e, they turned the course of the river, and
laid its channel dry, having another view in so doing, besides that of
laying the foundations more commodiously, as I shall explain hereafter.
And as every thing was prepared beforehand, both the bridge and the quays,
which I have already described, were built in that interval.

III. _The Lake, Ditches, and Canals, made for the draining __ of the
River._--These works, objects of admiration for the skilful in all ages,
were still more useful than magnificent.(985) In the beginning of the
summer, on the sun's melting the snow on the mountains of Armenia, there
arises a vast increase of waters, which, running into the Euphrates in the
months of June, July, and August, makes it overflow its banks, and
occasion such another inundation as the Nile does in Egypt. To prevent the
damage which both the city and country received from these inundations, at
a very considerable distance above the town two artificial canals were
cut, which turned the course of these waters into the Tigris, before they
reached Babylon.(986) And to secure the country yet more from the danger
of inundations, and to keep the river within its channel, they raised
prodigious banks on both sides the river, built with brick cemented with
bitumen, which began at the head of the artificial canals, and extended
below the city.(987)

To facilitate the making of these works, it was necessary to turn the
course of the river, for which purpose, to the west of Babylon, was dug a
prodigious artificial lake, forty miles square,(988) one hundred and sixty
in compass, and thirty-five feet deep, according to Herodotus, and
seventy-five, according to Megasthenes. Into this lake was the whole river
turned, by an artificial canal cut from the west side of it, till the
whole work was finished, when it was made to flow in its former channel.
But that the Euphrates, in the time of its increase, might not overflow
the city, through the gates on its sides, this lake, with the canal from
the river, was still preserved. The water received into the lake at the
time of these overflowings was kept there all the year, as in a common
reservoir, for the benefit of the country, to be let out by sluices, at
convenient times for the watering of the lands below it. The lake,
therefore, was equally useful in defending the country from inundations,
and making it fertile. I relate the wonders of Babylon as they are
delivered down to us by the ancients