Art & Architecture
One the topic of art, many pieces of jewelry of gold and lapis existed, created by precise craftsmen, and worn by mostly the wealthy. The Sumerians of the area are also attributed with creating the wheel which allowed them to create beautiful pieces of pottery with intricate designs etched on them. Statues of the various gods of the area were also created and existed to decorate the homes of individuals and the ziggurats to the gods. Speaking of ziggurats, they were the first examples of monumental architecture within this area, and expressed the beliefs of the people towards their gods. They were often placed in the center of the city and the areas surrounding them served as a sort of hub area for daily life within the walls. The Babylonians were said to have constructed one of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Its existence is still highly debated, but legend says that King Nebuchadnezzar built this wonder for his wife whose homeland was Media in which the vegetation was much more lush and green. If it did exist, a number of pumps and waterwheels would be required to make it work and that would be an architectural achievement in and of itself.