'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎28] (55/474)

XXV111
INTRODUCTION.
at that time deserted, and that even her rival Seleu-
cia had lost her name.*
The ecclesiastical writers of those ages speak of
Babylon as having been long ago destroyed. In the
3rd century Eusebius of Csesarea informs us that
the people of the surrounding country, as well as
strangers, avoided it, for it had become completely a
desert.
St. Jerome believed that the ancient walls had
been repaired, and that they surrounded a park in
which the Kings of Persia kept animals for hunting.
He says he learnt this from an Elamite father resid
ing at Jerusalem, but he was evidently satisfied
that in his time there were but few remains of
Babylon.
Cyril of Alexandria, who flourished about 412,
tells us that, the canals drawn from the Euphrates
having filled up, the soil of Babylon had become
nothing better than a marsh. Theodoret, who died
in 460, says that this city was no longer inhabited,
either by Assyrians or Chaldeans, but only by some
Jews, whose houses were few and scattered abroad.
He further adds that the Euphrates had changed its
course, and passed through the town only by means
of a small canal.
In conclusion :—Procopius of Gaza in the middle
* Upon which M. de St. Croix remarks—" Man builds in vain ; he
seems to labourpowr le niant. How many cities have been, the very
names of which are forgotten I"