[915] She carried back but twenty men, according to Strabo. l. 15. p. 1051.
[916] Chron. Paschale. p. 36. Semiramis was, we find, Rhea: and Rhea was the same as Cybele, the mother of the Gods: την Ῥεαν, Κιβελην, και Κυβην, και Δινδυμηνην. Strabo. l. 10. p. 721.
[917] Cononis narrationes apud Phot. p. 427.
[918] Herodot. l. 1. c. 184. five ages (γενεαι) before Nitocris the mother of Labynitus, whom Cyrus conquered.
It may be worth while to observe the different opinions of authors about the time, when Semiramis is supposed to have lived.
Years. According to Syncellus she lived before Christ 2177 Petavius makes the term 2060 Helvicus 2248 Eusebius 1984 Mr. Jackson 1964 Abp. Usher 1215 Philo Biblius from Sanchoniathon (apud Euseb. Præp. Evang. 1200 l. 1. p. 31.) about Herodotus about 713
What credit can be given to the history of a person, the time of whose life cannot be ascertained within 1535 years? for so great is the difference of the extremes in the numbers before given.
[924] Josephus cont. Ap. l. 1. c. 19. p. 451.
[928] Semiramis teneros mares castravit omnium prima. Marcellinus. l. 14. c. 6.
[929] Σεμιραμις λαγνος γυνη, και μιαιφονος. Athenag. Legatio. p. 307.
[931] This is the reason that we find these kingdoms so often confounded, and the Babylonians continually spoken of as Assyrians, and sometimes as Persians. Βαβυλων Περσικη πολις. Steph. Byz.
[933] These mounds were high altars, upon which they sacrificed to the Sun. By Ctesias they are supposed to have been the tombs of her lovers, whom she buried alive. Syncellus. p. 64.
[934] They built Babylon itself; which by Eupolemus was said to have been the work of Belus, and the Giants. Euseb. Præp. l. 9. c. 17. p. 418. Quint. Curt. l. 5. c. 1. Abydenus apud Euseb. Præp. l. 9. c. 15. Syncellus. p. 44.
[935] Clemens Alexand. Strom. l. 1. p. 364.
[936] He ordered it to be inscribed upon his tomb, ὁτι και Μαγικων γενοιτο διδασκαλος. Porph. de Abstin. l. 4. p. 399.
[937] By Zoroaster was denoted both the Deity, and also his priest. It was a name conferred upon many personages.
[938] Zerdûsht, seu, ut semel cum vocali damna scriptum vidi, Zordush't, idem est, qui Græcis sonat Ζωροαστρης. Hyde Relig. Vet. Persar. c. 24. p. 312.
[942] Ibid. l. 5. p. 711. Ταδε συνεγραφεν Ζοροαστρης ὁ Αρμενιου το γενος Παμφυλος. κλ. Εν αδῃ γενομενος εδαην παρα Θεων.