Curtius’ description of Babylon (1)

Text
Quintus Curtius, History of Alexander 5.1.24-27:
But the beauty and antiquity of the city itself drew to it the eyes, not only of the king (Alexander), but also of all, and deservedly. Semiramis had founded it, not, as many have believed, Belus, whose palace is still pointed out. Its wall, built of small baked brick, cemented with bitumen covers a space of 32 feet in width; it is said that two four-horse chariots can meet and pass each other without risk. The wall rises to a height of 50 cubits; the towers are ten feet higher than the walls. The circuit of the entire work embraces 365 stadia; there is a tradition that the building of each stade was finished in a single day. The edifices of the city are not brought close to the walls, but are distant from them about the space of one iuger. And they have not occupied the whole city either with houses - 80 stadia are occupied by these - and they are not all continuous, I suppose because it seemed safer to them to be scattered over numerous places. The spaces which remain they sow and cultivate, in order that, if a force from without should assail them, supplies may be furnished to the besieged from the soil of the city itself.

Source (list of abbreviations) (source links will open in a new browser window)
Quintus Curtius, History of Alexander 5.1.24-27

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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