IX. Nor were the Babylonians to be accused of pre- LETTER sumption, in thinking they could singly repel the efforts of so mighty a conqueror. The strength of their capital, and its internal resources, justified their confidence. The city of Babylon stood in the great plain of Assyria, or Aturia, near the banks of the Euphrates, and on both sides of that majestic river27. It was built so as to form an exact square, and was about sixty miles in compass218. This immense space, however, was not altogether filled with houses, temples, or palaces; though these were numerous, and superb beyond any thing known even in ancient Asia29. Extensive gardens also occupied a part; and those, in conjunction with capacious magzines of corn and other provisions, which it was computed could maintain the inhabitants for twenty years, rendered Babylon fit to sustain a long siege, without injury to the health of the garrison or citizens 220. The whole city, on both sides of the Euphrates, was surrounded with a wide and deep ditch, or moat, at all times filled with water, and defended by a wall of brick cemented with bitumen, as hard and firm as solid rock, three hundred feet in height, and seventy-five in thickness221. Behind this formidable rampart, which was fortified with towers, stood another wall of almost equal strength 222. These walls were brought down to the banks of the Euphrates, with some inflexion at the extremities; and thence a wall, of the same solid materials was extended on both sides of the river223. When 219. Herodot, lib. i. cap. clxxviii. 217. Strabo, Geog. lib. xvi. init. Herodot. lib. i. 218. Id. ibid. 220. Xenoph. et Herodot. ubi sup. Quint. curt. lib. v. cap. i. 221. Herodot. lib. i. cap. clxxviii. 222. Id. Historiar. cap. clxxix. 223. Herodot. lib. i. cap. clxxx. As Herodotus had seen the forti fications PART I. 540. æra 207. When Cyrus advanced toward Babylon, the king had met him at the head of his forces. But the BaAnt. Chr. bylonians being unable to withstand the victorious. Nabonass. army of the Persian conqueror, Nabonadius took refuge in his capital224. Cyrus at first attempted to storm the place, by raising against it towers still higher than the walls. Finding, however, that mode of attack impracticable, he turned the siege. into a blockade; in hopes of obliging the Babylonians to surrender, through famine 225. Almost two years had his army occupied the lines, which he had drawn around the city, without beholding any signs of want or weakness, when certain circumstances encouraged him to think it might be taken by surprise. From the main stream of the Euphrates which ran through Babylon, and over which was built a stupendous bridge, a navigable canal, called the Royal-River, was cut above the city, and carried to the stream of the Tygris226. Beside this great canal a smaller one was also cut in the same direction, from the bed of the Euphrates above Babylon, in order to prevent the waters of that river, which annually overflows its banks, like the Nile, from deluging the country; and a large one was opened nearer the city, on the western side of the river, and which emptied itself into an immense artificial lake, that served as a reservoir for the benefit of the neighbouring lands, in time of drought, as well as a re fications of Babylon in a more perfect state than any other ancient historian or geographer, his description is here followed, in preference to that of Diodorus or Strabo; who lived almost five hundred years later, when those fortifications were in ruins, and when all information concerning them must have been very imperfect among the Babylonians. 224. Xenoph. Cyroped. lib. vii. Herodot. lib. i. 225. Id. ibid. 926. Herodot. lib. I. Abydenus ap Euseb. Præp. Evangel. ceptacle IX. ceptacle for the superabounding waters at other LETTER times227. The mouths of those two canals were shut with strong mounds, when the stream of the Euphrates could be confined within its banks, and opened only when it was in danger of overflowing228., Cyrus having surveyed these laborious works, and sounded the depth of the river, saw the practicability of removing the mounds of all the canals, and of hollowing that which fed the great lake; in such a manner as to make it carry off the remaining waters of the Euphrates, and leave the channel fordable, where it entered and left the walls of Babylon229. 538. Nabonass. æra 209. While occupied with this idea, the Persian hero was informed, That the Babylonians were soon to be employed in celebrating a solemn festival, during which they were accustomed to spend the night in revelling and drinking. That opportunity he seized Ant. Chr. to divert the current, and drain the channel of the Euphrates. And having posted one body of his troops at the termination of the walls above, and another at the same place below the city, with orders to notice the decrease of the waters, they both entered the bed of the river at the same time, under the conduct of Gobrias and Gadates, their Babylonian guides; passed, without opposition, the gates in the wall along the banks of the Euphrates, which had been left open, through negligence, in the general festivity; marched unobserved to the palace; and there assembling, according to concert, surprised and cut to pieces the guards of Nabonadius 230. Roused by the clashing of arms, the king rushed to the door of his banquetting room, attended by his guests; and drawing his sword, died in a manner worthy of a 227. Id. ibid. 228. Abyden. ubi sup. 229. Herodot. lib. i. cap. cxci. more PART I. more illustrious prince23'. Most of his nobles are said to have fallen by his side. The death of the king of Babylon and his nobility, was followed by the submission of his army; and Cyrus, next morning, saw himself master of the richest and most magnificent city in the ancient world, and lord of the greatest empire that had ever been formed on the face of the earth. The full establishment, and future growth of this empire, which acquired the name of Persian, from the country of Cyrus its founder, must next engage your lordship's attention. These subjects will furnish scope for another stage in our historical tour, and naturally bring us back to the affairs of Europe. And happily for us, the paths of history, hitherto rugged and obscure, henceforth become more smooth and obvious. Having thrown behind us the barren deserts of chronology, and the wild labyrinths of fable, we now enter upon a cultivated country, in which the roads are distinctly marked, and where interesting objects, on every side present themselves to view. 231. Id. ibid. LETTER LETTER X. THE REVOLUTIONS IN ASIA AND AFRICA CONTINUED, THE subversion of the kingdom of Babylon, LETTER X. Ant. Chr. 538. lx. 3. or second Assyrian Empire, by Cyrus, is the first great event in the ancient world, in regard to the date of which all historians and chronologers, both civil and sacred, are agreed. This great event hap- Olymp. pened in the two hundred and ninth year of the Nabonassarean æra, in the third year of the sixtieth Olympiad, and five hundred and thirty-eight years before the christian æra. As soon as Cyrus had settled his affairs at Babylon, and rewarded his conquering army, he paid a visit to Persia, his native kingdom'. On his return, he brought along with him his uncle, Cyaxares, understood to be Darius the Mede of scripture, who took up his residence at Babylon'. This prince died after a reign of two years over the Babylonians; and Cyrus succeeded to the throne of Media, as well as to the undivided sovereignty of the vast empire which he had conquered3; all thenceforth known, as already observed, by the name of the Persian Empire. The first year of the reign of Cyrus, as sole head of that empire, is rendered memorable by the famous edict which he issued in favour of the captive Jews; 1. Xenoph. Cyropæd. lib. viii. 2. Prideaux, Connect. part. I. book ii. et. auct, cit. 3. Id. ibid. |