Hexapla in Danielem: that is, A six-fold commentarie vpon the most diuine prophesie of Daniel wherein according to the method propounded in Hexapla vpon Genesis and Exodus, sixe things are obserued in euery chapter. 1. The argument and method. 2. The diuers readings. 3. The questions discussed. 4. Doctrines noted. 5. Controversies handled. 6. Morall observations applyed. Wherein many obscure visions, and diuine prophesies are opened, and difficult questions handled with great breuitie, perspicuitie, and varietie ... and the best interpreters both old and new are therein abridged. Diuided into two bookes ... By Andrevv Willet Professour of Diuinitie. The first booke.

Quest. 35. Of the greatnesse of the citie Babylon.

The greatnesse thereof is thus described by Herodotus,* 1.1 he writeth that the citie was foure square, and each square contained in length an 120. furlongs, so that the fower squares or sides made 480. furlongs, the walls were 50. cubits thicke, and 200. cubits high, and in the compasse of the walls there were an 100. brasen gates, with their hinges and posts: other writers doe somewhat varie from this description.* 1.2 Plinie maketh the walls 200. foote high, and 50. foote broad, and in compasse 60. miles. Diodorus saith that the wall was 360. fur∣longs in compasse, according to the number of the dayes in the yeare, so that euery day a furlong of the wall was built, and the whole finished in a yeare, there beeing vsed thereto of workmen 13. hundred thousand; the walls were so thicke as 6. carts might meete in the breadth; the towers were 250. and the height thereof 365. foote, there was the space of two furlongs betweene the wall and the houses, for the more speedie building of the wall.

Strabo giueth vnto the compasse of the walls 380. furlongs,* 1.3 the thickenes was 30. foote, the height 50 cubites, and the towers aboue the walls were 60. cubites high.

Q. Curtius saith the walls were in compasse 368. furlongs, in thicknesse 32. feete, that carts might meete thereon, they were an 100. cubits high, and the towers tenne cubites higher then the walls.

Lyranus out of Hierome thus setteth it downe, that Babylon was fowre square and e∣uerie side contained in length 16. miles: for within the citie the houses were not close built, but euery one had his vineyards and fields, that they might sowe in the time of famine or siege, and maintaine themselues within the citie.

Aristotle making mention of Babylon,* 1.4 saith it had the compasse rather of a countrie then a citie, beeing of such greatnesse that some part of it was taken three dayes before the other heard of it: and therefore a citie he would not haue to be esteemed by the walls.

But though the reports of writers are somewhat diuerse, it is out of doubt that it was a great citie, and the walls thereof both of great thicknesse and height: as the Prophet Iere∣mie witnesseth, cap. 51. the thicke wall of Babylon shall be broken, and the high gates burnt.

There was also in the middes of the citie a great tower, which was the Temple of Belus, with brasen gates, which Herodotus saith remained vntill his time,* 1.5 it had in compasse euery way beeing foure square 2. furlongs, and in the mids thereof a turret of a furlong high, and an other aboue that of the same height, vntill they came to the eight.* 1.6 Diodorus saith it was so high, that the Chaldeans thereon made obseruation of the starres toward the east and west. Curtius saith, that this tower of Babylon had 20. stadia or furlongs in compasse,* 1.7 the foun∣dation whereof was 30. foot deepe in the ground: By these euidences it appeareth, that this Babylon was a citie of huge bignesse, and therefore the king calleth it here great Babell.

Niniue had beene as great a citie or greater, beeing 60. miles in compasse, the walls were an 100. foote high, and the towers 200. whereof there were an 150.* 1.8 but Niniue was now much empayred and decayed, and Babylon was made the chiefe citie of the kingdome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Herod. lib. 1.
• * 1.2

  lib. 6. c. 26. lib. 2. c. 4.
• * 1.3

  lib. 16.
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉 2.
• * 1.5

  lib 1.
• * 1.6

  lib 3 c. ••.
• * 1.7

  lib. 5.
• * 1.8

  Strabo. lib. 16.