1 40 History of Nature. [ BOOK V I . 



spoken in the Description of Zeugma : from which they that 

 go eastward meet with a strong fortified Town, formerly 

 in Compass 65 Stadia, and called the Royal Palace of their 

 Satraps, to which they brought Tributes ; but now it is 

 formed into a Castle. But there continue still as they 

 were, Hebata and Oruros, unto which, by the Conduct of 

 Pompey the Great, the Bounds of the Roman Empire were 

 extended ; and it is from Zeugma 250 Miles. Some Writers 

 say that the Euphrates was divided by a Governor of Meso- 

 potamia, and one Arm of it brought to Gobaris ; which was 

 done lest the River should endanger the City of Babylon. 

 They affirm, moreover, that the Assyrians generally called it 

 Armalchar, 1 which signifieth a Royal River. On the Place 

 where it is turned there stood Agrani, one of the greatest 

 Towns of that Region, which the Persians utterly destroyed. 

 Babylon, 2 the Capital of the Chaldean Nations, for a long 

 time possessed an illustrious Name through all the World : in 

 regard of which the other Part of Mesopotamia and Assyria 

 was named Babylonia : and embracing 60 Miles. The Walls 

 were 200 Feet in Height, and 50 broad : reckoning to every 

 Foot three Fingers' Breadth more than our ordinary Mea- 

 sure. Through the midst passeth the River Euphrates : with 

 a wonderful Work, on both Sides. To this Day the Temple 



1 Or rather, Nahal Nalca, i. e. the King's River. 



2 Herodotus, in the first book of his history, describes this most 

 splendid of cities ; the walls of which were classed among the wonders of 

 the world. But contrary to the report by which Pliny professes to be 

 guided, this ancient Greek author represents them to have been built in 

 the form of a square ; and although the lapse of time may have caused a 

 variety of changes to take place in other particulars regarding this city, 

 we can scarcely suppose that these changes can have extended to the 

 dimensions or situation of its stupendous walls ; by which alone its form 

 would be influenced. It is surprising that among the authors which 

 Pliny had consulted in drawing up his account of these regions, he makes 

 no mention of this illustrious Greek writer, though he quotes him in 

 other places. Philostratus, Solinus, Diodorus, Quintus Curtius, and 

 more especially the Bible, may be consulted for a variety of curious par- 

 ticulars regarding this eminent and powerful city, whose walls and 

 splendour are now burkd in a desert. Wern. Club. 



