136 Around the temple were many courts and buildings, and the whole was enclosed by a wall, in which were several gates of brass. This wall was more than half a mile in length on each side. Besides the temple of Belus, there were several other idol temples in Babylon. The temple of Mylitta, or Venus, was much celebrated, and also the temple of Nebo. The new palace of Nebuchadnezzar stood on the west side of the river, next to the bridge. It was surrounded by three walls, one within another, and the buildings were ranged around several open courts. Nebuchadnezzar had married Amyitis, the daughter of Astyages, king of Media. Accustomed to the hills and woods of hár own country, her cye grew weary of the rich but level plains of Babylonia. To gratify her, therefore, Nebuchadnezzar began to raise an artificial mountain by the side of his new - palace, and within the walls which enclosed it. It WaS made in the following manner. Strong and high arches were buil: upon the ground, surrounded by a thick square wall of four hundred feet in length on
