Nebuchadnezzar (or Nebuchadrezzar II) (c. 630–c. 562 BC)

A lion and a mythical creature of Babylon, depicted on coloured glazed bricks. Babylon, the capital of ancient Babylonia, was a magnificent city under Nebuchadnezzar I.

King of Babylonia from 605 BC. Shortly before his accession he defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish and brought Palestine and Syria into his empire. Judah revolted, with Egyptian assistance, in 596 and 587–586 BC; on both occasions he captured Jerusalem and took many Hebrews into captivity. He largely rebuilt Babylon and constructed the hanging gardens.