10 Lost Cities The Uncharted Film Could Explore

3. The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon

Nathan Drake Paititi
Maarten van Heemskerck / Public domain

Not a city, per se, but a glorious ancient marvel, nonetheless.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and are the only one of the seven to have their very existence disputed. Some legends say they were built by Nebuchadnezzar II between 605 and 562 BCE, while others say they were built by Queen Semiramis in the 9th century BCE.

Either way, the descriptions are glorious. According to the stories, the gardens were built upon a tiered citadel some 12,000 feet in circumference. It was comprised of vaulted terraces built upon other vaulted terraces, with the uppermost level standing around 75 feet tall.

Each level was supported by square-shaped pillars, each of which were hollow and filled with soil, intended to feed the trees planted upon them. The entire complex was surrounded by a river, from which it drew its water.

If they wanted, the filmmakers could build the story -- and the Gardens -- around the Tablet of Destinies, a clay tablet from Mesopotamian mythology, said to grant control over the power of creation and destruction. What villain wouldn't want that? And what hero wouldn't want to stop them?

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Dustin is your friendly neighborhood historian, nerd culture enthusiast, and professional wise-ass. Some of his favorite pastimes include writing, philosophizing, and antagonizing stupid people.