BOOK III.

THE

HISTORY OF THE ASSYRIANS.

CHAP. I.

THE FIRST EMPIRE OF THE ASSYRIANS.

SECT. I. Duration of that empire.

THE Assyrian empire was undoubtedly one of the most powerful in the world. With respect to its duration, two opinions have chiefly prevailed. Some authors, as Ctesias, whose opinion is followed by Justin, give it a duration of 1300 years: others reduce it to 520, of which number is Herodotus. The diminution, or probably the interruption of power, which hap

ed in this vast empire, might possibly give occasion to this ence of opinions, and may perhaps serve in some measure concile them.

e history of those early times is so obscure, the monu› which convey it down to us so contrary to each other, e systems of the moderns upon that matter so different,a ́s difficult to lay down any opinion about it, as certain and *able. But where certainty is not to be had, I suppose ble person will be satisfied with probability; and, in n, a man can hardly be deceived, if he makes the empire equal in antiquity with the city of Babylon,

Now we learn from the Holy Scripture, that built by Nimrod, who certainly was a great cond in all probability the first and most ancient of all have ever aspired after that denomination.

at are curious to make deeper researches into this matter, may rtations of Abbé Banier and M. Freret upon the Assyrian emMemoirs of the Academy of Belles Lettres; for the first, see for the other, Tome 5; as also what Father Tournemine has this subject in his edition of Menochius.

BOOK III.

THE

HISTORY OF THE ASSYRIANS.

CHAP. I.

THE FIRST EMPIRE OF THE ASSYRIANS.

SECT. I. Duration of that empire.

THE Assyrian empire was undoubtedly one of the most powerful in the world. With respect to its duration, two opinions have chiefly prevailed. Some authors, as Ctesias, whose opinion is followed by Justin, give it a duration of 1300 years: others reduce it to 520, of which number is Herodotus. diminution, or probably the interruption of power, which happened in this vast empire, might possibly give occasion to this difference of opinions, and may perhaps serve in some measure to reconcile them.

The

The history of those early times is so obscure, the monuments which convey it down to us so contrary to each other, and the systems of the moderns upon that matter so different,a that it is difficult to lay down any opinion about it, as certain and incontestable. But where certainty is not to be had, I suppose a reasonable person will be satisfied with probability; and, in my opinion, a man can hardly be deceived, if he makes the Assyrian empire equal in antiquity with the city of Babylon, its capital. Now we learn from the Holy Scripture, that this was built by Nimrod, who certainly was a great conqueror, and in all probability the first and most ancient of all those who have ever aspired after that denomination.

a They that are curious to make deeper researches into this matter, may read the dissertations of Abbé Banier and M. Freret upon the Assyrian empire, in the Memoirs of the Academy of Belles Lettres; for the first, see Tome 3, and for the other, Tome 5; as also what Father Tournemine has written upon this subject in his edition of Menochius.

b

The Babylonians, as Callisthenes, a philosopher in Alexander's retinue, wrote to Aristotle, reckoned themselves at least to be 1903 years' standing when that prince entered triumphant into Babylon; which makes their origin reach back to the year of the world 1771, that is to say, 115 years after the deluge. This computation comes within a few years of the time in which we suppose Nimrod to have founded that city. Indeed, this testimony of Callisthenes, as it does not agree with any other accounts of that matter, is not esteemed authentic by the learned; but the conformity we find between it and the Holy Scriptures should make us regard it. Upon these grounds, I think we may allow Nimrod to have been the ! founder of the first Assyrian empire, which subsisted with more or less extent and glory upwards of 1450 years, from the time of Nimrod to that of Sardanapalus, the last king, that is to say, from the year of the world 1800 to the year 3257.

A. M. 1800.

с

d

NIMROD. He is the same with Belus, who Ant. J. C. 2204. Was afterwards worshipped as a god under that appellation.

He was the son of Chus, grandson of Ham, and greatgrandson of Noah. He was, says the Scripture, a mighty hunter before the Lord. In applying himself to this laborious and dangerous exercise, he had two things in view; the first was, to gain the people's affection by delivering them from the fury and dread of wild beasts; the next was, to train up numbers of young people by this exercise of hunting to endure labour and hardship, to form them to the use of arms, to inure them to a kird of discipline and obedience, that at a proper time, after they had been accustomed to his orders, and seasoned in arms, he might make use of them for other purposes more serious than hunting.

In ancient history we find some footsteps remaining of this artifice of Nimrod, whom the writers have confounded with Ninus, his son for Diodorus has these words: Ninus, the most ancient of the Assyrian kings mentioned in history, performed great actions. Being naturally of a warlike disposition, and ambitious of the glory that results from valour, he armed a considerable number of young men, that were brave and vigorous like himself; trained them up a long time in laborious exercises and hardships, and by that means accustomed them to bear the fatigues of war patiently, and to face dangers with courage and intrepidity.

Porphyr. apud Simplic. in lib. ii. de cœlo.

Here I depart from the opinion of Archbishop Usher, my ordinary guide. with respect to the duration of the Assyrian empire, which he supposes, with Herodotus, to have lasted but 520 years; but the time when Nimrod lived and Sardanapalus died I take from him. f Lib. ii. p. 30.

Belus or Baal signifies Lord.

e Gen. x. 9.