I myself have not seen it, but I relate what is told by the Chaldeans. Darius son of Hystaspes proposed to take this statue but dared not; Xerxes his son took it, and killed the priest who warned him not to move the statue. Such is the furniture of this temple, and there are many private offerings besides.

Now among the many rulers of this city of Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon (whom I shall mention in my Assyrian history) who finished the building of the walls and the temples, there were two that were women. The first of these lived five generations earlier than the second, and her name was Semiramis: it was she who built dikes on the plain, a notable work; before that the whole plain used to be flooded by the river.

The second queen, whose name was Nitocris, was a wiser woman than the first. She left such monuments as I shall record; and moreover, seeing that the kingdom of Media was great and restless and Nineveh (deserted settlement), Ninawa, Iraq, Asia Ninus itself among other cities had fallen to it, she took such precautions as she could for her protection.

First she dealt with the river Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates, which flows through the middle of her city; this had been straight before; but by digging canals higher up she made the river so crooked that its course now passes one of the Assyrian villages three times; the village which is so approached by the Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates is called Ardericca. And now those who travel from our sea to Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon must spend three days as they float down the Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates coming three times to the same village.

Such was this work; and she built an embankment along either shore of the river, marvellous for its greatness and height.