BAB 



1G8 



BAB 



H.ilxvni, 

 Babylon* 



BABOON, in zoology, a subdivision of the ape 

 tribe, distinguished from their congeners in having a 

 facial angle of about 30, cheek-pouches, callosities 

 on their posteriors, and either no tail, or one that is 

 very short. See Si mi a and Mammalia, (f) 



BABYLON, City of, the capital of the ancient 

 kingdom of Babylonia, is supposed to have been si- 

 tuated in N. Lat. 92 W, and in E. Long. 44 12' 

 30". It was founded by the first descendants of 

 Noah, 2234 years B. C, enlarged by Nimrod, the 

 great grandson of Noah, 2000 years B. C. ; and in 

 a manner completely rebuilt about 1200 years B. C. f 

 by the Assyrian Queen Semiramis. It was greatly 

 strengthened and beautified by various succeeding 

 sovereigns ; but it was by Nebuchadnezzar and his 

 daughter Nitocris, that it was brought to such a 

 degree of magnificence and splendour, as rendered it 

 one of the wonders of the world. 

 Situation Babylon stood in the midst of a large plain, in a 



and extent, very deep and fruitful soil. It was divided into two 

 parts by the river Euphrates, which flowed through 

 the city from north to south. The old city was on 

 the east, and the new city, built by Nebuchadnezzar, 

 on the we5t side of the river. Both these divisions 

 were inclosed by one wall, and the whole formed a 

 complete square, 480 furlongs in compass. Each of 

 the four sides of this square had 25 gates of solid 

 brass, at equal distances ; and at every corner was a 

 strong tower, ten feet higher than the wall. In those 

 quarters, where the city had least natural defence, 

 there were also three of these towers between every 

 two of the gates j and the same number between each 

 corner, and the nearest gate on its two sides. The 

 city was composed of 50 streets, each 15 miles long, 

 and 150 feet broad, proceeding from the 25 gates on 

 each side, and crossing each other at right angles, 

 besides 4 half streets, 200 feet in breadth, surround- 

 ing the whole, and fronting towards the outer wall. 

 It was thus intersected into 676 squares, which ex- 

 tended four furlongs and a half on each of their sides, 

 and along which the houses were built, at some dis- 

 tance from each other. These intermediate spaces, 

 as well as the inner parts of the squares, were employ- 

 ed as gardens, pleasure grounds, &c. ; so that not 

 above one half of the immense extent which the walls 

 inclosed, was occupied by buildings, 

 Walls. The walls of Babylon were of extraordinary strength, 



being 87 feet broad, and 350 high. They were built 

 of brick, and cemented by a kind of glutinous earth 

 called bitumen, which had the quality of soon be- 

 coming as hard as stone. These walls were surround- 

 ed on the outside by an immense ditch, from which 

 the earth had been dug to make the bricks ; and 

 which, being always filled with water, added very 

 much to the defence of the city. 

 Bridge and On each side of the river Euphrates, was built a 

 quayt. quay, or high wall, of the same thickness with the 



walls around the city. There were gates of brass in 

 these walls opposite to every street which led to the 

 river, and from them were formed descents or landing 

 places by means of 6t"ps, so that the inhabitants could 

 easily pass in boats from one side oi the city to the 

 other. There was also a remarkable bridge thrown 

 over the river, near the middle of the city, built with 

 wonderful art of huge stones, fastened together by 



means of iron chains and melted lead ; and is said to Babylon, 

 have been a whole furlong in length, and 2Q feet in v "' 



breadth. 



In order to prevent any inconvenience from the Lake, 

 swellings of the Euphrates, two canals were cut from banks, and 

 that river at a considerable distance above the town, " llil3> 

 which carried off the superabundant waters into the 

 Tigris. From the place where these canals commen- 

 ced down the sides of the river, both above and below 

 the city, immense banks were constructed to confine 

 the stream still more effectually within its channel, 

 and to prevent still more completely all danger of an 

 inundation. In order to facilitate the construction of 

 these works, an immense lake was dug on the west 

 side of Babylon, about 40 miles square, and 35 feet 

 deep, into which the river was turned by a canal, till 

 the banks were completed : and it was then restored 

 to its former course. This lake continued afterwards 

 to receive annually a fresh supply of water from the 

 Euphrates, and was rendered very serviceable by 

 mcans of sluices for watering the lands which were 

 situated below it. 



At the two ends of the bridge over the Euphrates The pala- 

 were two magnificent palaces, which had a subterra- ces. 

 neous communication with each other, by means of a 

 vault or tunnel, under 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 an 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 The hang- 

 was the hanging gardens, which Nebuchadnezzar is ing gar- 

 said to have raised, in order to give his wife Amylis, den. 

 (daughter of Astyages, king of Media,) some repre- 

 sentation of the beautiful mountainous and woody 

 views 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. Tr.e 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 wall,. 

 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 upper 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 



