Its principal ornaments were the Temple
of Belus, and the famous "hanging gardens."
The Temple of Belus was most remarkable for a prodigious tower that stood
in the midst of it. According to Herodotus, it was a square, of a furlong
on each side--that is, half a mile in the whole compass; and according to
Strabo, it was a furlong in height. It consisted of eight towers, built
one above the other; and because it decreased gradually towards the top,
Strabo calls the whole a pyramid. It is not only asserted, but proved,
that this tower far exceeded the greatest of the pyramids of Egypt in
height.
The ascent to the top was by stairs round the outside. Over the whole, on
the top of the tower, was an observatory, by means of which the
Babylonians became more expert in astronomy than any other nation, and
made, in a short time, the great progress in it ascribed to them in
history.
In addition to these magnificent works, the public buildings of Babylon
were counted by thousands, and its splendid mansions by tens of
thousands.
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