SEMIRAMIS, a famous queen of Assyria and Babylonia, concerning whom many fables are related, and to whom the wonderful works about the city of Babylon are by many attributed. Her birth is said to have been supernatural, springing from a goddess, by name Dæscote, who had a temple not far from Afcalon, near a filthy lake; and who is thought to have been the same with the Philistine Dagon. When Semiramis grew up, she so far exceeded all women in beauty and other qualifications, that Menon, the prime minister to Ninus king of Assyria, took her to wife. Ninus was at that time besieging the capital of Bactria
unsuccessfully; and Semiramis happening to pay a visit to her husband before the camp, put the besiegers on such an excellent plan, that the city was quickly obliged to capitulate. Ninus was so charmed with the beauty and address displayed by Semiramis on this occasion, that he soon after married her; upon which Menon her former husband killed himself. Ninus also did not long survive him, and was buried by her at a vast expence.
Semiramis, thus advanced to the imperial dignity, resolved to build the city of Babylon; which accordingly she did in the most magnificent manner. Several other cities also she built on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates, for the sake of commerce and communication between the remote parts of the empire. She invaded and conquered Media and Exthiopia; but having undertaken an expedition against India, was defeated, and obliged to fly, after having lost the greatest part of her army. She is said to have vanished from the sight of men, after her son Ninyas had attempted to assassinate her; but most probably she was murdered by the conspirators.