Belus

, one of the most ancient kings of Babylon, about 1800 years before the age of Semi ram is, was made a god after death, and worshipped with much ceremony by the A yrians and Babylonians. He was supposed to be the son of the Osiris of the Egyptians. The temple of Belus was the most ancient and most magnificent in the world. It was originally the tower of Babel, which was converted into a temple. It had lofty towers, and it was enriched by all the succeeding monarchs till the age of Xerxes, who, after his unfortunate expedition against Greece, plundered and demolished it. Among the riches it contained, were many statues of ma ive gold, one of which was 40 feet high. In the highest of the towers was a magnificent bed, where the priests daily conducted a woman, who, as they said, was honoured with the company of the god. Joseph us , Antiquities of the Jews , bk. 10 .— Hero dot us , bk. 1 , ch. 181 , . — Strabo , bk. 16 .— Arrian , bk. 7 .— Diodorus , bk. 1 , . ――A king of Egypt, son of Epaphus and Libya, and father of Agenor.――Another, son of Phœnix the son of Agenor, who reigned in Phœnicia.――A river of Syria, where the making of gla was first invented. Pliny , bk. 5 , ch. 19 .