The building of Babylon (2)

Text
Yaqut al-Rumi, Book of Countries 1.448:
Abu Mundir Hisham b. Muhammad said: the city of Babil measured twelve parasangs by about the same. Its gate was adjacent to al-Kufa. The Euphrates used to flow by Babil, until Buht Nassar (= Nebuchadnezzar) diverted it to its present-day location, fearing that the city wall would be torn down there, since the Euphrates formerly flowed alongside of it. He (also) said: the city of Babil was built by the giant Biyurasib. Its name was derived from Jupiter’s name, because Bel is a name for Jupiter in the original Babylonian tongue. When he had finished its construction, he assembled there all the scientists he could (find) and built for them twelve palaces, corresponding to the number of signs in the Zodiac. He named those palaces after them. Babil remained inhabited util Alexander came; he was the one who destroyed it.

Source (list of abbreviations)
Yaqut al-Rumi, Book of Countries 1.448

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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