Definition: Nebuchadnezzar (King Nebuchadnezzar II) (605-562) was the son of Nabopolassar, the Chaldean restorer of Babylonian independence. Nebuchadnezzar
was the most important king of the Second Babylonian or Neo-Babylonian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar restored old religious monuments and improved canals, as other Babylonian kings had done, but Nebuchadnezzar is best known for his legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. The Hanging Gardens were on a terrace supported by brick arches. Nebuchadnezzar's building projects included surrounding his capital city with a double wall 10-miles long with an elaborate entry called the Ishtar Gate. He also built a port on the Persian Gulf.
In 597, Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, deposed King Jehoiakim, and put Zedekiah on the throne, instead. [See Clay Bulla Documents Biblical Hebrew King.] Many leading Hebrew families were exiled at this time.
Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Cimmerians and Scythians [see Tribes of the Steppes] and then turned west, again, conquering Western Syria and destroying Jerusalem in 586. Nebuchadnezzar put down a rebellion under Zedekiah, whom he had installed, and exiled more Jews. Nebuchadnezzar took the inhabitants of Jerusalem prisoner and brought them to Babylon, for which reason this period in Biblical history is referred to as the Babylonian captivity.
See: Neo-Babylonian Dynasty.
Nebuchadnezzar is on the list of Most Important People to Know in Ancient History.
Also Known As: Nebuchadnezzar the Great
Alternate Spellings: Nabu-kudurri-usur, Nebuchadrezzar, Nabuchodonosor
Examples:
Sources for Nebuchadnezzar include various books of the Bible (e.g., Ezekial and Daniel) and Berosus (Hellenistic Babylonian writer).
