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The word “paradise” derives from an Akkadian and Persian word (pardesu is Akkadian) and (paridayda is Old Persian). <ref> For more on the origins of the term "paradise" and its meaning, see: Bockmuehl, Markus N. A. 2010. Paradise in Antiquity: Jewish and Christian Views. Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge Univ. Press.</ref> The term seems to specifically deal with structures or enclosures, perhaps associated with the walled gardens of temples discussed earlier. Soon, however, these gardens began to be found in other areas, including palaces or as pleasure gardens for royalty. The concept of gardens in Persia continue and are spread to the different Persian empires, such as the Achaemenids, Parthians, and Sassanians, who eventually influence Islamic states and empire. We can still see these gardens as they were envisioned by the Persians today (Figure 3).

With the arrival of the Greeks in the Near East at the time of Alexander the Great, the Akkadian/Persian term is utilized by the Greeks, who now associate this term as a garden with animals. <ref>For more on the Greek concept of gardens and paradise, see: Aben, Rob, and Saskia de Wit. 1999. The Enclosed Garden: History and Development of the Hortus Conclusus and Its Reintroduction into the Present-Day Urban Landscape. Rotterdam: 010 Publishers. Pg. 249.</ref> This perhaps reflects the change that these gardens underwent, from generally being associated with temple architecture to also becoming royal parks enclosed in areas for the king. This concept of royal garden then develops further in Rome and spreads to Europe.