Sammuramat, or Semiramis, was the Queen of Assyria and the legendary wife of Nimrod. Of mythical proportions in her day, Sammuramat is almost forgotten in today’s history. She was famed for her beauty, and even more so for her military insight that won many battles and conquered many cities. Some believe her to have begun goddess worship, with herself as the original Ishtar, Aphrodite, Hera, etc. As legend and truth are hard to distinguish separately from that time period, what we do know about her may not even be accurate.

Legend has it that she was born in the desert and raised by doves... historical fact mentions that the widow of King Shamshi-Adad V reigned for three years on the throne of Babylon... The way the Greeks have it, Semiramis was the wife of Biblical Nimrod of Assyria/ Sumeria, and was astoundingly beautiful and men were driven to madness by the sight of her beauty. She was discovered by shepherds after being raised by the doves, and the King’s advisor, Menos, passing through for inspections, noticed her charms and took her and married her.

After Menos had one day sent for her on the battlefield, Semiramis displayed her military genius by attacking the flank of the besieged city with mountaineers, therefore winning the city for the king. King Ninus was so impressed that he first coaxed and then coerced Menos to give Semiramis to him, after which Menos commited suicide.

That may have been the first of Ninus' two biggest mistakes in judgment. The second came when Semiramis, now Queen of Babylon, convinced Ninus to make her "Regent for just one Day." After He agreed and Semiramis was crowned over him, she had him executed and continued to rule forcefully and intelligently for the next 42 years.

During her reign she is credited with both numerous military conquests and the hanging gardens of Babylon. Her life ended when her son from Ninus, Ninyas, came against her and killed her, taking over the throne.

Semiramis/ Sammu-ramat was described in many legends as both exceedingly beautiful and exceedingly cruel. She was deified by the ancient Chaldeans, and led them down a path increasingly dark and corrupt.