Babylon 5

E. S. Eitzgerald, Babylon Revisited and Other Stories Scribner s and Sons, New York, 1971, pp. 75—113. 

The word "composites" has a modern ring. But using the high strength of fibres to stiffen and strengthen a cheap matrix material is probably older than the wheel. The Processional Way in ancient Babylon, one of the lesser wonders of the ancient world, was made of bitumen reinforced with plaited straw. Straw and horse hair have been used to reinforce mud bricks (improving their fracture toughness) for at least 5000 years. Paper is a composite so is concrete both were known to the Romans. And almost all natural materials which must bear load - wood, bone, muscle - are composites. 

Corrosion protection using bitumen coatings reaches back into antiquity. The most ancient occurrence of bitumen deposits was in Mesopotamia. Many writers of antiquity, such as Dido, Strabo, and Vitruvius, mention that asphalt was obtained for many years near Babylon. About 5000 yeare ago, the streets of Ur, capital of the Sumerians (north of present-day Kuwait), were lit at night with mineral oil. Natural gas was reported to be used for lighting in the Middle East and China. 

Bitumen was used in ancient times as an adhesive for sealing hydraulic structures and as mortar for masonry (5]. The Bible mentions that Noah used pitch for caulking the Ark. Not unlike the Tower of Babylon, the houses of one of the most ancient cities in the world, Mohenjo-Daro in the upper Indus valley, were constructed with bricks of clay and bitumen monar [61. 

It was Luther who first identified the Papacy with Antichrist and, on this basis, Lutheran artists had crowned the head of the Whore of Babylon with the papal tiara, as in the Wittenberg Bible of 1522... 

This book claims to reveal the secrets of the physical work of the philosophers stone, however, though it stays close to its theme it uses metaphorical and philosophical allusions to the process, rather than approaching it directly in physical terms. The author indicates in the preface the reason for the title of his book "We therefore... do raise this knowledge, buried and obscured under the pretext of the Tomb of the most wise Semiramis, formerly Queen of Babylon..."... 

Contents Light on the Egyptian revival essence of the practical Qabalah more light on the Tarot trumps The Sun, the Devil, and the Redeemer The Mystery of Babylon and the Beast Further Light on the Tree of Life The Law of Thelema (will) The Tradition of the Golden Age... 

Layard, A. H. (1853). Discoveries in the ruins of Nineveh and Babylon with travels in Armenia, Kurdistan and the desert, being the result of a second expedition undertaken for the Trustees of the British Museum. London, J. Murray. 

Twenty-five of the 5-kW fuel cell systems called GenSys5CS will be installed at LIPA s West Babylon Fuel Cell Demonstration Site, which currently contains fuel cell systems feeding directly into the Long Island electrical grid. The remaining 20 systems will generate on-site heat and power for single or multi-family residential sites, for the first time in LIPA s ser-... 

If we contemplate the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt, or the release from the captivity in Babylon, the same controlling Power shows itself in favour of a a 4... 

It appears in the sacred accounts of Cyrus the Persian, that this monarch also was the object of prophecy, and that he was foretold by name by Isaiah, above one hundred and fifty years before his time, as one who should be instrumental to the accomplishment of the long predicted purpose of the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, and of their restoration to rebuild their city and temple. 

It does not appear, however, that any of the commentators, though they have pointed out the accomplishment of prophecy in the destruction of Babylon, and in the deliverance of the Jews from their captivity effected by Cyrus, have directed their attention to some earlier events which... 

The Egyptians, no doubt, were instrumental to the success of the conqueror against Babylon, who, afterwards, agreeably to the promise which he had made to them, settled them in Larissa and Cyllene, in the maritime parts of his dominions. Both cities retained the denomination of Egyptian cities till the time of Xenophon1, and, it is probable, that some of the treasures of Egypt, by which Alexander stated he had enriched his soldiers, were taken in part, at least, from these cities. 

After this action several years were passed in mutual preparation, and Cyrus, in expeditions against some of the allies of the Assyrians twice approached Babylon, and contemplated its position and fortifications. 

The period, however, appointed for the continuance of the captivity of the Jews, as expressly foretold by Jeremiah, was not accomplished—the power of God was yet to be shown in the punishment of idolatry, and in the protection of his servants at Babylon. They were still to seek the peace of the city whither God had caused them to be carried away captives, for not till after seventy years should be accomplished at Babylon, was God to perform his good word in causing them to return . ... 

Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, of whom Jeremiah had intimated that he should continue to reign over Babylon till great kings should serve themselves of him... 

It is probable, that the Jews, who must have looked with impatience and anxiety to the approach of Cyrus towards Babylon, in the persuasion which they must have derived from prophecy, that he was to be their deliverer, had gone forth from Babylon, and joined his army before his arrival. They who had mourned by the rivers of Babylon had foretold, or, perhaps, imprecated, with too vindictive feel-... 

Xenophon informs us, that some who understood the Syrian language [and who, probably, were Jews,] were employed by -Cyrus to inform the inhabitants of Babylon, that when he should enter their city their safety would depend on their remaining within their houses, for that whosoever should be taken abroad would be put to death. ... 

Babylon continued to be the occasional residence of Cyrus and his successors, till Susa, Ecbatana, and Persepolis, became successively the royal abode. 

The Macedonian sovereigns, who subverted the Persian empire, neglected Babylon, and preferred Seleucia, till at length the ancient city was deserted, and Ctesiphon became the seat of empire. 

The walls of Babylon were for some time preserved, and became the abode and receptacle of wild beasts, serpents, and doleful creatures, till at length even then the enclosures fell into decay, and the boundless plain was rendered an... 

The first rule of magical protection in Babylon was to stay on the good side of the gods by conscientiously performing ceremonies to... 

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