Page:Light and truth.djvu/98

96 inhabited chiefly by shepherds, though it is one of the Stopping-places of the Persian caravans. The original city was plundered by Cyrus, and afterwards desolated by an earthquake, the ruins of it being still visible a little distance to the south of the present town.

. (Ezek. iii. 15.) A town on the river Chebar, where Ezekiel and many of the Jewish exiles dwelt. Its site is supposed to be occupied by the modern Thelabar.

. (Acts xvi. 8.) A maritime city of Mysia, on the Mediterranean, near the mouth of the Hellespont, four miles from the ancient Troy, and built chiefly with materials from its ruins. The celebrated siege and capture of Troy occurred, according to Sir Isaac Newton, about 904 years B. C. or during the reign of Jehosaphat. Paul visited Troas repeatedly.—(Acts xx. 5—12; 2 Cor. ii. 12; 2 Tim. iv. 13.)

. (Ezek. xxvii. 10.) An ancient kingdom of Asia, whose limits have varied considerably at different periods. The kingdom, as such, Was founded by Cyrus, its inhabitants having been anciently called Elamites, from their ancestor Elain, the son of Shem, and in later times Parthians. The thrones of Media and Persia were united under Cyrus, B.C. 536, (Comp. Dan. vi. 8, 12;) and indeed the whole country, from Egypt to the Ganges, became incorporated in what was called the Persian empire.

The celebrated city of. The following is a correct view of the celebrated ruins of Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia, which, in the days of its prosperity, was one of the wealthiest and most ancient cities of the world. The magnificent pile of ruins, which remains after the lapse of so many ages, was the palace of Darius. This grand and stately structure was surrounded with a triple wall; the first wall was 16 cubits high, and adorned with many splendid buildings and lofty towers; the second wall was built in the same manner, but was as high again; the third was drawn like a