PERIOD IX.

SUPPLEMENT FOR SENIOR PUPILS.

Babylon.

THE KINGDOM OF BABYLON.

Who founded There were two kingdoms of Babylon-the ancient and modern. The first kingdom was founded by Nimrod; the second by Nabopolassar.

When founded. Nimrod founded the former of these kingdoms soon after the flood; about the same time that Egypt was founded by Ham, and Nineveh by Asshur. (B.c. 2229.)

When enlarged. The ancient capital was greatly enlarged by Belus, whose son Ninus having conquered Nineveh,* made one kingdom of the two.

How called. This united kingdom was called the first Assyrian empire, and lasted till the birth of Hezeki'ah, king of Judah. (B.c. 2059 to 748.)

*Nineveh stood on the banks of the river Tigris, and was about 300 miles north of Babylon.

was governed.

How Babylon From the conquest of Nineveh by Ninus, Babylon was governed by viceroys, who paid tribute to the Assyrian monarch.

Last king of Sardanapa'lus was the last of the Assyria. ancient Assyrian kings. On his death the kingdom was divided into new Assyria, Media, and Babylonia or Chaldæa. (B.c. 748.) Their state New Assyria soon became the most puissant, and the kings of Media and Babylonia were made its tributaries.

politic.

How long The new Assyrian empire continued this lasted. during the reigns of Ahaz, Hezeki'ah, and Manasseh, kings of Judah; when Babylon revolted, and claimed its independence.

this revolt.

Who caused Nabopolassar induced this revolt; and having besieged Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, took the king prisoner, and divided the entire empire into two parts.

The two Assyria proper and Babylon formed the parts. kingdom of Chaldæa, and Media was left an independent empire.

Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar, the son of the last perfected. king, pushed his conquests on all sides, and raised Babylon to the pinnacle of its glory. Limits of The empire over which he ruled inBabylon. cluded Chaldæa, Assyria, Arabia, Syria, Egypt, and Lybia.

Size of

Babylon, the capital, included a space Babylon. of 80 miles in circumference. It was

surrounded by a fosse, and a wall 350 feet high and 87 feet thick.

There were 100 brazen gates in the wall, and three high towers of defence between every two gates.

Form of

the city.

The city was a square, like all the ancient cities of Asia, equally divided into east and west by the river Euphratés, the banks of which were planted with willows. The streets, There were in all 50 main streets, cutting each other at right angles, each of which was 15 miles long, and 151 feet broad. There was besides a promenade round the rampart 200 feet wide.

how arranged.

Style of The houses were square buildings, three houses. or four stories high, very elaborately decorated, and built like the London squares, with a garden in the midst.*

Its chief The principal edifices were the ancient buildings. and modern palace, and the great temple of Belus, the deified founder of the ancient city.

gardens.

Its hanging The hanging gardens made by Nebuchadnezzar (one of the seven wonders of the world) were large terraces built on

There were 676 of these squares, each two miles and a half in circumference.

vaults, and rising by steps one above another till they overtopped the ramparts.

Where these gardens were.

They were attached to the modern palace on the highest terrace, which was 400 feet square, was an aqueduct both for ornament and use.

When Babylon On the death of Nebuchadnezzar

declined. the kingdom rapidly declined, and was utterly destroyed in the reign of his grandson, Belshazzar. (B.c. 551.)

By whom Dari'us the Mede was the conqueror destroyed. of Babylon; and from its downfall, the empire of Media became the most puissant in the world.

[A.M. 3398-3444.

CHAPTER I.

THE PROPHET DANIEL,

B.C. 602-544.

COTEMPORARY EVENTS.

578. Servius Tullus, the sixth king of Rome.

571. Phalaris, tyrant of Agrigentum.

569. Amasis, the brave brigand, becomes king of Egypt.

562. Cræsus crowned in Lydia.

559. The Persian empire was founded by Cyrus.

Sappho and Alcæus, Greek poets.

The seven wise men of Greece, Esop and Anacharsis, were cotemporary with Daniel.

Section I.

DANIEL AND NEBUCHADNEZZAR.

B.C. 602-556.

DANIEL I.-IV.

Who was

Daniel.

Daniel, one of the four greater

prophets, was descended from the royal family of David, and was carried captive to Babylon when very young.

When this occurred.

This occurred in the first inva