Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/70

34 General History of Europe history. It was he who carried away many Hebrews from Pales- tine to Babylonia as captives and destroyed Jerusalem, their capital (586 B.C.). Copying much from Assyria, Nebuchadnezzar was able to sur- pass even his Assyrian predecessors in the splendor of the great buildings which he now erected at Babylon (see plan, Ancient Times, p. 165). Masses of rich tropical verdure, rising in terrace GLAZED BRICK DECORATION FROM NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S PALACE AT BABYLON The above lion figure adorned the wall of the throne room in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar at Babylon (48). It is made of glazed brick in the brightest colors, which produced a gorgeous effect as architectural adorn- ment. This art arose in Egypt, passed thence to Assyria and Babylonia, and was then adopted by the Persians above terrace, crowned the roof of the gorgeous imperial palace, forming lofty roof gardens. Here in the cool shade of palms and ferns the great king might enjoy his leisure hours, looking down upon the splendors of his city. These roof gardens were the mysterious "Hanging Gardens" of Babylon, whose fame spread far into the West, until they were reckoned among the Seven Wonders of the World by the Greeks. The city was immensely extended by Nebuchadnezzar, and enormous fortified walls were built to protect it. It was this Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar which has become familiar to all Christian peoples as the great city of the Hebrew captivity ( 64). So little survives of all the glories