How did Sennacherib use canals and irrigation to support gardens around Nineveh?

To support the extensive gardens and plantations of fruit and exotic trees he established around Nineveh, Sennacherib implemented a sophisticated and innovative system of irrigation.12

When the local Tigris and Khosr rivers provided insufficient water, Sennacherib’s engineers diverted water from springs and streams in the hills north of the city. This water was transported via an elaborate network of 18 canals. A notable feature of this infrastructure was a massive stone aqueduct at Jerwan, constructed from approximately two million blocks of limestone and featuring pointed archways to span a valley. The canal bed on this aqueduct was sealed with a specialized cement containing magnesium to prevent leakage.123

To manage the water flow, Sennacherib utilized advanced technology, including dams with sluice gates. Some researchers theorize that these gardens were laid out on sloping, mountain-like terraces and may have employed early versions of the Archimedes screw to lift water for irrigation.45