Part 2

There was a large circular platform made of white and golden marble, surrounded by inspiring Babylonian statues. In the middle of the platform, there was an elaborately decorated fountain that drew water from the river and pumped it in an unbelievable manner, you wouldn't believe it existed with such precision over four thousand years ago.

Ignore all the naked girls lying or standing here and there next to an incredibly handsome boy sitting calmly in their midst. Look at the strength, valor, and charm of this boy. Look at the enchantment of nature and the Babylonian architecture around him. You are in one of the royal palaces in Babylon, and this handsome young man is "Zahak," the son of King Kush, a hundred years after his birth. Don't raise your eyebrows in surprise because the lifespan of humans at that time ranged between five hundred and one thousand years.

Here you are turning your eyes right and left to admire the beauty of this magical sight. The most beautiful resort in Hawaii seems ugly compared to this enchanting sight. But suddenly your eyes stop on something that spoils the enjoyment for your eyes—a haggard old man. Most of his teeth are missing, and a few curly strands of hair emerge from his chin in a strangely long manner that you have never seen in the most foolish images. He wears a torn black cloak here and there. And there he approaches the platform with limping steps.

The old man climbed the marble platform, met with feminine displeasure from the naked women, "Zahak" narrowed his handsome eyes and looked at him calmly. He sarcastically and confidently addressed him, saying:

"How did you enter here, you scabby freak?"

The old man looked at him with eyes that had a strange glimmer of vitality. He spoke with a voice that resembled that of a snake, saying:

"I passed through with my crooked steps among many monsters who wear ridiculous turbans and stand as if birds are perched on their heads. They guard what they call the Great Kush's Son. Curiosity overwhelmed me to see this "Kush" son. And behold, I find him lying down as if he was a mule among the females, no sword is being sharpened, nor a spear is being prepared."

The naked women put their hands on their hearts, and the guards around "Zahak" were agitated. All eyes turned to "Zahak," who quickly rose from his seat like a genie and snatched a spear from one of his guards. He expertly threw it and struck the heart of the old man, who fell like a stone.

"Zahak" said angrily: "Throw this filth to the lions, and apologize to them for this rotten flesh that we will feed them today."

The guards carried the old man, who seemed to have died instantly like a log, and threw him into a nearby pit, wide and adorned with drawings of marching lions, which are a symbol of Babylonian civilization. It was also filled with real roaring lions, which seemed like a hundred hungry lions that tore apart the old man's body before it even touched the ground.

"Zahak" said angrily: "Throw all the platform guards behind him. It seems that my father, the Great "Kush," doesn't know how to choose his men."

"Zahak" left the platform and headed towards the magnificent Babylonian palace, walking angrily and venting on anyone in front of him from the guards. Until he reached his room, whose door is adorned with various colors and decorations. He opened the door with anger and closed it forcefully.

"I no longer remember that you have a name, O son of the Great "Kush."

"Zahak" looked at the source of the voice with wide eyes. It was a man with more than half of his teeth missing, ten strange hairs on his old chin, wore a black cloak with torn edges, and had a voice like that of a snake.

*****

"We are once again in Babylon, but far from the royal palaces this time, on the outskirts of the city, where its ordinary buildings were no less beautiful than its palaces. There was a man dressed in royal attire, riding a noble steed, surrounded by many men wearing similar attire and riding similar horses. This was "Onnes" the king's advisor, who came to the city with a royal procession to deliver the king's endless orders. The locals gathered before him in anxiety and boredom, and "Sima," the caretaker of the king's horses, was one of those surrounding the advisor "Onnes".

Amidst the silence and boredom of the people, the sound of a horse approaching at a furious speed cut through the air. The heads of all the locals turned towards it in astonishment, followed by the angry gazes of the royal delegation.

Sudenlly, all the astonishment turned into admiration, and all the anger turned into astonishment. Breaking the stillness of the scene, a powerful black horse appeared on the horizon, ridden by a figure that seemed like a brave knight.

But this wasn't what changed the expressions of the crowd in this manner. Their expressions changed because the rider was not a knight; it was "Semiramis".

"Did I miss something important?" she said playfully and confidently as if the two qualities were exclusive to her. Pay no attention to the silence that greeted her words, nor to the glances exchanged among the people, which carried meanings like, "Look at this horse she rides."

Pay no attention to all of that and look at the royal procession, specifically at "Onnes" who had shed the seriousness he wore on his face.

He had fallen off his horse and landed at the feet of his steed. His eyes wandered in a world he had never seen before. His eyes got lost in a crowd of beauty, grace, femininity, and...

"How dare you ride your horse in such madness on the outskirts of the city, Semiramis? And how dare you lag behind the king's entourage?"

"I was ordered to tame the horse 'Lijesh,' Father, and here he is before you like a foal."

She said it with a feminine look towards the advisor "Onnes" a look that was enough to shatter the remnants of his composure. He spoke softly to the crowd:

"Let each of you go about their business."

The crowd dispersed, preoccupied, and Semiramis turned her horse. But the booming voice of "Sima" stopped her, saying:

"Shamiram, come here and kiss the advisor's hand and apologize to him. Your arrival has disrupted the speech."

"Semiramis" dismounted from her horse like a true knight and walked towards "Onnes" looking at him with that feminine look of hers, which shook him this time, making it seem like he had done something wrong and wanted to apologize for it. Semiramis slowly extended her beautiful hand toward him until she gently held his hand. But his hand suddenly pulled hers towards him, to kiss her hand and whisper softly:

"Lady Semiramis, to accept being my wife is the only way my heart will forgive you for what you've done."

Semiramis looked at "Sima," who was looking at her with a smiling paternal gaze, encouraging her. Then she looked at "Onnes" a powerful man in the highest position in the state. Her heart was set aside and her mind spoke with agreement. On the following night, "Shamiram" became the wife of "Onnes" the highest advisor to the great king "Kush" of the entire Babylonian kingdom."

(TN/ Armenians and the Assyrians of Iraq, northeast Syria, southeast Turkey, and northwest Iran still use "Shamiram" as a given name for girls, another name for "Semiramis".)