As the traveler approaches very near to Babylon, from the north, the
first great ruin, as we have already said, is the “mound of Babel,”
better known as the Mujelibé, or the “overturned,” a vast mound, from
the top of which rises a solitary mass of brick-work, and beyond which
are long undulating heaps of earth, bricks and pottery. On all sides are
fragments of glass, marble, earthen-ware, and inscribed brick, mingled
with that peculiar nitrous and blanched soil, which, bred from the
remains of ancient habitations, checks or destroys vegetation, and
renders the site of Babylon a naked and hideous waste, fit only for the
abode of owls and jackals. Southward from this spot, for nearly three
miles, there is an almost uninterrupted line of mounds, the ruins of the
vast edifices which once formed part of the city. Mr. Layard commenced
his excavations in one of these mounds, finding arrow-heads of iron and
bronze, glass bottles, colored and ribbed, and of various forms and
sizes, &c., &c., &c. On going deeper, the workmen soon reached solid
piers and walls of brick masonry, many of the bricks bearing the usual
superscription of Nebuchadnezzar; and the remains of similar buildings
were found in various places. But though Mr. Layard’s discoveries of
this kind were numerous, few things were brought to light materially
different from what had been found and described by others before him.
About the year 1850, however, the French government sent out three
gentlemen to make scientific and artistic researches in Media,
Mesopotamia, and Babylon. One, M. Jules Oppert, has just returned to
Paris, (1854,) and it appears, from his report, that he and his
colleagues thought it advisable to begin by confining themselves to the
exploration of ancient Babylon. This task was one of immense difficulty,
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 a while M.
Oppert’s two colleagues fell ill, so that all the labors of the
expedition devolved on him. He first of all made excavations of the
ruins of the famous suspended gardens of Babylon, which are now known by
the name of the hall of Amran-ibn-Ali; and obtained in them a number of
curious architectural and other objects, which are destined to be placed
in the Louvre at Paris. He next, in obedience to the special orders of
his government, took measures for ascertaining the precise extent of
Babylon, a matter which the reader is aware has always been open to
controversy. He has succeeded in making a series of minute surveys, 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 measure, (the square kilometre is eleven
hundred and ninety-six square yards.) This 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 cultivated lands and gardens, for supplying the
population with food in the event of a siege. M. Oppert has discovered
the Babylonian and Assyrian measures, and by means of them has
ascertained exactly what part of the city was inhabited, and what part
was in fields and gardens. On the limits of the town, properly so
called, stands at present the flourishing town of Hillah. 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 its
inhabitants, are taken from them also. Beyond this town is the vast
fortress, strengthened by Nebuchadnezzar, and in the midst of it is the
royal palace, itself almost as large as a 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 a site formerly called Borsippa, or
the tower of languages. The royal town, situated on the two banks of the
Euphrates, covers a space of nearly seven square kilometres, and
contains most interesting ruins. Amongst them are those of the royal
palace, the fortress, and the suspended gardens. In the collection of
curiosities which M. Oppert has brought away with him, is a vase, which
he declares to date from the time of one of the Chaldean sovereigns
named Narambel, that is, somewhere about sixteen hundred years before
Christ; also a number of copies of cuneiform inscriptions which he has
every reason to believe that he will be able to decipher. It may not be
out of place, to add, here, that in the excavations recently made in
Persia, it is said that the palace of Shushan and the tomb of Daniel
have probably been found; and also the very pavement described in Esther
i. 6, “of red, and blue, and white, and black marble.” On the tomb is
the sculptured figure of a man bound hand and foot, with a huge lion in
the act of springing upon him to devour him. No history could speak more
graphically the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Various other
discoveries have also been made, all of which bear out the statements of
the Old Testament history as to the times of the prophet, and the nation
of which he speaks.