Eden represented
by
ancient
Armenia.
Its subdivisions.
ritory of Eden, with which also ancient Armenia, the postdiluvian
seat of mankind, appears to be identified. According
to the limits already traced,1 the country whither Adam was
driven to tabernacle on the eastern side of the garden of Eden2
seems to be the mountainous district near Sinjar, which may
be said to overlook the plain of Shinar, from whence Cain
went forth subsequently to dwell in the land more eastward, in
which he built the city of Enoch, and became a husbandman.
It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader that one section
of the Tauric chain forms the water-shed of this part of
Western Asia, and that from its bosom, probably issuing from
a basin or mass of waters,3 flow the rivers Araxes and Halys
on the northern, and the Tigris and Euphrates on the southern,
slopes of these mountains.
It is manifest, from the comprehensive language of Moses,4
that to our first parents there had been allotted an extensive
territory, whose subdivisions, namely, Cush, Havilah, and
Ashur, were watered by four great rivers. It has been seen
that one of these had changed its name from Gihon to Araxes,
while the scriptural names of the third [the Hiddekel, Dekel, or
Dijlath (going before Assyria)] and fourth rivers, as well as the
country which they enclose [Mesopotamia (Aramnaharaim)],
having been happily preserved, the southern portions of the
primeval settlement are thus unquestionably identified.
It has been seen that in the tract within the river Araxes,
there are numerous traces of the ancient people of Cush: and
again, in that which is within the Halys are found the gold,
pearls, and other productions of the land of Havilah.5
On reference to the index-map, it may be observed that the
presumed locality of Paradise and the postdiluvian seat of
1 See the index-map, and vol. I. from p. 267-277.
2 Gen., chap. I I I ., verse 24. Bellamy’s translation.
3 See above, vol. I., note at page 268.
ft Gen., chap. I I .
5 A t page 415 of the Chronicon Paschale, the Moschi and the Macrones
as Cushites, and the river of the Ethiopians, are mentioned in connexion
with one part of Armenia, and in another part of this kingdom the Gym-
nosophystoe are amongst the people of Havilah. For other particulars concerning
the latter tract, and also that of Cush, see above, p. 273-277.
mankind comprised extensive countries. The former was sur- watered by
rounded and fertilized by four great rivers, which flowed ^branded
towards the cardinal points, while four inland seas were situ- four seas-
ated near its borders, namely, the Mediterranean westward, the
Euxine towards the north, the Caspian on the east, and the
Persian Gulf towards the south.1
As the extensive region spreading from hence to the Nile,
and again to the Indus in the opposite direction, was the
theatre of the most important events in the history of' the
world, it has been thought proper, before entering upon an
account of the British expedition to the two principal rivers
within the limits of this territory, to offer some brief notices of
those events. The leading circumstances connected with the
spread of the human race will be also stated, and it is hoped
that some light may be thrown upon scriptural history, by
means of the positive and descriptive geography collected for
this work. The changes to which the political states of the
countries were successively subjected by the incursions of
Sesostris and Cyrus—the movements of the multitudinous
armies of Xerxes, the conquests of Alexander, and the wars of
his successors—will also be described, and there will be added a
brief notice of the influence which the eastern campaigns of
this mighty conqueror had upon the progress of commerce and
civilization in Europe.
With reference to the catastrophe which destroyed the old £^“ seofthe
world, not only are its effects to be traced on the earth in a
striking manner, but the fact is acknowledged by the inhabitants
of almost every land, as a circumstance known by tradition
from their ancestors, whether savage or refined: and
this event, the most awful ever recorded, is invariably attributed
to the same cause.
Ovid relates that previously to the Deluge violence reigned
as far as the earth extended, and all men seemed to have old world,
entered into a compact to be wicked.2 Another writer, who
enters more fully into the subject, says that there was in these
times a great resort of people of various nations, who inhabited
Chaldea, and lived in a lawless manner, like the beasts of the
1 See above, vol. I ., pp. 269, 270. 2 Met., lib. I ., p. 24.
B 2