Part 17

In these conquests are involved on the west and south side of _Assyria_, the Kingdoms of _Mesopotamia_, whose royal seats were _Haran_ or _Carrhæ_, and _Carchemish_ or _Circutium_, and _Sepharvaim_, a city upon _Euphrates_, between _Babylon_ and _Nineveh_, called _Sipparæ_ by _Berosus_, _Abydenus_, and _Polyhistor_, and _Sipphara_ by _Ptolomy_; and the Kingdoms of _Syria_ seated at _Samaria_, _Damascus_, _Gath_, _Hamath_, _Arpad_, and _Reseph_, a city placed by _Ptolomy_ near _Thapsacus_: on the south side and south east side were _Babylon_ and _Calneh_, or _Calno_, a city which was founded by _Nimrod_, where _Bagdad_ now stands, and gave the name of _Chalonitis_ to a large region under its government; and _Thelasar_ or _Talatha_, a city of the children of _Eden_, placed by _Ptolomy_ in _Babylonia_, upon the common stream of _Tigris_ and _Euphrates_, which was therefore the river of Paradise; and the _Archevites_ at _Areca_ or _Erech_, a city built by _Nimrod_ on the east side of _Pasitigris_, between _Apamia_ and the _Persian Gulph_; and the _Susanchites_ at _Cuth_, or _Susa_, the metropolis of _Susiana_: on the east were _Elymais_, and some cities of the _Medes_, and _Kir_, [352] a city and large region of _Media_, between _Elymais_, and _Assyria_, called _Kirene_ by the _Chaldee_ Paraphrast and _Latin_ Interpreter, and _Carine_ by _Ptolomy_: on the north-east were _Habor_ or _Chaboras_, a mountainous region between _Assyria_ and _Media_; and the _Apharsachites_, or men of _Arrapachitis_, a region originally peopled by _Arphaxad_, and placed by _Ptolomy_ at the bottom of the mountains next _Assyria_: and on the north between _Assyria_ and the _Gordiæan_ mountains was _Halah_ or _Chalach_, the metropolis of _Calachene_: and beyond these upon the _Caspian_ sea was _Gozan_, called _Gauzania_ by _Ptolomy_. Thus did these new conquests extend every way from the province of _Assyria_ to considerable distances, and make up the great body of that Monarchy: so that well might the King of _Assyria_ boast how his armies had destroyed all lands. All these nations [353] had 'till now their several Gods, and each accounted his God the God of his own land, and the defender thereof, against the Gods of the neighbouring countries, and particularly against the Gods of _Assyria_; and therefore they were never 'till now united under the _Assyrian_ Monarchy, especially since the King of _Assyria_ doth not boast of their being conquered by the _Assyrians_ oftner than once: but these being small Kingdoms the King of _Assyria_ easily overflowed them: _Know ye not_, saith [354] _Sennacherib_ to the _Jews_, _what I and my fathers have done unto all the People of other lands?--for no God of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?_ He and his fathers therefore, _Pul_, _Tiglath-pileser_, and _Shalmaneser_, were great conquerors, and with a current of victories had newly overflowed all nations round about _Assyria_, and thereby set up this Monarchy.

Between the Reigns of _Jeroboam_ II, and his son _Zachariah_, there was an interregnum of about ten or twelve years in the Kingdom of _Israel_: and the prophet _Hosea_ [355] in the time of that interregnum, or soon after, mentions the King of _Assyria_ by the name of _Jareb_, and another conqueror by the name of _Shalman_; and perhaps _Shalman_ might be the first part of the name of _Shalmaneser_, and _Iareb_, or _Irib_, for it may be read both ways, the last part of the name of his successor _Sennacherib_: but whoever these Princes were, it appears not that they Reigned before _Shalmaneser_. _Pul_, or _Belus_, seems to be the first who carried on his conquests beyond the province of _Assyria_: he conquered _Calneh_ with its territories in the Reign of _Jerboam_, _Amos_ i. 1. vi. 2. & _Isa._ x. 8, 9. and invaded _Israel_ in the Reign of _Menahem_, 2 _King._ xv. 19. but stayed not in the land, being bought off by _Menahem_ for a thousand talents of silver: in his Reign therefore the Kingdom of _Assyria_ was advanced on this side _Tigris_: for he was a great warrior, and seems to have conquered _Haran_, and _Carchemish_, and _Reseph_, and _Calneh_, and _Thelasar_, and might found or enlarge the city of _Babylon_, and build the old palace.

_Herodotus_ tells us, that one of the gates of _Babylon_ was [356] called the gate of _Semiramis_, and than she adorned the walls of the city, and the Temple of _Belus_, and that she [357] was five Generations older than _Nitocris_ the mother of _Labynitus_, or _Nabonnedus_, the last King of _Babylon_; and therefore she flourished four Generations, or about 134 years, before _Nebuchadnezzar_ , and by consequence in the Reign of _Tiglath-pileser_ the successor of _Pul_: and the followers of _Ctesias_ tell us, that she built _Babylon_, and was the widow of the son and successor of _Belus_, the founder of the _Assyrian_ Empire; that is, the widow of one of the sons of _Pul_: but [358] _Berosus_ a _Chaldæan_ blames the _Greeks_ for ascribing the building of _Babylon_ to _Semiramis_; and other authors ascribe the building of this city to _Belus_ himself, that is to _Pul_; so _Curtius_ [359] tells us; _Semiramis Babylonem condiderat, vel ut plerique credidere Belus, cujus regia ostenditur_: and _Abydenus_, who had his history from the ancient monuments of the _Chaldæans_, writes, [360] Λεγεται Βηλον Βαβυλωνα τειχει περιβαλειν· τωι χρονωι δε τωι ικνευμενωι αφανισθηναι. τειχισαι δε αυθις Ναβουχοδονοσορον, το μεχρι της Μακεδονιων αρχης διαμειναν εον χαλκοπυλον. _'Tis reported that _Belus_ compassed _Babylon_ with a wall, which in time was abolished: and that _Nebuchadnezzar_ afterwards built a new wall with brazen gates, which stood 'till the time of the _Macedonian_ Empire_: and so _Dorotheas_ [361] an ancient Poet of _Sidon_;

Αρχαιη Βαβυλων, Τυριου Βηλοιο πολισμα. _The ancient city _Babylon_ built by the _Tyrian Belus__;

That is, by the _Syrian_ or _Assyrian_ _Belus_; the words _Tyrian_, _Syrian_, and _Assyrian_, being anciently used promiscuously for one another: _Herennius_ [362] tells us, that it was built by the son of _Belus_; and this son might be _Nabonassar_. After the conquest of _Calneh_, _Thelasar_, and _Sippare_, _Belus_ might seize _Chaldæa_, and begin to build _Babylon_, and leave it to his younger son: for all the Kings of _Babylon_ in the Canon of _Ptolemy_ are called _Assyrians_, and _Nabonassar_ is the first of them: and _Nebuchadnezzar_ [363] reckoned himself descended from _Belus_, that is, from the _Assyrian_ _Pul_: and the building of _Babylon_ is ascribed to the _Assyrians_ by [364] _Isaiah_: _Behold_, saith he, _the land of the _Chaldeans_: This people was not 'till the _Assyrian_ founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness, _[that is, for the _Arabians_.]_ They set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof_. From all this it seems therefore that _Pul_ founded the walls and the palaces of _Babylon_, and left the city with the province of _Chaldæa_ to his younger son _Nabonassar_; and that _Nabonassar_ finished what his father began, and erected the Temple of _Jupiter Belus_ to his father: and that _Semiramis_ lived in those days, and was the Queen of _Nabonassar_, because one of the gates of _Babylon_ was called the gate of _Semiramis_, as _Herodotus_ affirms: but whether she continued to Reign there after her husband's death may be doubted.

_Pul_ therefore was succeeded at _Nineveh_ by his elder son _Tiglath-pileser_, at the same time that he left _Babylon_ to his younger son _Nabonassar_. _Tiglath-pileser_, the second King of _Assyria_, warred in _Phœnicia_, and captivated _Galilee_ with the two Tribes and an half, in the days of _Pekah_ King of _Israel_, and placed them in _Halah_, and _Habor_, and _Hara_, and at the river _Gozan_, places lying on the western borders of _Media_, between _Assyria_ and the _Caspian_ sea, 2 _King._ xv. 29, &: 1 _Chron._ v. 26. and about the fifth or sixth year of _Nabonassar_, he came to the assistance of the King of _Judah_ against the Kings of _Israel_ and _Syria_, and overthrew the Kingdom of _Syria_, which had been seated at _Damascus_ ever since the days of King _David_, and carried away the _Syrians_ to _Kir_ in _Media_, as _Amos_ had prophesied, and placed other nations in the regions of _Damascus_, 2 _King._ xv. 37, & xvi. 5, 9. _Amos_ i. 5. _Joseph. Antiq._ l. 9. c. 13. whence it seems that the _Medes_ were conquered before, and that the Empire of the _Assyrians_ was now grown great: for _the God of _Israel_ stirred up the spirit of _Pul_ King of _Assyria_, and the spirit of _Tiglath-pileser_ King of _Assyria__ to make war, 1 _Chron._ v. 26.

_Shalmaneser_ or _Salmanasser_, called _Enemessar_ by _Tobit_, invaded [365] all _Phœnicia_, took the city of _Samaria_, and captivated _Israel_, and placed them in _Chalach_ and _Chabor_, by the river _Gozan_, and in the cities of the _Medes_; and _Hosea_ [366] seems to say that he took _Arbela_: and his successor _Sennacherib_ said that his fathers had conquered also _Gozan_, and _Haran_ or _Carrhæ_, and _Reseph_ or _Resen_, and the children of _Eden_, and _Arpad_ or the _Aradii_, 2 _King._ xix. 12.

_Sennacherib_ the son of _Shalmaneser_ in the 14th year of _Hezekiah_ invaded _Phœnicia_, and took several cities of _Judah_, and attempted _Egypt_; and _Sethon_ or _Sevechus_ King of _Egypt_ and _Tirhakah_ King of _Ethiopia_ coming against him, he lost in one night 185000 men, as some say by a plague, or perhaps by lightning, or a fiery wind which blows sometimes in the neighbouring deserts, or rather by being surprised by _Sethon_ and _Tirhakah_: for the _Egyptians_ in memory of this action erected a statue to _Sethon_, holding in his hand a mouse, the _Egyptian_ symbol of destruction. Upon this defeat _Sennacherib_ returned in haste to _Nineveh_, and [367] his Kingdom became troubled, so that _Tobit_ could not go into _Media_, the _Medes_ I think at this time revolting: and he was soon after slain by two of his sons who fled into _Armenia_, and his son _Asserhadon_ succeeded him. At that time did _Merodach Baladan_ or _Mardocempad_ King of _Babylon_ send an embassy to _Hezekiah_ King of _Judah_.

_Asserhadon_, [368] called _Sarchedon_ by _Tobit_, _Asordan_ by the LXX, and _Assaradin_ in _Ptolomy_'s Canon, began his Reign at _Nineveh_, in the year of _Nabonassar_ 42; and in the year 68 extended it over _Babylon_: then he carried the remainder of the _Samaritans_ into captivity, and peopled _Samaria_ with captives brought from several parts of his Kingdom, the _Dinaites_, the _Apharsachites_, the _Tarpelites_, the _Apharsites_, the _Archevites_, the _Babylonians_, the _Susanchites_, the _Dehavites_, the _Elamites_, _Ezra_ iv. 2, 9. and therefore he Reigned over all these nations. _Pekah_ and _Rezin_ Kings of _Samaria_ and _Damascus_, invaded _Judæa_ in the first year of _Ahaz_, and within 65 years after, that is in the 21st year of _Manasseh_, _Anno Nabonass._ 69, _Samaria_ by this captivity ceased to be a people, _Isa._ vii. 8. Then _Asserhadon_ invaded _Judæa_, took _Azoth_, carried _Manasseh_ captive to _Babylon_, and [369] captivated also _Egypt_, _Thebais_, and _Ethiopia_ above _Thebais_: and by this war he seems to have put an end to the Reign of the _Ethiopians_ over _Egypt_, in the year of _Nabonassar_ 77 or 78.

In the Reign of _Sennacherib_ and _Asserhadon_, the _Assyrian_ Empire seems arrived at its greatness, being united under one Monarch, and containing _Assyria_, _Media_, _Apolloniatis_, _Susiana_, _Chaldæa_, _Mesopotamia_, _Cilicia_, _Syria_, _Phœnicia_, _Egypt_, _Ethiopia_, and part of _Arabia_, and reaching eastward into _Elymais_, and _Parætacene_, a province of the _Medes_: and if _Chalach_ and _Chabor_ be _Colchis_ and _Iberia_, as some think, and as may seem probable from the circumcision used by those nations 'till the days of _Herodotus_, we are also to add these two Provinces, with the two _Armenia's_, _Pontus_ and _Cappadocia_, as far as to the river _Halys_: for [370] _Herodotus_ tells us, that the people of _Cappadocia_ as far as to that river were called _Syrians_ by the _Greeks_, both before and after the days or _Cyrus_, and that the _Assyrians_ were also called _Syrians_ by the _Greeks_.

Yet the _Medes_ revolted from the _Assyrians_ in the latter end of the Reign of _Sennacherib_, I think upon the slaughter of his army near _Egypt_ and his flight to _Nineveh_: for at that time the estate of _Sennacherib_ was troubled, so that _Tobit_ could not go into _Media_ as he had done before, _Tobit_ i. 15. and some time after, _Tobit_ advised his son to go into _Media_ where he might expect peace, while _Nineveh_, according to the prophesy of _Jonah_, should be destroyed. _Ctesias_ wrote that _Arbaces_ a _Mede_ being admitted to see _Sardanapalus_ in his palace, and observing his voluptuous life amongst women, revolted with the _Medes_, and in conjunction with _Belesis_ a _Babylonian_ overcame him, and caused him to set fire to his palace and burn himself: but he is contradicted by other authors of better credit; for _Duris_ and [371] many others wrote that _Arbaces_ upon being admitted into the palace of _Sardanapalus_, and seeing his effeminate life, slew himself; and _Cleitarchus_, that _Sardanapalus_ died of old age, after he had lost his dominion over _Syria_: he lost it by the revolt of the western nations; and _Herodotus_ [372] tells us, that the _Medes_ revolted first, and defended their liberty by force of arms against the _Assyrians_, without conquering them; and at their first revolting had no King, but after some time set up _Dejoces_ over them, and built _Ecbatane_ for his residence; and that _Dejoces_ Reigned only over _Media_, and had a peaceable Reign of 54 years, but his son and successor _Phraortes_ made war upon his neighbours, and conquered _Persia_; and that the _Syrians_ also, and other western nations, at length revolted from the _Assyrians_, being encouraged thereunto by the example of the _Medes_; and that after the revolt of the western nations, _Phraortes_ invaded the _Assyrians_, but was slain by them in that war, after he had Reigned twenty and two years. He was succeeded by _Astyages_.

Now _Asserhadon_ seems to be the _Sardanapalus_ who died of old age after the revolt of _Syria_, the name _Sardanapalus_ being derived from _Asserhadon-Pul_. _Sardanapalus_ was the [373] son of _Anacyndaraxis_, _Cyndaraxis_, or _Anabaxaris_, King of _Assyria_; and this name seems to have been corruptly written for _Sennacherib_ the father of _Asserhadon_. _Sardanapalus_ built _Tarsus_ and _Anchiale_ in one day, and therefore Reigned over _Cilicia_, before the revolt of the western nations: and if he be the same King with _Asserhadon_, he was succeeded by _Saosduchinus_ in the year of _Nabonassar_ 81; and by this revolution _Manasseh_ was set at liberty to return home and fortify _Jerusalem_: and the _Egyptians_ also, after the _Assyrians_ had harrassed _Egypt_ and _Ethiopia_ three years, _Isa._ xx. 3, 4. were set at liberty, and continued under twelve contemporary Kings of their own nation, as above. The _Assyrians_ invaded and conquered the _Egyptians_ the first of the three years, and Reigned over them two years more: and these two years are the interregnum which _Africanus_, from _Manetho_, places next before the twelve Kings. The _Scythians_ of _Touran_ or _Turquestan_ beyond the river _Oxus_ began in those days to infest _Persia_, and by one of their inroads might give occasion to the revolt of the western nations.

In the year of _Nabonassar_ 101, _Saosduchinus_, after a Reign of twenty years, was succeeded at _Babylon_ by _Chyniladon_, and I think at _Nineveh_ also, for I take _Chyniladon_ to be that _Nabuchodonosor_ who is mentioned in the book of _Judith_; for the history of that King suits best with these times: for there it is said that __Nabuchodonosor_ King of the _Assyrians_ who Reigned at _Nineveh_, that great city, in the twelfth year of his Reign made war upon _Arphaxad_ King of the _Medes__, and was then left alone by a defection of the auxiliary nations of _Cilicia_, _Damascus_, _Syria_, _Phœnicia_, _Moab_, _Ammon_, and _Egypt_; and without their help routed the army of the _Medes_, and slew _Arphaxad_: and _Arphaxad_ is there said to have built _Ecbatane_ and therefore was either _Dejoces_, or his son _Phraortes_, who might finish the city founded by his father: and _Herodotus_ [374] tells the same story of a King of _Assyria_, who routed the _Medes_, and slew their King _Phraortes_; and saith that in the time of this war the _Assyrians_ were left alone by the defection of the auxiliary nations, being otherwise in good condition: _Arphaxad_ was therefore the _Phraortes_ of _Herodotus_, and by consequence was slain near the beginning of the Reign of _Josiah_: for this war was made after _Phœnicia_, _Moab_, _Ammon_, and _Egypt_ had been conquered and revolted, _Judith_ i. 7, 8, 9. and by consequence after the Reign of _Asserhadon_ who conquered them: it was made when the _Jews_ were newly returned from captivity, _and the Vessels and Altar and Temple were sanctified after the profanation_, _Judith_ iv. 3. that is soon after _Manasseh_ their King had been carried captive to _Babylon_ by _Asserhadon_; and upon the death of that King, or some other change in the _Assyrian_ Empire, had been released with the _Jews_ from that captivity, and had repaired the Altar, and restored the sacrifices and worship of the Temple, 2 _Chron._ xxxiii. 11, 16. In the _Greek_ version of the book of _Judith_, chap. v. 18. it is said, that _the Temple of God was cast to the ground_; but this is not said in _Jerom_'s version; and in the _Greek_ version, chap. iv. 3, and chap. xvi. 20, it is said, that _the vessels, and the altar, and the house were sanctified after the prophanation_, and in both versions, chap. iv. 11, the Temple is represented standing.

After this war _Nabuchodonosor_ King of _Assyria_, in the 13th year of his Reign, according to the version of _Jerom_, sent his captain _Holofernes_ with a great army to avenge himself on all the west country; because they had disobeyed his commandment: and _Holofernes_ went forth with an army of 12000 horse, and 120000 foot of _Assyrians_, _Medes_ and _Persians_, and reduced _Cilicia_, _Mesopotamia_, and _Syria_, and _Damascus_, and part of _Arabia_, and _Ammon_, and _Edom_, and _Madian_, and then came against _Judæa_: and this was done when the government was in the hands of the High-Priest and Antients of _Israel_, _Judith_ iv. 8. and vii. 23. and by consequence not in the Reign of _Manasseh_ or _Amon_, but when _Josiah_ was a child. In times of prosperity the children of _Israel_ were apt to go after false Gods, and in times of affliction to repent and turn to the Lord. So _Manasseh_ a very wicked King, being captivated by the _Assyrians_, repented; and being released from captivity restored the worship of the true God: So when we are told that _Josiah in the eighth year of his Reign, while he was yet young, began to seek after the God of _David_ his father, and in the twelfth year of his Reign began to purge _Judah_ and _Jerusalem_ from Idolatry, and to destroy the High Places, and Groves, and Altars and Images of Baalim_, 2 _Chron_. xxxiv. 3. we may understand that these acts of religion were occasioned by impending dangers, and escapes from danger. When _Holofernes_ came against the western nations, and spoiled them, then were the _Jews_ terrified, and they fortified _Judæa_, and _cryed unto God with great fervency, and humbled themselves in sackcloth, and put ashes on their heads, and cried unto the God of _Israel_ that he would not give their wives and their children and cities for a prey, and the Temple for a profanation: and the High-priest, and all the Priests put on sackcloth and ashes, and offered daily burnt offerings with vows and free gifts of the people_, _Judith_ iv. and then began _Josiah_ to seek after the God of his father _David_: and after _Judith_ had slain _Holofernes_, and the _Assyrians_ were fled, and the _Jews_ who pursued them were returned to _Jerusalem_, _they worshipped the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and gifts, and continued feasting before the sanctuary for the space of three months_, _Judith_ xvi. 18, and then did _Josiah_ purge _Judah_ and _Jerusalem_ from Idolatry. Whence it seems to me that the eighth year of _Josiah_ fell in with the fourteenth or fifteenth of _Nabuchodonosor_, and that the twelfth year of _Nabuchodonosor_, in which _Phraortes_ was slain, was the fifth or sixth of _Josiah_. _Phraortes_ Reigned 22 years according to _Herodotus_, and therefore succeeded his father _Dejoces_ about the 40th year of _Manasseh_, _Anno Nabonass._ 89, and was slain by the _Assyrians_, and succeeded by _Astyages_, _Anno Nabonass._ 111. _Dejoces_ Reigned 53 years according to _Herodotus_, and these years began in the 16th year of _Hezekiah_; which makes it probable that the _Medes_ dated them from the time of their revolt: and according to all this reckoning, the Reign of _Nabuchodonosor_ fell in with that of _Chyniladon_; which makes it probable that they were but two names of one and the same King.

Soon after the death of _Phraortes_ [375] the _Scythians_ under _Madyes_ or _Medus_ invaded _Media_, and beat the _Medes_ in battle, _Anno Nabonass._ 113, and went thence towards _Egypt_, but were met in _Phœnicia_ by _Psammitichus_ and bought off, and returning Reigned over a great part of _Asia_: but in the end of about 28 years were expelled; many of their Princes and commanders being slain in a feast by the _Medes_ under the conduct of _Cyaxeres_, the successor of _Astyages_, just before the destruction of _Nineveh_, and the rest being soon after forced to retire.

In the year of _Nabonassar_ 123, [376] _Nabopolassar_ the commander of the forces of _Chyniladon_ the King of _Assyria_ in _Chaldæa_ revolted from him, and became King of _Babylon_; and _Chyniladon_ was either then, or soon after, succeeded at _Nineveh_ by the last King of _Assyria_, called _Sarac_ by _Polyhistor_: and at length _Nebuchadnezzar_, the son of _Nabopolassar_, married _Amyite_ the daughter of _Astyages_ and sister of _Cyaxeres_; and by this marriage the two families having contracted affinity, they conspired against the _Assyrians_; and _Nabopolasser_ being now grown old, and _Astyages_ being dead, their sons _Nebuchadnezzar_ and _Cyaxeres_ led the armies of the two nations against _Nineveh_, slew _Sarac_, destroyed the city, and shared the Kingdom of the _Assyrians_. This victory the _Jews_ refer to the _Chaldæans_; the _Greeks_ to the _Medes_; _Tobit_, _Polyhistor_, _Josephus_, and _Ctesias_ to both. It gave a beginning to the great successes of _Nebuchadnezzar_ and _Cyaxeres_, and laid the foundation of the two collateral Empires of the _Babylonians_ and _Medes_; these being branches of the _Assyrian_ Empire: and thence the time of the fall of the _Assyrian_ Empire is determined, the conquerors being then in their youth. In the Reign of _Josiah_, when _Zephaniah_ prophesied, _Nineveh_ and the Kingdom of _Assyria_ were standing, and their fall was predicted by that Prophet, _Zeph._ i. 1, and ii. 13. and in the end of his Reign _Pharaoh Nechoh_ King of _Egypt_, the successor of _Psammitichus_, went up against the King of _Assyria_ to the river _Euphrates_, to fight against _Carchemish_ or _Circutium_, and in his way thither slew _Josiah_, 2 _Kings_ xxiii. 29. 2 _Chron._ xxxv. 20. and therefore the last King of _Assyria_ was not yet slain. But in the third and fourth year of _Jehoiakim_ the successor of _Josiah_, the two conquerors having taken _Nineveh_ and finished their war in _Assyria_, prosecuted their conquests westward, and leading their forces against the King of _Egypt_, as an invader of their right of conquest, they beat him at _Carchemish_, and [377] took from him whatever he had newly taken from the _Assyrians_: and therefore we cannot err above a year or two, if we refer the destruction of _Nineveh_, and fall of the _Assyrian_ Empire, to the second year of _Jehoiakim_, _Anno Nabonass._ 140. The name of the last King _Sarac_ might perhaps be contracted from _Sarchedon_, as this name was from _Asserhadon_, _Asserhadon-Pul_, or _Sardanapalus_.