At night, a huge fire guided sailors. It is said that the mirror reflection from the lighthouse could be seen for more that 35 miles offshore. Two earthquakes, in 1303 and 1323, severely damaged the lighthouse. In 1480, the stone and marble of the lighthouse was used to build a fort on the same spot where the lighthouse had stood. There is a great deal of controversy concerning the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Some historians doubt that they ever existed and are merely an invention of ancient storytellers.
Supposedly built around 600 BC, it is said that these gardens were located on the east bank of the Euphrates River, which also served to irrigate the gardens. This site is what is known now as Baghdad, Iraq. It is also said that they were built by King Nebuchadnezzar for one of his favorite wives, who was particularly fond of exotic trees and foliage. The Hanging Gardens are usually depicted as having multiple terraces and waterfalls in which all types of exotic plants and flowers were grown. It is believed that exotic animals were also imported to this location.