BAB 



176 



B A C 



Babylonia, set of Babylonian hangings for one apartment was 



> sold for a sum equivalent to 6500 sterling. 



Wei' h If we consider the immense consumption made by 



and com- tne Babylon-ins of innumerable commodities, which 

 merce - were produced only in countries very remote from 

 * their own, it may be fairly concluded, that their opu- 

 lence must have been very considerable, and their 

 commerce very extensive. Prodigious masses of gold 

 were employed in the statues and other ornaments 

 which their temples contained. Twenty-five tons of 

 frankincense were annually consumed on the altar of 

 Jupiter alontii: The people in general delighted in 

 the liberal use of perfumes ; and every Babylonian is 

 said to have worn an engraved onyx, sapphire, or 

 emerald, as his signet. Such an abundance of these 

 commodities could have been procured only by the 

 exchange of valuable merchandize, and by a regular 

 communication with distant countries. They were 

 supplied with those articles from northern India ; 

 and from the same country they brought, in great 

 numbers, a particular species of hound, a mongrel 

 brood of the dog and tyger, of remarkable si/.e and 

 strength, winch was highly esteemed by the Baby- 

 lonian princes and nobles in their favourite amuse- 

 ment the chase. These animals were so essential to 

 royal magnificence, that whole districts were exempt- 

 ed from ev ry ^ther tribute, except the burden of 

 defraying their maintenance ; and even, in later times, 

 they seem to have been equally indispensable to the 

 sovereigns of the East, when the Sultan Bajaztt had 

 among the servants of his household 12,000 keepers 

 of dogs. The Babylonian caravans carried on a very 

 extensive traffic also with the countries in the West, 

 penetrating through the Syrian desert to the Pheni- 

 cian traders on the Mediterranean ; and proceeding 

 by what was called the royal road, through the north 

 of Asia Minor to the eastern borders of Europe. 

 Their maritime commerce, likewise, whs very consi- 

 derable ; and th. y are characterised by the Hebrew- 

 prophet, as a people, " whose cry is in the ships." 

 They had much inland navigation by means of their 

 numerous canals and rivers. The Tigris, on account 

 of its rapidity, was navigable only about 100 miles 

 north of Babylon ; but thi-y often sailed 300 miles 

 up the Euphrates to the city of Thapsacus, from 

 which they distributed their spices and perfumes, by 

 land carriage, to the neighbouring districts. In this 

 inland communication, by means of water, the Ar- 

 menian traders used small vessels of a very peculiar 

 construction. They were little better than large bas- 

 kets of willow blanches covered with hides, of a round 

 form, and guided by two oars or paddles. They were 

 chiefly loaded witu palm wine ; and some ot them 

 were ..bout 12 tons burden. They had frequently 

 asses on board ; and, having disposed of their cargo at 

 Babylon, they sold the wooden frame of their boats, 

 loaded these animals with the skins, and returned by 

 land to Armenia. Their largest ships were employ- 

 ed, and their greatest commerce carried on, by their 

 maritime colony at Gerra, which was situated about 

 200 miles from the mouth of the Euphrates ; and 

 whose merchants were the most wealthy and enter- 

 prising of all. They maintained an intercourse with 

 the Phoenician factories on the Persian gulf, and 

 with the Ethiopian mines in the neighbourhood of 



Bacchana- 

 lia. 



Customs, 

 manners, 

 and cha- 

 racter of 

 the Baby- 

 lonians; 



the Red Sea. Thus they had access to the treasures Babyrous 

 of Sofala or Ophir ; and supplied the city of Baby- 

 lon with the principal part of its spices, perfumes, 

 gems, ebony, ivory, and gold. 



One of the most remarkable customs of the Baby- 

 lonians was the manner in which they disposed of 

 their young women in marriage. They were all 

 brought into the public market place, where the 

 most beautiful were sold to the highest bidder ; and, 

 from the money thus procured, portions were assign- 

 ed to be given along with those who were deficient 

 in personal attractions. One of their most abomina- 

 ble regulations was that which required every female 

 to suffer prostitution once in her life in the temple of 

 Venus. And one of their most useful practices was 

 that by which they endeavoured to supply the want 

 of professional physicians. The sick were brought 

 out to the public places of resort ; and all passengers, 

 of whatever rank, as well as all strangers, of what- 

 ever country, were considered as bound in humanity 

 to inquire into the nature of their diseases, and to 

 suggest such remedies as they might have known to 

 be useful in similar cases. The Babylonians were 

 very temperate in their diet, and, like the Hindoos, 

 lived chiefly upon grain ; but in their dress and 

 household accommodations, they were very effeminate 

 and extravagant. Their inner garment was of fine 

 linen, descending to their feet ; above this, they 

 wore a woollen tunic ; and over the whole, was 

 thrown a short white cloak to repel the rays of the 

 sun. Their heads were covered by linen mitres or 

 turbans, plaited with much art ; their feet were pro- 

 tected by light slippers ; their bodies sprinkled with 

 perfumes ; and in their hand they generally carried a 

 staff or cane, shaped at the top into the form of an 

 apple, flower, bird, or some other characteristic em- 

 blem. Their habitations were adorned in a manner 

 equally superb ; their floors glowed with carpets of 

 the most brilliant colours ; and their walls were hung 

 with the most beautiful tissues, named Sindones. They 

 are represented, however, as very degraded in their 

 intellectual and moral character ; as credulous and 

 superstitious; debauched and voluptuous in the high- 

 est degree ; and, to the general prevalence of these 

 luxurious and licentious habits, is unquestionably to 

 be attributed the easy overthrow of such a powerful 

 monarchy, and the immediate subjugation of such a 

 populous empire. See Anc. Univ. Hist. vol. iv. p. 

 !2, &c. Gillies's Hist, of World, vol. i. p. 60, 72, 

 16S, 195. (</) 



BABYROUSSA, or Babiroussa. See Sits 

 Mammalia. 



BACCHANALIA, Okgia, or Dionvsia, the 

 sacred rites of Bacchus were celebrated every third 

 year, hence called Tricterica, in the night, chiefly on 

 Cithseron, and Ismeus, in Bceotia ; and on Isgnarus, 

 Rhodope, and Edon, in Thrace. 



In these ntes, it was c.mmon for the votaries to 

 put on fawn skins, fine linen, and mitres ; to carry 

 thyrsi) drums, pipes, and rattles ; and to crown them- 

 selves with garlands of vine, ivy, &c. Some imitated 

 Pan, Silenus, and the Satyrs ; and this motley and 

 frantic multitude ran about the hills and deserts, toss- 

 ing their beads, and fillingthe air with hideous yells, ex- 

 claimingcontinually, " Evoe, Sabae, Attes Hues," &c. 



