At the two ends of the bridge over the Euphrates were two magnificent palaces, which had a subterra- neous communication with each other, by means of a vault or tunnel, tinder the bed of the river. The old palace, on the east side, was about 30 furlongs in compass, and was surrounded by three separate walls, one within the other, with considerable spaces between them. The new palace, on the opposite side, was about four times as large as the other, and is said to have been eight miles in circumference. The walls of both these edifices were embellished with au in finite variety of pieces of sculpture ; and, among the rest, was a curious hunting scene, in which Semiramis was represented on horseback throwing her javelin at a leopard, while her husband Ninus was piercing a lion.
The most remarkable structure in the new palace was the hanging gardens, which Nebuchadnezzar is i said to have raised, in order to give his wife Amylis, d '(daughter of Astyages, king of Media,) some repre sentation of the beautiful mountainous and woody which abounded in her native country. These gardens occupied a square piece of ground, 400 feet on every side, and consisted of large terrasses raised, one above the other, till they equalled in height the walls of the city. ascent from terrass to terrass was by means of steps 10 feet wide ; and the whole pile was sustained by vast arches, built upon other arches, and strengthened on each side by a solid 22 feet in thickness. Within these arches were very spacious and splendid apartments, which are describ ed as having commanded a very extensive and de lightful prospect. In order to form a proper pave ment for supporting the soil, and confining the mois ture of the garden, large flat stones, 16 feet in length, and 4 in breadth, were, first of all, laid upon the top of the tipper arches ; over these was spread a layer of reeds, mixed with bitumen ; • upon this, two rows of brick, closely cemented ;' and the whole covered with sheets of lead, upon which the earth or mould was laid to a sufficient depth for the largest trees to take firm root. In the upper terrass was a large reservoir, into which water was drawn from the . river by some species of engine, and kept there ready to be distributed to any part of the gardens.
f Near to the old palace stood the temple of Belus; and ib the middle of the temple was an immense tower, about 600 feet in height, and the same number square at the foundation. This huge pile of building con sisted of eight towers, each 75 feet high, placed one above the other, and gradually decreasing towards the top like a pyramid. The ascent to the summit was accomplished by s-Jirs on the outside, in a sloping direction, and of a spiral form; and these, winding eight times round the whole, produced the appearance of as many towers, regularly contracting their diame ter. In the different stories were many lofty apart
ments, supported by pillars, and used as chapels or temples in the worship of Baal ; and on the top of all was erected a complete observatory for astronomi cal purposes. What has been described is understood to have been the old tower of Babel, but it was great lyenlarged by Nebuchadnezzar, who built around its base a number of other sacred edifices, forming a square nearly three miles in compass. The whole was inclosed by a strong wall, and the various en trances secured by solid gates of brass, which are con jectured to have been formed out of the spoils of the temple at Jerusalem. ( Dan. i. 2.; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 7.) In this temple of Belus, or, as some say, on its summit, was a golden image 40 feet in height, and equal in value to 31 millions sterling. There was, besides, such a multitude of other statues and sacred utensils, that the whole of the treasures contained in this single edifice, have been estimated at 42 millions.
Many of the above statements recorded in ancient authors respecting the wonders of Babylon, are un questionably greatly exaggerated ; but, after every abatement that can fairly be made, this city is under stood to have comprehended a regular square, 48 miles in circuit, and to have been eight times larger than London and its appendages. (See Gillies' Hist. of the 1Vorld, vol. i. p. 166,and Rennel's Geog. of Herodotus, p. 311.) The city of Babylon seems to have excelled in rich and ingenious manufactures, at a very early period in the history of the world; and its " goodly garments" are mentioned 1450 years before Christ. (Joshua, vii. 21. and 2 Sam. xiii. 18.) For the space of 26 years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, it continued to retain its glory ; and was at once the scat of an imperial court, the sta- . tion of a numerous garrison, and the scene of a most extensive commerce. It was at length invested about .51.0 years before Christ, by the victorious armies of Cyrus the Great. Crowded with troops for their defence, surrounded with such lofty walls, and fur nished with provisions for 20 years, the citizens of Babylon derided the efforts of their besieger, and boasted of their impregnable situation. On the other hand, the conqueror of Asia, determined to subdue his only remaining rival in the empire of the eastern world, left no expedient untried for the reduction of the By means of the palm trees, which abound ed in that country, he erected a number of towers higher than the walls ; and made many desperate at tempts to carry the place by assault. He next drew a line of circumvallation around the city ; divided his army into 12 parts ; appointed each of these to guard