Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-03
HISTORICAL LETTERS.
To the Editor eftac vIse1N1A ARcus.
LETTERvI.


-4sSy'7ars---tFreecs--and the ehief objects
connected Nth her HiatoyV
THERE were four great monarchies of an
tiq1lty the Assyrian, the Persian, the Ma
cedoaian, and the Roman. Of the Assvrian
monarchy we know but little and what we
do know is still liable to the fluctuatioa of I'M
certainty. 1t is said to have been founded in
the ycSr 22S3 before Jesus Christ, by Nimred.
who, by sof;.e, is said TO be the same as Nj
nus and Belus, whilst et,ers insist that he is
theSatrrn or the BacGhus of fable. 1t endur-
ed for 140S, years, down to the year before
Christ Y7O. The principal cities of this king
: dom, were Ninereh, upon the Tigris, and
Babylon, upon the Eaptlrates. Diodorus ST.
culus, says, that NineGeh was erected BY Nj
nus, who was DESTROYS OF rendering it the
greatest and the most celebrated SS::.y Of the
universe; It was q leagues in circumference,
was cncircled with wall 100 feet in height.
and OF such thickness that three chariots could
pass abreast. The walls were fanked by
towers o. 200 feet in height. Babylon, embei-
Ashed by Semiranljs and those who succeeded
her, is represented as a still more marvel
lous place than Nineyeh. It is said that it's
walls were 500 feet in height, rs feet in thick
ness, "a leagGesin circumference, and had 100
brazen gates. The monarchy ended with
oardanapalus, several of whose officers, Sc
lectinS Beiesis, the governor of Media, Tar
their chief revolted from their sovereign, and
hSseiged him IN his palace, where he was
compelled TO burn himself with all his trca-
sa-es. From the fragments ofthe Assyrian.
wereformea three other rnonsrci,ies. name.
", that of the Modes, OF which Ecbataaa was
the capital; that OF the Nmivites; and that
efthe Babylonians The most interesting OBJ
Jects OF the Assyrian history, according to
Dioderus Sicnlns, who copied from Ctesas,
were the celebrated expedition of Minus a.
sainstthe Bactrians, at the head of ZOO. 900
.lniaAtry and 2oU,0o0 cavalry; and the reign
of 'oeniramis, with whom Minus became ac-
quamted at the seige of Bactra, where that
wonderful woman displayed her extraord
nary genius. Semiramis, haviae become a
widow, signaiized herself in the arts of 90
vernment. She travcrsed her empire, en-
'beiiished, and enlarged it. This princess
conquered part OF Ethiopia, and from thence
made an expedition TO India, which was ia
NOUS and unfortunate. The wonders of Ba-
oylon have also attracted attention. Ctcsi-
as, the physician, first of the Younger CYRUS.
and afterwards of his brother, has written
the history of the Assyrians and of the Per-
CLANS, III twenty-three books. A few remains
OF this writer have reached us. He is the
source OF al the fables which fill this period:
ne almost invariably cOntradicts Herodotus.
and frequently deviates from Xenophon. A.
ristotle Judged him little worthy of credit, but
Notwithstanding that, Diodorus Siculus and
many others have given MIN tue preference,
and often copy him. Among the moderns,
koihn, IN bis ancient history has united all
that the Greek and Roman historians have
said upon the subject.
Next iu order would follow an account of
the Persian monarchy; but as the most re-
rnarksble events Of this kingdom, and those
which are chiefly worthy our notice, crew
out of It's contests with the Greeks, will first
describe the principal republics Of that far
famed people, who still clam and receive
the homage Of or unfeigne3 respect.
!SfsarTa, one Of the four famous republics
Of Greece, was founded 1915 years before
JESUS Christ, Lelez is the first king Of La
cedenon whose name we know. He was
reckoned the founder, and appears TO have
been a naive OF Tacoma. Castor, Pollux,
Helon, and ClytenaIestra, names celebrated
IN lahle, were descended from him. The 20
vernuleot Of Sparta wss an sristccracy: 334'
years before Christ, Lycurggs, Of the royal
.onse, became the legislator Of his country,
IN which character he caused his fellow-ci-
tzens 70 adopt the most extraordinary con-
sti,litioE that has been ever known. He pla-
.ced the authority of the state in the hands If
Senate for life, in which the laws were ap-
proved or rejected by the people. The ma
glstrates were two hereditary kings, and five
annual i5phori or popular magistrates some
TING Ike the tfio,ines of the Romans
The period Of the greatest grandeur for
oparta was after the war NJ Peloponnesus.
w.len having humSled Athens, and seized
1hebes, she beheid Syracuse and the Persi-
ans suing tor her alliapce. Her destiny was
completed about les years before Christ,
when sparta was taken by Philippe mon, chief
Of the Achean icqgus. The city surrender
ed at discretion. but was treated as Mace
taken BY assault: the walls werc rased. and
the laws of f,ysarsus were abolished.
~ tae yeer Jesore Jesus Christ 1857, n
sHe''s' was fcSadedby Cecr5ps, Who brought