Nebuchadnezzar was King of Babylon from 605 to 562 BCE, succeeding his father, Nabopolassar. It was he who destroyed Jerusalem in 586 and forced the Jews into captivity in Babylon. He was also a builder on a monumental scale, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

One legend of his childhood states that he was so ugly when he was born that his parents "had no choice but to expose him" (that is, leave him alone in the wild for the animals to eat), but he was saved by a dog who nursed him three times a day until he was rescued by people (compare: Oedipus).

References

Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1993-97
Encyclopaedia Judaica, edited by Cecil Roth. (Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House, 1971)
David, Rosalie, and David, Antony E. A Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. (London: Seaby, 1992)
Omidsalar, Mahmoud, and Omidsalar, Teresa P. "The Dog." Available at: http://www.iranian.com/Sep96/Iranica/Dogs/Dogs.html
Jones, Tom B. "Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylonia {neb-uh-kuhd-nez'-ur}." Available at: http://www.wwco.com/religion/believe/nebuchadnezzar.html

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