14)2 Accumulations in Sijria and Persia. 



Jupiter, weighing 1200 talents, and the other two 600 talents 

 each *.'' 



As Diodorus wrote in the Greek language, it is probable he 

 adopted the weight of that country, according to which the 

 value of this mass of gold, as calculated by the Abbe Barthele- 

 my, would amount in our money to about L. 11,000,000 Ster- 

 ling ; whilst others estimate it at somewhat less, a difference, 

 however, scarcely worth investigating. It is impossible not to 

 suspect the statement here given of some exaggeration, though 

 we may be induced to believe that a large quantity of the pre- 

 cious metals had been collected at that early period ; but the 

 exactness of the quantity must be a subject of doubt, when it 

 is considered that Diodorus wrote near two thousand years after 

 the events he relates, and in an age when written records must 

 have been both rare and of doubtful authenticity. The pro- 

 bability of an accumulation of gold to a great extent in Baby- 

 lon, is strengthened by the narrative in the book of Daniel, of 

 the great size of the image of gold erected by Nebuchadnezzar, 

 on the plain of Dura, near that city. 



There is an appearance of authenticity and of accuracy in the 

 account given by Herodotus of the tribute of gold and silver 

 which Darius Hystaspes, king of Persia, about 480 years be- 

 fore Christ, drew from the several provinces, into which, after 

 completing his conquests, he divided his extensive dominions. 

 The amount supphed by each province is stated, and, whether 

 paid in silver or gold, " the aggregate sum,"" he says, " will 

 be found to be 9880 talents in silver, and estimating the gold at 

 thirteen times the value of the silver ; there will be found, ac- 

 cording to the Euboic talent, 4680 of these talents. The whole 

 being estimated together, it will appear, that the annual tribute 

 paid to Darius was 14,560 talents -|-.'" 



This treasure is estimated by Gibbon and by Rennel, to be 

 equivalent to about L. 3,250,000 Sterling. According to the 

 inference of the former writer, drawn from the same authority, 

 in book i. cap. 192, this revenue was the surplus, after the 

 expenses of the maintenance of the army, and of the provincial 

 administration, had been discharged. This quantity of gold and 



• Diodorus, book ii. cap. 1. f Herodotus, book iii. cap. 95. 



