Nitocris

NITOCRIS. Herodotus¹ speaks of Queen Nitocris, Mother to King Labynetus, from whom Cyrus took Babylon. But as the Scripture tells us, that the King from whom Babylon was conquered by Cyrus, was Belshazzar King of Babylon, Son or Grandson to Nebuchadnezzar, we must of Necessity allow, that Nitocris was Queen to Nebuchadnezzar the Great, and the same as Amyt Daughter to Astyages King of the Medes. This Princess is celebrated by Herodotus as an Heroine. While the King her Son abandoned himself to his Pleasures, and thought of nothing else but his Diversions, she took the Burthen of the Government upon her, and did all that human Prudence could do, for the Security of the Empire. She compleated with incredible Diligence the Works that Nebuchadnezzar had left unfinished, and particularly the Walls of the City, and Keys of the Rivers. And while they were employed on these Works, and had turned the Course of the Euphrates in Order to furnish these Keys, she caused a subterraneous Gallery to be built in the midst of the Channel of the River, to maintain a Communication with a Castle on the other Side, by a Passage under the Waters of the River.

In the last Year of Belshazzar’s Reign, Dan. v. 1, 2, 3, &c.while Babylon was besieged by Cyrus, Belshazzar made a sacrilegious Feast for his Wives and Concubines, at which he prophaned the holy Vessels of the Temple of Jerusalem; when there appeared upon the Walls of the Room, over against the Candlestick, a Hand that wrote these Words, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. The Sight of this Prodigy put the King and all his Company into a great Consternation. Nitocris the Queen-mother no sooner heard of what had happened, but she went into the Hall, and told the King, that there was a Man in his Kingdom called Belteshazzar, who under the Reign of King Nebuchadnezzar had approved himself to be the most skilful of the Magi of Chaldæa, and was made the Head of them, that if he were sent for he would truly explain the Vision that so much troubled the King. Daniel was presently sent for, who gave the King the Explication of it, as may be read under his Article.

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