Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar II first captured Jerusalem in 597 BCE, deposing King Jehoiachin and installing Zedekiah as a vassal. This initial conquest began the Babylonian domination of Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar II's Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's Temple, and deported many Jews to Babylon. This event, known as the Babylonian Captivity, reshaped Jewish religious and national identity.

Nebuchadnezzar II is traditionally credited with building the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The gardens were a terraced structure with exotic plants, though their existence is debated.

Nebuchadnezzar II built the Ishtar Gate, a monumental entrance to Babylon decorated with glazed bricks depicting lions and dragons. The gate symbolized Babylonian power and was part of his extensive building program.