Nineveh and its palaces : the discoveries of Botta and Layard, applied to the elucidation of Holy Writ

Front matter

(8 rj

OHW bfti’r voisWAi,

I

Preface

In preparing the present volume, and treating of Nineveh and its palaces, I have endeavoured to follow a sj^stein of arrangement originated by the highly suggestive sculptures which have been discovered. Thus, after carefully examining the remains in om own Museum and in the Louvre, and studying the ground-plans of the respective structures with the original situations of the friezes ; I selected a starting-pomt and pursued a regular and systematic course through the ruined chambers, reading the sculptures upon the walls together with the Scriptures as I progressed. Whether the line of reasoning adopted is erroneous or just, must he left to the decision of the reader, hut though my inferences and conclusions may be questioned by many, it is hoped that the facts in the subjectmatter will he interesting to all.

In conclusion I would wish to avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my acknowledgments to the officers of the British kluseum, for the uniform urbanity and liberal aid they have always afforded me : and likewise for the co-operation I have met with from many kind friends. To Mr. Samuel

VI

PREFACE.

Sharpe I am indebted for his valuable chapter on Assyrian History and Chronology ; to Dr. Lepsius, for his prompt information respecting the Cyprus monument ; to Dr. Lee, of Hartwell, for the papers of Dr. Grotefend ; to Mr. Barker ; to Mr. Bomaine, for his recent sketches on the very spots whence the antiquities were derived : to each and all of these, as well as to other friends who have kindly promoted my labours, my heartfelt thanks are cordially returned.

JOSEPH BOHOMI.

March mh, 1852.

Chapter I

Tiie buried city and its discoverers — Rich — Examination of presumed site of Nineveh — Buildings on Nebbi Tunis, partly ancient chambers — Inscriptions, and ancient passages in Mound — Inscribed slabs with bitumen on under sides — Assyrian antiquities and inscriptions. ....

Chapter II

Botta — Appointed Consul at Mosul — Qualifications — M. Mohl — Botta’s Researches and Disappointments — - Opens the Mound of Kouyunjik — Excavations at Khorsabad — Success of his first Operations — Grant by the French Government for their Continuance — Difficulties with the Governor of Mosul — The Excavations stopped — Turkish Official Delinquencies — Additional Grant of Money — Permission to continue the Excavations — Arrival of M. Flandin — The Village of Khorsabad purchased — Difficulties attending this Arrangement — Workmen engaged, and the Researches resumed — Return of M, Flandin to Paris — The discJ^Vered Relics packed and transmitted to Paris.

Chapter III

Layard — Early Travels — Proceeds to Asia — Excursion in the neighbourhood of the Tigris and Nineveh to Kalah Shergat and A1 Hadhr — Visits Plain of Mel Amir and Susan — The River Karun — Tower of Living Men — Re-

l 2

VIU

CONTENTS.

turns to Mosul — Proceeds to Constantinople — Sir Stratford Canning- Returns to Mosul — Arrives at Naifa — Explorations and Success — Visits Pasha of Mosul — Proceedings interdicted — Resunaes Excavations — A third interdict^ and Works stopped — Visits Arab Sheikhs — Ismael Pasha superseded by Tabyar Pasha-Favours Layard — Despatch of the Grand Vizier of the Sultan — Opening of the Great Mound of Kouyunjik — A rich collection of Sculptures — Their transport to Baghdad — Layard visits the Devil-worshippers — Grant to British Museum — Fresh excavations at Nimroud — Great success — Embarkation of Marble Obelisk — Examines Mound at Kalah Shergat — Removal of Lion and Bull from Nimroud — Operations necessary — Leaves Nimroud — Departs for Europe ..... 26

Chapter I.— Assyria And Mesopotamia

The Nineveh of the Bible — Nimrod — His name expressed in his nomenclature — His kingdom — Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh — Their present sites — Asshur — His kingdom — Nineveh, Calah, Resen, Rehoboth — Their localities traced — Extent and population of Nineveh, according to Jonah — The Assyrian Kings — Their wars and conquests — Destruction of the Assyrian army — Death of Sennacherib — Esarhaddon— Deportation of Samaria —

Mr. Dickinson’s remarks — Nebuchodonosor — The fall of Nineveh .. .38

CHAPTER IL— THE ASSYRIA AND MESOPOTAMIA OF CLASSICAL WRITERS.

The Nineveh of the classical writers — Boundaries of Assyria and Mesopotamia — Median Wall — Nimis — Descendant of Asshur — Asshur founder of the Assyrian monarchy — -Ninus founder of the united empire of Assyria — Semiramis — Ninyas — The Chedorlaomer of Scripture — Mesopotamia named on Egyptian monuments — Obelisk of the Atmeidan and Tablet of Karnak — Teutamus assists Priam at siege of Troy — Sardanapalus — The revolt of the Medes — Ctesias and Herodotus — Final overthrow of Nineveh — Rise and Fall of the Babylonian Empire . . ... 56

CO^’TENTS.

ix

Chapter Iii— Sketch Of Assyrian History, By Samuel Sharpe, Esq

PAGE

Tlie ancient Assyrian empire ends with. Sardanapalus and the conquest of Nineveh by the Medes — Rise of the modern empire — Pul — Tiglath Pileser — Shalmaneser — Sennacherib — The conquest of Israel — Esarhaddon — The conquest of Babylon — The Chaldees — Nabopolasser, king of Babylon, conquers Nineveh — Nebuchadnezzar — The conquest of Judah — Babylon and Assyria conquered by the Medes — Cyrus is king of Persia, Media, Babylon, and Assyria — Egyptian art and fashions copied at Nineveh, at Babylon, and at Persepolis . . . . . . . . .09

SECTIO^sT III.— TOPOGEAPHY.

Chapter I.— Khorsabad

Banks of the Tigris — Relative position of Mounds — Situation of Khorsabad — > Botta remarked no trace of Wall of Nineveh — Character of Mounds on which Assyrian Palaces stood — Khorsabad — Dimensions of fortified Enclosure— Salt Swamps within Wall — Neighbouring Swamps accounted for 79

Chapter Ii.— Nimroud, Kouyunjik, And Nebbi Yunis

Yarumjeh — Zikru-l-awaz — Reseu — Larissa of Xenophon — Chesney — Ainsworth’s observations — Nimroud — Kouyunjik and Nebbi Yuuis — Discoveries mentioned by Rich — Karamles — Area of Ancient Nineveh — Layard’s view not tenable — All Tels and Koums, probable sites of Ruins — Gebel Makloub, the North-eastern Wall — Width of Wall nearly identical with that of Khorsabad Palace — Course of Tigris changed — Nimroud distant from Boundary of Nineveh — Sites of Cities of Holy Writ 91

Chapter Iii.— Kalah Shergat

Ainsworth — The Jubailah — HammamAli — Bitumen Springs — Kalah Shergat — Dr. Ross— A1 Hadr

X

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV. — BABYLON, PERSEPOLIS, BESITHtJN, NAHR-AL-KELB, AND CYPRUS. PAGE

Babylon — Birs Nimroud — Mujalibah and Kasr — The Western Palace A1 Heim^r — Bridge of Masonry and Road of Semiramis — Persepolis — Tel-el- Minar — Diodorus’ description — Terraced Platform — Parapet and Palisades — Grand Flights of Stairs — Portal — Winged Bulls — Cistern and Subterraneous Aqueducts — Palace of Forty Pillars — Second Terraced Building — Third ditto — Fourth ditto — Fifth ditto — Large Edifice — Tombs — Pasargadse of Pliny — Tomb of Cyrus — Hareem of Jemshid — Naksh-i- Roustam — Tomb of Darius Hystaspes — Inscribed Stone on Mount Elwand — Ecbatana — Behistun — Semiramis — Bas-relief and Inscriptions — Pass and Inscription of Keli-Shin — Inscriptions at Lake Yan — Ditto at Nahr-al- Kelb — First ancient Assyrian Monument brought to England — Inscription at Cyprus — Dr. Lepsius — Inscription in the Desert between the Nile and the Red Sea 105

SECTION lY,— DISCOVEEIES.

Chapter I.— Khorsabad

The Palaces of Assyria — Plan and construction of Mound — Entrance guarded by Winged Bulls — First Court — The Cherubim — Gigantic Figure of Nimrod — The Bommereng, anciently and universally used — Egyptian, Assyrian, South African, and Australian Examples — Sculptures on South-western Wall — Four-winged Divinity — Cronus or Hus — Presenting Fir Cone to those who enter the Chamber — Similar idea on Egyptian Monuments — Tomb of Rhamses lY. — Bas-reliefs of King, Attendants, and Officers — Their Dresses and Peculiarities — North-western side of Court — Repetitions of King and Court — Historical Prize — Assyrian and Egyptian Ships — Maritime Subject — Dagon — Passage Chamber between Courts, p. 148 — Inscriptions on Bulls and Pavement — Processions of Tribute-bearei*s in Passage — Tartan, Chief of Tribute — Rabsaris — Rabshakeh — Governors of Provinces — Sultan Medinet — Their Insignia — • Second upper line of Tribute-bearers — The Deputy Chief of Tribute — ■ Lower line of Procession, right-hand side — Ditto, left-hand side — Tribute from extremities of the Empire — Conflagration of Wooden Door — Second Court — The King’s Court, p. 153 — The Porch for the Throne — The Prophet

CONTENTS.

XI

Daniel — King’s Gate at Babylon and Shusban — Fa9ade — Doorways — South-eastern Side — Repetition of Ilus, King and Court — North-western Side — Pavement — Inscribed Slabs in Doorways — Secret Cavities containing Images — Teraphim — Superstition of the Evil Eye — South-eastern side of Court — Isolated Building — Historical Chambers, p. 158 — Symbolic Tree — Egyptian Symbol — Historical Illustration — Siege of Fortified City — Nysians, a Colony of Lydians — Sack of City — Gable Roof — Sacred Edifice — No Upper Story — Divining Chamber, p. 164 — Magic — Interior of the Palace — Chamber VIIL, p. 165 — The Hall of Judgment — Fettered Prisoners — Flaying a Man alive — The Chief of the Slayers — Second scene, Introduction of Prisoners — Sagartii, a pastoral people — Third scene. King thrusting out the eyes of a Supplicant — Prisoners led by Rings in their lower Lips — ^Fourth scene, similar representation — Chamber IV. — Chamber of Judgment — Repetition of King judging Prisoners — Jews — Isaiah’s Prophetic Message embodied on Walls — Chamber VIL, p. 171 — A Feast — Pleasure House — Sports of the Field and the Chase — Chamber V., p. 175 — Hall of Historical Records — Battle Scenes — Chamber VI., p. 181 — The Chamber of Audience — King giving audience to Deputy Governors — Milyaj from Coast of Cilicia — Chamber XI., p. 183 — Inner Presence Chamber — Chamber XII., p. 184 — Council Chamber — Chamber XL, p. 185 — Banqueting Hall, p. 185 — Sieges ; Banquet Wine Vase — Drinking Cups — Assyrian and Greek — Lyres — Assyrian, Greek, and Nubian — The Guests — High Seats — Ahasuerus’ Feast — Second line of Friezes — Battles and Conquests — Impalement of Prisoners — Numbering the Heads of the Slain — Cities and Fort in Flames — Circular-headed Tablet represented on Frieze — Moveable Shields — Chamber III, p. 196 — Retiring Chamber — Castellated Hills — Jerusalem — Court L,, p. 197 — Wheeled Chair — High Seat or Throne — Seat of Judgment for Master of House or Heads of Tribes — Ancient Customs — Altar — Heavy Chariot — Mighty Men — Tables — Dilapidated Doors and Chambers — Chamber 1, p. 204 — Divining Chamber — The Temple — Court, p. 206 — Court of the King’s House — Chaldeans on Walls, Ezekiel, xxiii., 14 — King’s Private Way — Construction of Assyrian Palaces — Walls — Roofs — Means of Lighting Windows — Sleeping Apartments— Columns in Court — Gable or Pitched Roofs — Fergusson’s Restorations— Botta’s Opinion on the Destruction of the Khorsabad Palace . 129

CHAPTER IL— NIMROUD AND THE SCULPTURES IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

The Assyrian Relics in the British Museum — Layard’s Contributions — North-western ruins of Palace of Nimroud— Antechamber, p. 217 — Colossal Winged Figures — King and Eunuchs — Winged Lions at entrance — Great

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Hall witli historical subjects, p. 218 — Msroch — Siege of City by King in person — Assyrian and Egyptian Chariots — Return after Victory — Procession of Standard-bearers — Eunuch receiving Prisoners of rank — Mummers — Cittern and Plectrum — Modern example, Tamboura — Curry-combing Horse — Royal Kitchen — Second series of Battle Scenes — Trained Birds of Prey — Lower line of Illustration — Siege of City — Damascus — Procession of King and Officers, and Reception of Prisoners — Passage of River by King and Troops — Ancient and Modern Boats and Rafts — Colossal Figures of winged beings — King and Eunuchs — Winged Bulls at Entrance — Siege — Lion Hunt — Bull Hunt — Prisoners with Spoil — The Treaty of Peace — Return from the Chace — Colossal Group at end of Hall — Baal — Comparison and Original — Remains of Bones and Fragments of Gold Leaf under stone slab — Sacrificial Stones and Conduit— Four-winged Divinity — Winged Lions with Human Heads and Arms — Parthian Bowmen — Divinity with Fallow-deer — Lions with Human Heads and Arms, carrying Stag and Flower — Figure with Fir Cone — Irregular Arrangement of Subjects — Inference — Outer Chamber, p. 257 — King and Officers receiving Tribute — Winged Bulls — Hall of Msroch, p. 261 — Figures of Msroch before Symbolic Tree — The Hall of Divination, p, 262 — The King drinking in the presence of the Divinities of Assyria — Metaphor in the Psalms — Divining Cup — Alternation of Subjects, King with Attendants and King with Divinities — Divining by Cup and Arrows — Square Slabs with Hole in the Centre — Recesses in the Walls — The Hall of the Oracle, p. 266 — Chamber entirely covered with Inscriptions — Chamber of Divinities, p. 267 — Divinities and Symbolic Tree — Beardless Figure with four Wings — The King — Inscribed Chamber — The Oracle, p. 267 — Chamber wdth Inscribed Walls — Ante-Chamber — Central Court — Second Hall of Divinities, p. 272 — Hall with Slabs inscribed in centre — Small Chambers where the Ivories and Ornaments were found — Winged Man with Goat and Ear of Wheat — Deified Jdan — Representations on Walls of Babylon and Mneveh — South-western and Centre Ruins — Assault on City containing Date Tree — Impalement of Prisoners — Evacuation of City, and taking account of the Spoil — Shalmaneser — N ot a City of Samaria — Date Trees do not bear fruit in Northern parts of Syria — Attack on a Citadel near a Torrent — Pursuit of Enemy, Vulture above — Cavalry awaiting Word of Command — Division of Army in Mountainous Country — Bowman, Shieldbearer, and Sliugers — Arab on Dromedary, pursued by Spearmen — Female Captive followed by Camels — Warrior hunting the Lion — Eunuch introducing Prisoners — King holding two Arrows, and addressing Warrior — Man driving Flock of Sheep and Goats — Fragments — King and Selikdar — Cupbearer — King and Cupbearer— Priest — Four other Fragments — Colossal Heads — Portraits of Kings — Glass, Ivories, Bronzes — Terra Cotta Vases, &c, — Small Lions,

CONTENTS.

possibly Weights — Inscribed Slabs — Mode of Reading— Basaltic Statue — The Obelisk and Description of its Four Sides — Mr. Hector’s Contributions — Resemblances and Comparisons between the Palaces of Khorsabad and ISTimroud — Sculptures integral Part of Plan at Khorsabad — Sculptures adapted at Nimroud — Regal and Historical Character of Palace at Khorsabad — Regal and Sacred Character of Palace at Kimroud — Chambers at Mmroud devoted exclusively to Divinities, and to King attended by Divinities — Divinities peculiar to Kimroud and to Khorsabad — Baal — Beardless Four-winged Divinity and Deified Men, seen only at Nimroud — Ilus and Kimrod, at Khorsabad only — King Divining at Nimroud — Trained Bird of Prey at Nimroud — King Drinking — Ditto — Wars with Sheep-skin clad People at Khorsabad — With People wearing Fillet at Nimroud — Tribute Obligatory at Nimroud — Voluntary at Khorsabad— Inscriptions across Sculptures at Nimroud — No analogous Inscription at Khorsabad — Appendage to Chariot peculiar to Nimroud — Inferences — Khorsabad Finished Palace — Nimroud Incomplete — Evidences — Tribute — Inscriptions — Trained Birds of Prey — Chariots — Divinities — Human-headed and winged Lion — Four- winged Beardless Divinity — Deified Mortals — Nisroch — Baal found at Persepolis — Nimroud intermediate between Khorsabad and Persepolis — Conclusion — List of Sculptures from Nimroud and Khorsabad in the British Museum . .216

SECTIO^'T Y.— COSTUME.

Assyrian Art, Industry, Dress, Ornaments, and Equipages — Perfection of the Art of Sculpture in Nineveh — Assyrian Art intermediary between the Grecian and Egyptian — Splendour of Costumes — Warlike Weapons — Extreme Care of Beards — Love of Ornament — Ear-rings — Bracelets —

The Style of Art which characterised their Ornaments — Comparison with more familiar forms of Greek Art — Assyrian Industry — The High Degree of Perfection it attained — Acquaintance with the Art of Working various Metals — Bronze Lion — Its Use — Burnt Clay Idols — Seals of Clay — Funeral Urns — Painted Bidcks — Altars — Nails — Chariot Wheels — Lapis Ollaris — Commerce of Ancient Assyria — Its Chief Branches . . . . .312

XIV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Assyrian Inscriptions and their Interpretation — The Arrow-headed Character — How it came to be deciphered by Professor Grotsfend — Suggestions of M. Bournouf and Professor Lassen — Col. Rawlinson and the Behistun Inscription — Process of Analysing the Assyrian Texts — The Inscriptions at Khorsabad — The Situations in which they were found — Botta’s Opinion on these Inscriptions — Col. Rawlinson’s account of the Labours of his predecessors and of himself — The Babylonian unquestionably the most ancient Cuneiform Writing — Tablets at the Mouth of the Nahr-al-Kelb — Cuneiform Writing confined exclusively to Sculptures and Impressions —

The Inscription on the Obelisk found at Nimroud — Col. Rawlinson’s Translation and Remarks — Dr. Grotefend’s Reading of the Obelisk — Shalmaneser — Dr. Hincks’ Reading of some Names — Jehu — Language and Mode of Writing the Ancient Assyrian — Difference between the Two Systems of Col. Rawlinson and Dr. Hincks in Interpreting Inscriptions —

M. Bosanquet — Dr. Hincks — Dr Hincks’ farther Discoveries . . . 337

Chapter II

Latest Proceedings and Discoveries in Assyria — Intelligence of Layard, 1849, 1850, and 1851 — Grant of French Government for Farther Investigations — Grant to Col. Rawlinson — Appointment of Layard as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs — Communication from Col. Rawlinson read at Asiatic Society, 6th March, 1852 380

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

1. Frontispiece — Arrival of Sculptures at British Museum, Feb, 1852.

2. Map of Nineveh and surrounding country.

3. Assyrian winged-lion, N.W. palace Nimroud 1

4. Plains of ancient Nineveh ......... 6

5. Mound of Khorsabad, western side ....... 7

6. Village of ditto 17

7. Mound at Nimroud 26

8. Plain and Mounds of Nimroud 37

9. Map of Assyria and Mesopotamia . .38

10. Comparative size of cities 45

11. Nimrod, from Palace of Khorsabad ....... 55

Head of Herodotus 56

12. Kouyunjik Lion 69

Chronological Chart 76

13. Name on ivory box found at Nimroud ....... 77

14. Head of Cyrus in Egyptian head-dress . . . . . . . ib.

15. Name — Oben Ha ib.

16. Ammun 78

17 — 18. Babylonian Cylindrical Seals ib.

19. Plan of Mounds of Khorsabad , . . ^ 79

20. Ditto of Platform on which Palace of Khorsabad stood . . .85

21. Eastern side of mounds of Khorsabad . . . . . , . 90

22. Obelisk from Nimroud . . 91

23. Boundary of ancient Nineveh ......... 95

24. Walls of Nineveh 98

25. Statue at Kalah Sherghat 99

26. Ruins at A1 Hadhr 104

XVI

LIST OE ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

27. Birs Nimroud

28. Persepolitan column

29. Plan of the ruins of Persepolis

30. Monument at Nahr-al-Kelb ......

.

81. View on the Euphrates, near Baghdad . . . .

32. Forepart of bull on jamb of door .....

33. Portal of the Palace of Khorsabad . . . . .

34. Plan of the Palace of Khorsabad

35. Portal of Palace, with figure of Mmrod ....

36. Figure of Nimrod (Botta, pi. 41.)

37. Egyptian Bommereng

38. Bommereng in Nimrod’s hand .....

ib.

39. Hunga Munga, from Southern Africa . . . .

40. Trombash, from Central Africa .....

ih.

41. Es Selem, from the desert between the Nile and the Bed Sea . . .

lb.

42. Australian Bommereng

ih.

43. Divinity Ilus . . . . . . . .

44. Egyptian Symbol of Life

45. Egyptian King Bhamses IV. ......

ib.

46. The great King and his officers .....

47. The great King ........

ib.

48 — 49. Fly Flaps (Botta, pi. 61.)

50. Preparations for building road or pont (Botta, pi, 35.)

51. Assyrian ship ........

ib.

52. Egyptian ship .........

(Thebes)

53. Maritime subject (Botta, pi. 32, 33, 34.) . . . .

ib.

54. Dagon

55. Tartan, chief of Tribute (Botta, pi. 130.)

56. Sultan Medinet (Botta, pi. 36.)

57. One of the Sagartii (Botta, pi. 129.) ....

58. Priest

59. Eagle-headed Divinity ib.

60—61. Teraphim found in secret cavities (Botta, pi. 152.) .

62. Symbolic tree ........

63. Siege with battering-rams ......

64 — 65. War-engines or battering-rams (Botta, pi. 160.) ,

66. Sacred edifice with gable roof (Botta, p, 141.)

•

67. Hewing a figure to pieces (Botta, pi. 140.)

68. Flaying alive (Botta, pi. 120.) .....

69. King putting out the eyes of a captive (Botta, pi. 118.)

70. Kiosk or ifieasur e-house (Botta, pi. 114.)

71. The great King following the chase (Botta, pi. 113.) .

LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS.

XV 11

72. The King’s sons ditto (part of the preceding) (Botta, pi. 112.) (Khorsabad)

73. Shooting at a target (Botta, pi. 111.) „

74. The King’s foresters (Botta, pi. 110)

75. Hunting and huntsmen (Botta, pi. 108.) .... „

76. The charge (Botta, pi. 92.)

77- Attack of an advanced fort (Botta, pi. 93.) ... „

78. Captives and Spoil (Botta, pi. 92.)

79. One of the Milyse, from Cilicia (Botta, pi. 106.) ... „

80. Clasp of dress

81. Attack of a city; setting fire to the gates (Botta, pi. 70.) . „

82. Attack of a city of the sheepskin-clad race (Botta, pi. 77.) . „

83. Feast; drinking-cups and wine-vases (Botta, pi. 76.) . . „

84. Assyrian wine-cup .........

85. Greek ditto

86. Assyrian Lyre (Khorsabad)

87. Guests at table — the toast (Botta, pi. 64, 65.) ... „

88. Assault of a city, and impalement of prisoners (Botta, pi. 55.) . „

89. Burning of a besieged city (Botta, pi. 68) .... „

90. Burning of a fort and pursuit of the conquered (Botta, pi. 76.) ,,

91. Part of besieged city on hill, showing circular-headed tablet

(Botta, pi. 64.)

92. Attack by bow and spearmen ; setting fire to gates of a city

93. Bowmen charging under cover of moveable shield (Botta,

94. Sculpture representing Jerusalem (Botta, pi. 78.) . . . „

95. Procession of tribute-bearers with cups and wheeled chair

96. Continuation of above, with chair of state,altar, and chariot

97. Ditto, with horses, tables, and vases (Botta, pi. 21, 22, 23.) . ,,

98. Curvetto moulding of terrace on platform (Botta, pi. 150.) . „

99. Priest with gazelle (Botta, pi. 43.)

100. Section, showing construction of wall and ceiling . . ,,

101. Procession, showing divisions of slab and doorway . . „

102. View of pyramidal mound at Nimroud

103. Winged human-headed lion .... (N. W. Palace, Nimroud)

104. King in his chariot, besieging city ... „ „

105. Egyptian chariot ...........

106. Assyrian ditto *..... (N. W. Palace, Nimroud)

107. Standard-bearers (Continuation of Fig. 106) . . ,, „

108. King in procession after victory ... „ „

PAGE

179 182

ib.

199 202

206 210

216 218 221 222

XVlll

LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS.

1 09. Standard-bearers in procession after victory (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)

110. Chamberlain receiving prisoners ... 1 „ „

111. Mummers dancing 2 „ „

112 — 113. Tamboura

114. The Stable — curry-combing a horse . . 3 (N. W. Palace, Nimroud)

115. Egyptian hieroglyphic, determinative of country or district

116. Interior of the Royal kitchen (1, 2, 3, and 4,

one slab) . . . . . . . 4 (N. W. Palace, Nimroud)

117. King in battle — Divinity above — Bird of prey

tearing the dying „ „

118. Eunuch warrior in battle — bird of prey above . „ „

119. Rout and flight of the enemy .... „ „

120. Standard-bearers in battle ...... „

121. Chariot and officers of the great king . . . „ „

122. Siege of Damascus — final assault . . . . „ „

123. Completion of siege — people led into captivity . „ „

124. Triumphal procession before the walls of a city . „ „

125. Passage of a river by the great king and his allies . „ „

126. Troops and equipments crossing the river . . . „ „

127. Preparations for crossing the river, and embarka-

tion of the chariots „ „

128. Kufah modern basket-boat used upon Euphrates and Tigris

129. Kellek, or large rafts used on Tigris and Euphrates . . . .

130. Tent cabin on kellek ..........

131. Fugitives crossing a torrent .... (N. W. Palace, Nimroud)

132. The great King on foot, attacking a fortified city . „ „

133. The lion hunt „ „

134. Claw in lion’s tail, from Nimroud sculpture . . „ „

135. Ditto, full size ' . .

136. The bull hunt (N, W. Palace, Nimroud)

137. Procession of captives with tribute . . . „ „

138. The league or treaty of peace . . . . „ „

139. A royal sceptre-bearer „

140. The royal cup-bearer ...... ,,

141. The King returning from the bull hunt . . . „ „

142. The King and divinities before Baal and the symbolic tree „

144. Symbol of Baal ,, „

145. Egyptian symbol

146. The flight — Parthian bowmen . . . (N. W. Palace, Nimroud)

147. Deified man, with fallow-deer „

148. Divinity, with egg-shaped head-dress, pine-cone, and basket „

PAGE

LIST OL ILLUSTEATIONS.

XIX

PAGE

149. Nisroch (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)

150. Selikdar, or sword-bearer

•

151. Captive heading procession of tribute-bearers .

• yj

152. Attendant, with monkeys as tribute ....

153. Winged human-headed bull

• 5?

154. Msroch before symbolic tree .....

155. King drinking or divining in the presence of the gods of Assyria „

156. Divinities kneeling before symbolic tree

157. Beardless divinity with four wings .....

158. The great King

159. Divinity with egg-shaped and horned cap

160. Deified man carrying goat and ear of wheat .

161. Impetuous assault on a city — artificial mount — felling trees

(Centre mins, Nimroud)

162. Siege — prisoners impaled before the walls of the city .

163. Evacuation of a city

• ,5

164. Bowmen discharging arrows from behind moveable shield

• yy

165. Assyrian mercenaries in pursuit — vulture with entrails

• yy

166. Cavalry of the great King awaiting the order to mount

(Kouyunjik)

167. Bowmen and slingers .......

^y

168. Cavalry pursuing man on dromedary ....

. (Nimroud)

169. Warrior in his chariot hunting the lion ....

ib.

170. Cup-bearer to the King of Nineveh ....

172. Front view of obelisk .......

• yy

173. Left side of ditto

•

174. Back of ditto . ,

• yy

175. Fourth side of ditto .

• yy

176. Portrait of the cup-bearer of the King ....

177. Tribute horses

178. Native of the coast of the Mediterranean

179. Tomb of Jonah on Nebbi Yunis .....

180. Head-dress from Khorsabad

.

186 — 190. A.ssyrian head-dresses (Botta, pi. 163.)

ib.

191 — 195. Assyrian shields (Botta, pi. 160.)

196 — 201. Assyrian bow, arrows, and quiver (Botta, pi. 159.)

202 — 205. Assyrian helmets, and head-dresses (Botta, pi. 163.)

206—208. Assyrian swords (Botta, pi. 149.) ....

ib.

ib.

210. Assyrian umbrella (Botta, pi. 159.)

XX

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGK

212 — 216. Assyrian earrings (Botta, pi. 161.) . . . . . . . ib.

217 — 224. Assyrian bracelets (Botta^ pi. 161.) 324

225. Bronze lion on altar (Botta, pi. 150.) 326

226, 227. Section and plan of tombs (Botta, pi. 165.) 329

228, 229. Miniature arrow-head and crescent 331

230. Passage-boat of the great King 336

231. View from Mosul over plains of Nineveh . . . . . . 337

232. Inscribed slab in British Museum 338

233. Arab tent 379

234. View in the excavations 380

235. Group of Arabs 384

236. Arab Sheikh 385

I

V-C

Fig. 3.—“ THE FIRST WAS LIKE A LION AND HAD EAGLE’S WINGS."— Z)ameZ vii. 4.

SECTION I.

THE BUEIED CITY AND ITS DISCOYEEEKS.

CHAPTEE I.

RICH.

Par away — a thousand miles — from the highways of modern commerce, and the tracks of ordinary travel, lay a city buried in the sandy earth of a half-desert Turkish province, with no certain trace of its place of sepulchre. Vague tradition said that it was hidden somewhere near the river Tigris ; but for above two thousand years its known existence in the world was as a mere name — a word. That name suggested the idea of an ancient capital of fabulous splendour and magnitude ; a congregation of palaces and other dwelhngs, encompassed by walls and ramparts, vast but scarcely real.

More than two thousand years had it thus lain in its miknovm grave, when a Prench savant and a wandering English scholar, urged by a noble mspiration, sought the seat of the once powerful empire, and, searching till they found the dead city, threw olf its shroud of a

NINEVEH AND ITS DISCOVEEEES.

sand and ruin, and revealed once more to an astonislied and curious world the temples, the palaces, and the idols ; the representations of war, and the triumphs of peaceful art of the ancient Assyrians. The Nineveh of Scripture, the Nineveh of the oldest historians ; the Nineveh — twin sister of Babylon — glorying in a civilisation of pomp and power, all traces of which were believed to be gone ; the Nineveh, in which the captive tribes of Israel had laboured and wept, was, after a sleep of twenty centuries, again brought to light. The proofs of ancient splendour were agaiu beheld by living eyes, and, by the skdl of the draftsman and the pen of antiquarian travellers, made known to the world.