ssion of the whole land by war that we built our temple。 And this is the point that I have clearly proved out of our sacred writings in my Antiquities。
19。 I will now relate what hath been written concerning us in the Chaldean histories； which records have a great agreement with our books in oilier things also。 Berosus shall be witness to what I say： he was by birth a Chaldean； well known by the learned； on account of his publication of the Chaldean books of astronomy and philosophy among the Greeks。 This Berosus； therefore； following the most ancient records of that nation； gives us a history of the deluge of waters that then happened； and of the destruction of mankind thereby； and agrees with Moses's narration thereof。 He also gives us an account of that ark wherein Noah； the origin of our race； was preserved； when it was brought to the highest part of the Armenian mountains； after which he gives us a catalogue of the posterity of Noah； and adds the years of their chronology； and at length comes down to Nabolassar； who was king of Babylon； and of the Chaldeans。 And when he was relating the acts of this king； he describes to us how he sent his son Nabuchodonosor against Egypt； and against our land； with a great army； upon his being informed that they had revolted from him； and how； by that means； he subdued them all； and set our temple that was at Jerusalem on fire； nay； and removed our people entirely out of their own country； and transferred them to Babylon； when it so happened that our city was desolate during the interval of seventy years； until the days of Cyrus king of Persia。 He then says； 〃That this Babylonian king conquered Egypt； and Syria； and Phoenicia； and Arabia； and exceeded in his exploits all that had reigned before him in Babylon and Chaldea。〃 A little after which Berosus subjoins what follows in his History of Ancient Times。 I will set down Berosus's own accounts； which are these： 〃When Nabolassar； father of Nabuchodonosor； heard that the governor whom he had set over Egypt； and over the parts of Celesyria and Phoenicia； had revolted from him； he was not able to bear it any longer； but committing certain parts of his army to his son Nabuchodonosor； who was then but young； he sent him against the rebel： Nabuchodonosor joined battle with him； and conquered him； and reduced the country under his dominion again。 Now it so fell out that his father Nabolassar fell into a distemper at this time； and died in the city of Babylon； after he had reigned twenty…nine years。 But as he understood； in a little time； that his father Nabolassar was dead； he set the affairs of Egypt and the other countries in order； and committed the captives he had taken from the Jews； and Phoenicians； and Syrians； and of the nations belonging to Egypt； to some of his friends； that they might conduct that part of the forces that had on heavy armor； with the rest of his baggage； to Babylonia； while he went in haste； having but a few with him； over the desert to Babylon； whither； when he was come； he found the public affairs had been managed by the Chaldeans； and that the principal person among them had preserved the kingdom for him。 Accordingly； he now entirely obtained all his father's dominions。 He then came； and ordered the captives to be placed as colonies in the most proper places of Babylonia； but for himself； he adorned the temple of Belus； and the other temples； after an elegant manner； out of the spoils he had taken in this war。 He also rebuilt the old city； and added another to it on the outside； and so far restored Babylon； that none who should besiege it afterwards might have it in their power to divert the river； so as to facilitate an entrance into it； and this he did by building three walls about the inner city； and three about the outer。 Some of these walls he built of burnt brick and bitumen； and some of brick only。 So when he had thus fortified the city with walls； after an excellent manner； and had adorned the gates magnificently； he added a new palace to that which his father had dwelt in； and this close by it also； and that more eminent in its height； and in its great splendor。 It would perhaps require too long a narration； if any one were to describe it。 However； as prodigiously large and as magnificent as it was； it was finished in fifteen days。 Now in this palace he erected very high walks； supported by stone pillars； and by planting what was called a pensile paradise； and replenishing it with all sorts of trees； he rendered the prospect an exact resemblance of a mountainous country。 This he did to please his queen； because she had been brought up in Media； and was fond of a mountainous situation。〃
20。 This is what Berosus relates concerning the forementioned king； as he relates many other things about him also in the third book of his Chaldean History； wherein he complains of the Grecian writers for supposing； without any foundation； that Babylon was built by Semiramis； （14） queen of Assyria； and for her false pretense to those wonderful edifices thereto buildings at Babylon； do no way contradict those ancient and relating； as if they were her own workmanship； as indeed in these affairs the Chaldean History cannot but be the most credible。 Moreover； we meet with a confirmation of what Berosus says in the archives of the Phoenicians； concerning this king Nabuchodonosor； that he conquered all Syria and Phoenicia； in which case Philostratus agrees with the others in that history which he composed； where he mentions the siege of Tyre； as does Megasthenes also； in the fourth book of his Indian History； wherein he pretends to prove that the forementioned king of the Babylonians was superior to Hercules in strength and the greatness of his exploits； for he says that he conquered a great part of Libya； and conquered Iberia also。 Now as to what I have said before about the temple at Jerusalem； that it was fought against by the Babylonians； and burnt by them； but was opened again when Cyrus had taken the kingdom of Asia； shall now be demonstrated from what Berosus adds further upon that head； for thus he says in his third book： 〃Nabuchodonosor； after he had begun to build the forementioned wall； fell sick； and departed this life； when he had reigned forty…three years； whereupon his son Evilmerodach obtained the kingdom。 He governed public affairs after an illegal and impure manner； and had a plot laid against him by Neriglissoor； his sister's husband； and was slain by him when he had reigned but two years。 After he was slain； Neriglissoor； the person who plotted against him； succeeded him in the kingdom； and reigned four years； his son Laborosoarchod obtained the kingdom； though he was but a child； and kept it nine mouths； but by reason of the very ill temper and ill practices he exhibited to the world； a plot was laid against him also by his friends； and he was tormented to death。 After his death； the conspirators got together； and by common consent put the crown upon the head of Nabonnedus； a man of Babylon； and one who belonged to that insurrection。 In his reign it was that the walls of the city of Babylon were curiously built with burnt brick and bitumen； but when he was come to the seventeenth year of his reign； Cyrus came out of Persia with a great army； and having already conquered all the rest of Asia； he came hastily to Babylonia。 When Nabonnedus perceived he was coming to attack him； he met him with his forces； and joining battle with him was beaten； and fled away with a few of his troops with him； and was shut up within the city Borsippus。 Hereupon Cyrus took Babylon； and gave order that the outer walls of the city should be demolished； because the city had proved very troublesome to him； and cost him a great deal of pains to take it。 He then marched away to Borsippus； to besiege Nabonnedus； but as Nabonnedus did not sustain the siege； but delivered himself into his hands； he was at first kindly used by Cyrus； who gave him Carmania； as a place for him to inhabit in； but sent him out of Babylonia。 Accordingly Nabonnedus spent the rest of his time in that country； and there died。〃
21。 These accounts agree with the true histories in our books； for in them it is written that Nebuchadnezzar； in the eighteenth year of his reign； laid our temple desolate； and so it lay in that state of obscurity for fifty years； but that in the second year of the reign of Cyrus its foundations were laid； and it was finished again in the second year of Darius。 I will now add the records of the Phoenicians； for it will not be superfluous to give the reader demonstrations more than enough on this occasion。 In them we have this enumeration of the times of their several kings： 〃Nabuchodonosor besieged Tyre for thirteen years in the days of Ithobal； their king； after him reigned Baal； ten years； after him were judges appointed； who judged the people： Ecnibalus； the son of Baslacus； two months； Chelbes； the son of Abdeus； ten months； Abbar； the high priest； three months； Mitgonus and Gerastratus； the sons of Abdelemus； were judges six years； after whom Balatorus reigned one year； after his death they sent and fetched Merbalus from Babylon； who reigned four years； after his death they sent for his brother Hirom； who reigned twenty years。 Under his reign Cyrus became king of Persia。〃 So that the whole interval is fifty…four years besides three months； for in the seventh year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar he began to besiege Tyre； and Cyrus the Persian took the kingdom in the fourteenth year of Hirom。 So that the records of the Chaldeans and Tyrians agree with our writings about this temple； and the testimonies here produced are an indisputable and undeniable attestation to the antiquity of our nation。 And I suppose that what I have already said may be sufficient to such as are not very contentious。
22。 But now it is proper to satisfy the inquiry of those that disbelieve the records of barbarians； and think none but Greeks to be worthy of credit； and to produce many of these very Greeks who were acquainted with our nation； and to set before them such as upon occasion have made mention of us in their own writings。 Pythagoras； therefore； of Samos； lived in very ancient times； and was esteemed a person superior to all philosophers in wisdom and piety toward