124 THEOPHILUS G. PIXCHE5. LL.r.. M.R.A.S., ON 



came in such disorderly multitudes that precautions against a 

 ren^E^v. 1 ;: rl : rh:n_? had to be taken. The crowds 



\vL ~ _ - ^ : leierred to in the Babylonian 



Clnonicle, V u: li.is i- ::s no mention of disturbances 



of any kind. The - .r-...- - of the Chronicle, an official 

 document, are probably to be preferred. 



When Cyiiis entered the palace, he sacrificed to Vesta 

 (doubtless one of the forms of Zerpanitu'") and " Eegal Jove " 

 ( Bel-Merodach), with other deities whom the Magi ( Babylonian 

 priesthood) thought proper. Cyrus seems to have been of 

 opinion that the common people of Babylonia entertamed con- 

 siderable enmity toward him, and he therefore surrounded 

 himself with guards,, those most closely attached to him being 

 eunuchs. For the keeping of the city a Persian garrison was 

 installed, for which the Babylonians had to provide. A long 

 speech is attributed to him, in which he teUs his followers that 

 according to the laws of war aU the property of the conquered 

 belonged to them, and they were entitled to take it if they so 

 chose. Whether this was in any case actually done dctes not 

 appear, but it may be regarded as hardly probable, as the 

 Babylonians seem to have lived fairly contentedly under his 

 rule — or, rather, under that of Cambyses and Gobryas the 

 Mede, both of whom acted as governors-general in turn. 



Xotwithstanding all possible defects that may have belonged 

 to his nature, Cyinis showed consideration for the country, 

 friendliness toward the people, but severity in matters which 

 concerned his own safety and authority after having assumed 

 the title King of Babylon." In an age far more barbarous 

 than our own he exhibited a moderation and a breadth of ^iew 

 which but few, in more ci^^lized times, have shown ; and it may 

 truly be said that if his dynasty did not last the fault was not 

 his. 



At the close of his Paper, Dr. Pinches showed an interesting 

 series of lantern slides. 



