and gave his name to that celebrated peninsula; and Belus was worshipped as a divinity by his subjects, the Chaldeans.

A few years afterward, Ninus, the son of Belus, founded the Assyrian empire, and established its seat at the ancient city of Nineveh, which he rendered very magnificent.

At the death of Ninus the government of Assyria reverted to Semiramis, his wife, who was much famed for her conquests. She is said to have immortalized her name, by enlarging and embellishing the city of Babylon to an extent far exceeding that of Nineveh. It was during the reign of this celebrated queen that the city of Troy was destroyed by the Greeks, which happened about the year of the world two thousand eight hundred and twenty, eleven hundred and sixty-four years after the flood.

CHAPTER VI.

Burning of Troy-Illustrious men who flourished during this epoch-Administration of Samuel-Reign of SaulDevotion of Codrus, king of Athens-Abolition of regal power in Athens-David-Solomon builds the temple of Jerusalem.

THE sacking of Troy* formed a theme for those most celebrated poems, the Ænead of Virgil, and the Iliad of Homer. The story

Troy was the capital of Troas, a country of Phrygia in Asia Minor, and was situated not far from Mount Ida.

The

related of the occasion which gave rise to this remarkable event is as follows: Paris, the son of Priam, king of Troy, being on a visit to the court of Greece, won the love of Helen, the young wife of the king of that country, and on his return to Troy carried her with him. Greeks, incensed by this act, immediately laid siege to the city of Troy, having previously sworn not to return to their own country until they should destroy the city. This they accomplished after ten years, by stratagem. They built a horse of wood, capable of containing a great number of men, which they pretended was made a present to one of the divinities, and then departed in their ships. The Trojans, seeing their enemies depart, came out of the city; and finding the horse, wondered at the object of its construction. While speculating on the subject, the shepherds brought in a prisoner whom they had found in the country. He related a pathetic story, that he had fled from the Greeks, who were going to sacrifice him, according to the commands of an oracle. He farther stated the object of the horse, on hearing which, the Trojans moved it into the city. In the night it was opened, and the city burned, by the soldiers who were concealed in it.

In this era flourished some of the most illustrious men which history records; those whom the fabulous writings of the poets describe as having sprung from the gods. Jason, Hercules, Orpheus, Castor, Agamemnon, Achilles, Menelaus, Hector, Ulysses, Diomedes, Sarpedon, and

Æneas, which latter the Romans acknowledge as their father and founder. Most remarkable events are related in the Holy Scriptures to have transpired during this epoch; among these we may notice the following :

The extraordinary strength and exploits of Samson. The administration of Samuel, the chosen prophet of God. The reign of Saul, the first king of Israel; his victories and unfortunate overthrow.

During this period, also, Codrus, king of Athens, devoted himself to death for his country; and the Athenians, on account of the contention of the two sons of Codrus concerning the crown, abolished regal power, and established a perpetual magistracy.

David succeeded Saul to the throne of Israel. He was a happy and illustrious prince. Under him the dominions were greatly enlarged and the Israelites advanced to a degree of wealth and power before unknown.

During the reign of Saul, the Athenians sent out several colonies to Ionia, and settled it. To David, in the kingdom of Israel, succeeded Solomon, who is called the "wisest man.” He laid the foundation of the temple at Jerusalem A. M. in the year of the world two thousand nine hundred and ninety-two.

2992.

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CHAPTER VII.

The kingdom of Israel is divided-Rehoboam-Jeroboam -Abijah-Omri builds Samaria-Asa-Jehoshaphat-Ahab and Jezebel-Carthage is founded by Dido-The house of David is destroyed by Athaliah-Joash-Elijah and Elisha Athens and Lacedemon-Laws of LycurgusConduct of Joash after the death of Jehoiada, the high priest-Jeroboam II.-Azariah-Israel is convulsed by intestine disorder-Conduct of Pul the king of AssyriaEneas conducts his followers to Italy, on his escape from. Troy-Numiter and Amulius-Romulus and Rhemus.

ON the death of Solomon, the Israelites, under his son Rehoboam, were divided into two kingdoms. One was called the kingdom of Israel, consisting of ten tribes under Jeroboam; the other, the kingdom of Judah, which was composed of those tribes which continued their fealty to the house of David. To Rehoboam succeeded his son Abijah, who obtained a memorable victory over the ten tribes who had revolted.

A. M. In the year of the world three thou3080. sand and eighty, Omri king of Israel built Samaria. At the same time Asa reigned in the house of Judah. To these princes succeeded in the kingdom of Judah the pious king Jehoshaphat; and in that of Israel the impious and idolatrous Ahab and Jezebel.

About this time Dido, a Tyrian princess, led a colony into Africa, and built Carthage. Virgil makes mention of this as the place where the vessels of Æneas were shipwrecked on his flight from the destruction of Troy.*

* See Virgil's Ænead, b. 1.

Soon after this, the kingdoms of Judah and Israel became the scene of great revolutions, and the whole house of David was destroyed by Athaliah, not excepting her own children, who immediately usurped the crown of Judah. But she did not long retain the sceptre, for Joash, being preserved by his aunt, in six years put an end to the usurpation and life of Athaliah.

A. M.

It was during this period that Elijah 3108. and Elisha were working those miracles which have rendered them so renowned in holy writ.

The several states into which Greece was divided, were altogether dependant for their political importance, especially in the latter parts of their history, upon their connection with Athens and Lacedemon.

Of these two, the latter first became eminent through the zeal of that wise legislator, Lycurgus, who flourished in the year of the world three thousand one hundred and twenty, and who was highly renowned for his wisdom and love of equity. He made such laws for the Spartans as rendered them pre-eminent over all other states in point of moral courage and physical energy. These laws are well worthy of a permanent record. He enacted,

1. That the kings should have the right of succession as before, but their power should be restricted by a senate of old men, who should give their consent before the king could have authority to perform any public act. The king