STEPPE TUMULI. 
19 
of the willow-tree. In another part of the same immense tomb, 
were deposited the remains of one of the late sovereign’s con¬ 
cubines, who had been previously strangled; also his favorite 
servant, his baker, cook, horsekeeper, and even the horses them¬ 
selves ; all followed him to the grave, and were laid in the same 
tomb, with his most valuable property, and, above all, a sufficient 
number of golden goblets. This done, the hollow was soon 
filled and surmounted with earth; each person present being 
ambitious to do his part in raising the pile that was to honour his 
departed lord. 
About six miles from the ancient city of Sardis, near the 
lake Gygreus, is still to be seen part of the great tumulus erected 
in memory of Alyattes, father of Croesus. It is described by 
Herodotus as of prodigious height, having a base of stones, on 
which three classes of people were employed to heap up its 
enormous bulk. In the time of Strabo the remains were two 
hundred feet high, and the circumference three quarters of a 
mile. Several other tumuli surrounded it. This form of se¬ 
pulture may be found all over the world ; and, how lasting it is, 
as a monument, may be gathered from the date of this very 
mound of Alyattes. It could not have been erected much less 
than two thousand four hundred years ago, Alyattes having 
been contemporary with Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon ' 
who destroyed Jerusalem about six hundred years before the 
birth of Christ. 
Probably the smaller tumuli, commonly seen encircling a 
large one, may contain the bodies of certain self-devoted 
members of the deceased great man’s family, who yet did not 
consider themselves high enough to share his actual grave ; or, 
perhaps, of his guards, who held it their duty to follow their 
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