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Babylon

Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia

(confusion) (Gen. 10:10; 2 Kings 17:24; 2 Chron. 32:31, and elsewhere) was the capital of Chaldea and one of the most ancient and richest cities in the world. It was built by Nimrod, son of Cush, a descendant of Ham, who made this city the capital of his kingdom. According to Herodotus, Babylon, situated on both banks of the river Euphrates, was in its form a perfect quadrangle, or square, built upon an enormous plain; the circumference of the city was 60 English miles, 15 miles on each side.

The thickness of the walls was 86 feet, so that on their surface six chariots could drive abreast, and their height reached as much as 334 feet. Upon the walls rose 250 towers, with a hundred gates cast of bronze. The walls were built of large bricks set in bituminous cement.

Scripture cited

Genesis 10:104 Kingdoms 17:242 Chronicles 32:31

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