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babel.
[chap. vi.
Towards the eastern limits of the Mygdonians are the sites
of Soon-Dara, Khorasan, 1 and Kalat Sherkat, the U'r of the
Persians; 2 which last, however, is in the southern portion of
Mesopotamia.
Babylonia. The existence of the Babylonian kingdom previously to the
formation of that of Assyria has been indicated by Herodotus,
who mentions that the people were acquainted with naviga
tion, 3 with the situation of the pole, the use of the sun-dial,
and the division of the day into 12 parts. 4
The scriptures, however, carry the history much further
back, by showing that the followers of Cush usurped the
supreme power in Babylonia; and the extent of the kingdom
which they formed may be imagined from the situation of the
cities of Nimrud.
Babel.
The ruins near Hillah are still, by the Arabs, designated
Babel; and all historical records, as well as traditions, agree
in representing these as the remains of the first city of
Nimrud; the Babylon of Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and
other historians.
The Birs Four miles and a quarter N. 20° W. of the bridge of Hillah
is the Mujellibeh, near which are the remains of Kasr, as
well as those of the hanging gardens; and at rather more
than six miles from Hillah, standing amidst, and crowning
the summit of extensive masses of ruin, is the Birs, or Baris
Nimrud. This has been considered by Niebuhr, Rich, and
others, to be the celebrated temple of Belus; and, according
to Herodotus, it was separated from the palace by the river. 5
In Lower Babylonia, 82 miles S. 43° E. from the same
place, and at 8 miles N. 53° E. of the castle of Muwaserah,
are the mounds of El Assayah, or the Place of Pebbles, which
1 The Surna of Ptolemy.
2 Mr. Ainsworth's Journey, Vol. XI. Part I., p. 45, &c., of the Royal
Geographical Journal.
8 Lib. I. cap. cxciv. 4 Lib. II., cap. cix.
5 ) kib. I. c. clxxxi., L'un [des quartiers] est remarquable par le palais du roi,
et 1'autre par le lieu consacre a Jupiter Bt51us.—Larcher's translation.