circumference. Round these squares, on every side, towards the streets, stood the houses (which were not contiguous, but had void spaces between them), all built three or four storeys high, and beautified with all manner of ornaments towards the streets. The space within, in the middle of each square, was likewise all void ground, employed for gardens, &c., so that Babylon was greater in appearance than reality; near one half of the city being taken up in gardens and other cultivated lands, as we are told by Quintus Curtius.

The ancient authors differ as to the number of royal palaces in Babylon. Herodotus mentions only one,* but other authors speak of two, which they describe as situated at the two ends of the bridge, having a communication with each other by means of a tunnel, built under the channel of the river. The old palace, which stood on the east side of the river, was three miles and three-quarters in compass, near which stood the Temple of Belus. The new palace, which stood on the west side of the river, opposite to the other, was seven miles and a half in compass. It was surrounded with three walls, one within the other, with considerable spaces between them. These walls, as also those of the other palace, were embellished with a variety of sculptures.

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*His words are, In the centre of each portion of the city is an enclosed space; the one occupied by the royal palace, a building of vast extent and great strength; in the other stands the Temple of Belus with its brazen gates, remaining in my time."-Herod. (Taylor's Translation), p. 86.

In the last, or new palace, were the hanging gardens. They contained a square of 40 feet on every side, and were carried up aloft into the air, in the manner of several large terraces, one above another, till the height equalled the walls of the city. The ascent was from terrace to terrace, by stairs 10 feet wide. The whole pile was sustained by arches raised upon other arches, one above another, and strengthened by a wall, surrounding it on every side, of 22 feet in thickness. On the top of the arches were first laid large, flat stones, 16 feet long, and 4 broad; over these was a layer of reeds, mixed with a great quantity of bitumen, upon which were two rows of bricks, closely cemented together with plaster. The whole was covered with thick sheets of lead, upon which lay the mould of the garden. And all this floorage was contrived to keep the moisture of the mould from running away through the arches. The mould or earth laid hereon was so deep that the greatest trees might take root in it; and with such the terraces were covered, as well as with all other plants and flowers that were proper to adorn a pleasure-garden. In the upper terrace there was an engine, or kind of pump, by which water was drawn up out of the river, and from whence the whole garden was watered. In the space between the several arches upon which this whole superstructure rested, were large and magnificent apartments, that were very light, and had the advantage of a beautiful prospect. But by far the greatest and

two stadia.

most interesting work at Babylon was the Temple of Belus,* which is said by some authors to have stood near the old palace. Herodotus, who mentions only one, describes the Temple of Belus as standing in an enclosed space, in the centre portion of the city, opposite to the palace. "It is," says Herodotus," a square structure, each side measures Within the enclosure is erected a solid tower, measuring a stadium both in width and depth; upon this tower is raised another and another, making eight in all. The ascent is by a path which is formed on the outside of the towers. Midway in the ascent is a resting-place, furnished with easy chairs, in which those who ascend repose themselves. On the summit of the topmost tower stands a large temple, and in this temple is a great couch, handsomely fitted up, and near it stands a golden table. No statue whatever is erected in the temple. Within the precincts of the Temple of Belus," adds the same author, "there is a smaller edifice on the ground, within which there is an immense golden statue of Jupiter in a sitting posture ; around the statue are large tables, which, with the steps and throne, are all of gold, and, as the Chaldeans affirm, contain 800 talents of gold. Without

* The meaning of Belus is Heaven, God, or Lord, says M. de St. Croix. Upon which he observes, "The inhabitants of Mesopotamia had not always been idolaters; and though they became such, they for a long time acknowledged the supremacy of the God of Nachor, and of Abraham."

this edifice is a golden altar; there is also another altar of great size, on which are offered full-grown animals. Upon the golden altar it is not lawful to offer any sacrifices, except sucklings. Once in every year, when the festival of this god is celebrated, the Chaldeans burn upon the greater altar 1000 talents of frankincense. There was also, not long since, in this sacred enclosure, a statue of gold, 12 cubits in height; at least, so the Chaldeans affirmed. I did not myself see it. This figure Darius Hystaspes would fain have taken, but dared not execute his wishes. But his son Xerxes, not only took it, but put to death the priest who endeavoured to prevent its removal.* Such was the magnifience of this temple, which contained also many private offerings."+

Among the stupendous works of Babylon, described by ancient authors, none seem to have excited more wonder and admiration than those for the preservation of the city from the effects of the inundations of the Euphrates, which, during the summer months, or after the melting of the snows on the mountains of Armenia, overflows its banks, from the very great increase of waters which run into it at that season.

To prevent the damage which both the city and

* According to the calculation which Diodorus makes of the riches contained in this temple, the sum total amounted to above 21 millions sterling.

+ Herodotus. (Taylor's Translation, p. 87.)

the country received from these inundations, there were cut, at a very considerable distance above the town, two artificial canals, which turned the course of these waters into the Tigris before they reached Babylon. And to secure the country yet more from the danger of inundations, and to keep the river within its channel, prodigious banks were raised on both sides of the river, built with bricks cemented with bitumen,* which began at the artificial canals, and extended below the city.

To facilitate the making of these works, it was necessary to turn the course of the river another way, for which purpose, to the west of Babylon, was dug a prodigious artificial lake, 40 miles square, 160 in compass, and 35 deep. Into this lake was the whole river turned by an artificial canal, cut from the west side of it, till the whole work was finished, when it was made to flow in its former channel. But that the Euphrates in the time of its increase might not overflow the city, through the gates on its banks, this lake with the canal was still preserved. The water received into the lake at the time of these overflowings was kept there all the year, as in a common reservoir, for the benefit of the country, to be let out by sluices, at all convenient times, for the watering the lands below it. The

*Herodotus says, "Eight days' journey from Babylon is a city named Is, near which runs a small river of the same name, discharging itself into the Euphrates. This river brings down with its waters clots of bitumen in large quantities. From this source was derived the bitumen used in cementing the walls of Babylon."