_Quique magos docuit mysteria vana Necepsos_:
And _Diodorus_, [429] _they say that the _Chaldæans_ in _Babylonia_ are colonies of the _Egyptians_, and being taught by the Priests of _Egypt_ became famous for Astrology_. By the influence of the same colonies, the Temple of _Jupiter Belus_ in _Babylon_ seems to have been erected in the form of the _Egyptian_ Pyramids: for [430] this Temple was a solid Tower or Pyramid a furlong square, and a furlong high, with seven retractions, which made it appear like eight towers standing upon one another, and growing less and less to the top: and in the eighth tower was a Temple with a bed and a golden table, kept by a woman, after the manner of the _Egyptians_ in the Temple of _Jupiter Ammon_ at _Thebes_; and above the Temple was a place for observing the Stars: they went up to the top of it by steps on the outside, and the bottom was compassed with a court, and the court with a building two furlongs in length on every side.
The _Babylonians_ were extreamly addicted to Sorcery, Inchantments, Astrology and Divinations, _Isa._ xlvii. 9, 12, 13. _Dan._ ii. 2, & v. 11. and to the worship of Idols, _Jer._ l. 2, 40. and to feasting, wine and women. _Nihil urbis ejus corruptius moribus, nec ad irritandas illiciendasque immodicas voluptates instructius. Liberos conjugesque cum hospitibus stupro coire, modo pretium flagitii detur, parentes maritique patiuntur. Convivales ludi tota Perside regibus purpuratisque cordi sunt: Babylonii maxime in vinum & quæ ebrietatem sequuntur effusi sunt. Fæminarum convivia ineuntium in principio modestus est habitus; dein summa quæque amicula exuunt, paulatimque pudorem profanant: ad ultimum, honos auribus sit, ima corporum velamenta projiciunt. Nec meretricum hoc dedecus est, sed matronarum virginumque, apud quas comitas habetur vulgati corporis vilitas._ _Q. Curtius_, lib. v. cap. 1. And this lewdness of their women, coloured over with the name of civility, was encouraged even by their religion: for it was the custom for their women once in their life to sit in the Temple of _Venus_ for the use of strangers; which Temple they called _Succoth Benoth_, the Temple of Women: and when any woman was once sat there, she was not to depart 'till some stranger threw money into her bosom, took her away and lay with her; and the money being for sacred uses, she was obliged to accept of it how little soever, and follow the stranger.