Nebuchadnezzar II was King of Babylon. His victory at Karkemis (605 B.c.) on the Egyptians and the taking of Jerusalem (587 a, c) ensured it the dominance of Syria and Palestine. He kept the Jews deported in captivity in Babylon.During his reign he beautified Babylon with hanging gardens and ordered the construction of the Tower of Babel (mentioned in the Bible). His story inspired the composer Verdi to write the opera's four acts quot; Nabuco quot; famous worldwide.
