As syria

(as -sir re-ah,) the name of the first great empire of antiquity recorded in Holy Writ. A. Proper was a region E. of the Tigris, the C. Nineveh, and derived its name from A hur, the 2d son of Shem. It appears to have comprised the modern pashalics of Van and Diarbekr, with Pens armenia, including at least part of Azerbijan; corresponding pretty exactly to modern Kurdistan. The first empire ofA. was founded by Belus, B. c. 1993. Ninus, son of Belus (1968-1916),. and his widow Semi ram is (1916-1874), were its most famous monarchs. The last of their succe ors, Sardana pal us, infamous for his luxury and voluptuousne , was dethroned by his subjects, and burned himself in his palace, with his eunuchs, concubines, and all his treasures, abt. 820 B. c. The empire was then divided into Media, As syria, and Babylonia. Salmana ar, or Shalmaneser, conquered Judea abt. 724 B. c. The 2d empire of A. finished with Nabopola ar, who united A. to Babylonia, B. c. 625. A., with Babylonia, was conquered by Cyrus, B. c. 538, and became a p. of Persia. [s. 54]