al-Himyari’s description of Babylon (1)

Text
al-Himyari, The Scented Gardens of the History of Countries 73:
Witchcraft and wine are associated with it (= Babil). … It is said that Nimrud had founded (Babil), and that it was a city of cheerful appearance, in a beautiful setting, a brilliant construction, with spacious courtyards, that united the solidity of the construction and the splendour of the setting with a beautiful view from all sides. It had the smooth level land of a wide desert, vast squares, with on each square two enormous forts. (As for) the rest of this, its wall for example; who hears its story can hardly place credence in its description, because of the great height of its elevation and its ultimate perfection. The wall was 50 cubits (ḏirāˁ) wide with a height of 200 cubits and a circumference of 64 mīl, built with bricks that were tightly fit together. Around it a moat was dug in which the Euphrates flowed. In the wall there were 100 copper gates. The width of the wall’s upper part equalled that of its lower part. On top of it houses were built for the warriors. There were large basins that were interconnected over its entire circumference. They said: Babil was the oldest construction that was erected after the Flood. From here the descendents of Nuh (upon him be peace!) had spread. The one who had destroyed it was Kisrā I, the king of the Persians, when he triumphed over the Land of Babil. The kings of Babil were the Nabateans. They claim that they were the first kings of the earth, and that the Persians took over kingship from them, as the Romans had taken it over from the Greek. The first of their king was Nimrud. They are the ones who erected buildings, founded cities, shaped provinces, diverted canals (from rivers), ranked soldiers in battle-array and made banners and flags.

Source (list of abbreviations)
al-Himyari, The Scented Gardens of the History of Countries 73

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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