[These numbers and measurements are taken partly from Herodotus, partly from Diodorus, Strabo and Arrian.  And even the ruins of this giant city, writes Lavard, are such as to allow a very fair conclusion of its enormous size.  Aristotle (Polit.  III.  I.) says Babylon’s dimensions were not those of a city, but of a nation.]

The mighty gates of brass, through which the royal train entered the city, had opened wide to receive this noble company.  This entrance was defended on each side by a strong tower, and before each of these towers lay, as warder, a gigantic winged bull carved in stone, with a human head, bearded and solemn.  Nitetis gazed at these gates in astonishment, and then a joyful smile lighted up her face, as she looked up the long broad street so brightly and beautifully decorated to welcome her.

The moment they beheld the king and the gilded carriage, the multitude burst into loud shouts of joy, but when Bartja, the people’s darling, came in sight, the shouts rose to thunder-peals and shrieks of delight, which seemed as if they would never end.  It was long since the populace had seen Cambyses, for in accordance with Median customs the king seldom appeared in public.  Like the Deity, he was to govern invisibly, and his occasional appearance before the nation to be looked upon as a festival and occasion of rejoicing.  Thus all Babylon had come out to-day to look upon their awful ruler and to welcome their favorite Bartja on his return.  The windows were crowded with eager, curious women, who threw flowers before the approaching train, or poured sweet perfumes from above as they passed by.  The pavement was thickly strewn with myrtle and palm branches, trees of different kinds had been placed before the house-doors, carpets and gay cloths hung from the windows, garlands of flowers were wreathed from house to house, fragrant odors of incense and sandal-wood perfumed the air, and the way was lined with thousands of gaping Babylonians dressed in white linen shirts, gaily-colored woollen petticoats and short cloaks, and carrying long staves headed with pomegranates, birds, or roses, of gold or silver.

The streets through which the procession moved were broad and straight, the houses on either side, built of brick, tall and handsome.  Towering above every thing else, and visible from all points, rose the gigantic temple of Bel.  Its colossal staircase, like a huge serpent, wound round and round the ever-diminishing series of stories composing the tower, until it reached the summit crowned by the sanctuary itself.

[This temple of Bel, which many consider may have been the tower of Babel of Genesis XI., is mentioned by Herodotus I. 181. 182. 183.  Diodorus II. 8. 9. (Ktesias), Strabo 738 and many other ancient writers.  The people living in its neighborhood now call the ruins Birs Nimrod, the castle of Nimrod.  In the text we have reconstructed it as far as possible from