The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-02-17
Ancient BABYLON.

Ancient Babylon.
It will not be forgotten that the French
government, two or three years ago, sent
three gentlemen to make scientific and ar
tistic researches in Media, Mesopotamia and
Babylon. One of them, M. Jules Oppert,
has just returned to Paris, and it appears
from his report that he and his colleagues
thought it advisable to begin by confning
themselves to the exploration of ancient
Babylon. The task was of immense diff
Guilty, and it was enhanced by the excessive
heat of the sun, by privations of all kinds,
and by the incessant hostility of the Arabs.
After while M. Oppert's two colleagues
fell i'll, SO that all the labors of the expedi-
tion devolved on him. He first of all made
excavations of the ruins of the famous sus-
pended gardens of Babylon, which are now
known by the name of the Hall Amron-ila-
Ali, and he obtained in them a number Of
curious architectural and other objects, which
are destined 10 be placed in the Louvre at
Paris. He next, in obedience TO the special
orders OF the government, took measures foT
ascertaining the precise extent of Babylon,
a matter which the reader is aware has al
ways been open for controversy. He has
succeeded in making series of minute sur
veys, and in drawing up detailed plans of
the immense city. His opinion is, that
even the largest calculations as to its vast
extent, are not exaggerated: and he puts
down that extent at the astounding figure of
five hundred square kilometres. French
measures, (the square kilometre is, 1896
square yards::) Th.s is very nearly eighteen
times the size of Paris. But of course he
does not say that this enormous area was
occupied, or anything like it; it comprised
within the walls huge tracts of land and
gardens for supplying the population with
food in the event of siege. M. Oppert has
discovered the Babylonisn and Assyrian
measures, and by means Of them has ssceI-
tained exactly what part of the city was
inhabited and what part was the fields end
gardens. On the limits Of the town, pro-
perly so-called, stands at present the -four
ishng town of Hllah. This town, situated
on the banks of the Euphrates, is built with
bricks from the ruins, and many of the
household utensils and personal ornaments
Of the inhabitants are taken from them also.
Beyond this town is the vast fortress
strengthened by Nebuchadnezzer, and in the
midst of it is the royal palace, itself al
most as large as the town. M. Oppert says
that he was also able to distinguish the ruins
of the famous Tower Of Babel; they are
most imposing. and stand on site for
merry Cailtu Dotsippd, VI tlie AoWeI VI baIi-
guages. The royal town, situated on the
two banks of the Euphrates. covers a space
of nearly seven square kilometres, and con-
tains most interesting ruins. Amongst
them are those Of the royal palace. the for
tress and the suspended gardens. In the
collection Of curiosities which M. Oppert
has brought away with him is vase which
he declares to date from the time of one of
the Chaldesn sovereigns named Narambel;
this is, somewhere about one thousand six
hundred years before Christ also number
of copies Of cuneiform inscriptions, which
he has every reason to believe that he will b,
able to decipher.