his geographical approach, describing various hanging gardens around the world and their inspiration, especially in the Renaissance.
What I didn’t like
Well, I suppose his historical approach can also be disliked, as he rarely uses archaeological sources. He briefly touches on the research done by Stephanie Dalley , where she located the Hanging Gardens in Niniveh, not Babylon. I also reviewed one of her books. However, he dismisses her work very quickly. I’m not saying he isn’t right, but he only mentions Dalley’s approach as one that rejects all historical sources and dismisses her archaeological ones in the same way.
I also think that the end of the book is not the strongest part. Especially in the last chapter (but also before that) the author just lists building after building. He describes their connection to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It feels more as if the author wanted to make sure he included everything he found, rather than picking a few examples to make a point. I could be wrong though, and his descriptions of the Italian villas in particular were very interesting.
My verdict
The book is well written (although only in German) and especially the first half is very interesting to read. The author’s attention to detail is also positive, especially in his citation of historical sources. If you are interested in the Hanging Gardens, I would definitely recommend reading this book. But don’t forget to read Stephanie Dalley’s work as well. It does not answer the question of whether the Hanging Gardens were from Babylon or Nineveh. However, the subject is generally interesting. It also deals with the history of research and the reception of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon… or Nineveh…
