TE 52 8 29552 Me David Paten Century Club New York 1 | ДРА iz 15 ПРИen 859 7, ๆ " 1 1 NINEVEH AND BABYLON 1 LONDON PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO. NEW-STREET SQUARE UNIKIMISSITUATIEITHIAUSIMAS DOTCO Frontispiece UVOSUV INTTIOITT DE TU TITUUT OITATIOITT TALO TOLDING UL moomide OHHOHH DIUE IMHOFU ULLULLMH DAYS PALABRAS AY 45:44 by Me LOUUUUUU ha WEEKBEDEBBBBB LUMINO Atom WILDE Palace of Sennacherib at Kouyunjik, restored NINEVEH AND AND BABYLON A NARRATIVE OF A SECOND EXPEDITION TO ASSYRIA DURING THE YEARS 1849, 1850, & 1851 BY AUSTEN HENRY LAYARD M.P. D.C.L. Abridged by the Anthor from his Larger Work WITH NUMEROUS WOODCUTS LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 1867 The right of translation is reserved ; PREFACE. This VOLUME contains an abridgınent of the narrative of my second expedition to Assyria and Babylonia, published in 1853, under the title of ‘Nineveh and Babylon.' I have described, in the Introduction, the principal discoveries on the site of Nineveh made after my return to England in the spring of 1851. Further researches amongst the ruins after my departure from Assyria, and the contents of the cuneiform inscriptions as deciphered by English and French scholars, have added to our knowledge of the history, the language, and the arts of the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians, but they have not led me to modify, to any material extent, the views put forward in my original work. I have noticed in the follow- ing pages the most important results of the interpretation of the Assyrian inscriptions. London : October 1867. DPA 29552 DP dep 869 568 .2 CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. PAGE Excavations continued after my return to England in 1851–Success of Mr. H. Rassam's explorations—Description of the new sculp- tures—Their removal to England-Future researches must be of a different nature Investigations of the arrow-headed characters M. Grotefend's researches—M. Lassen, 7. Martin, Barnouf, and others—Investigations of Sir H. Rawlinson-Dr. Hincks—his great learning—his death—ill-requital of his labours—Researches of M. Oppert, Mr. Fox Talbot, and Mr. Norris—The Royal Asiatic Society—Their plan for testing the accuracy of the various decipherments of the cuneiform inscriptions—Testimonies of Sir G. Wilkinson, Professor Wilson, and others, as to the correctness of these renderings—The French Academy-Reward of M. Oppert by the French Government-Assyrian chronology—Sir H. Rawling son's theory respecting the ancient capital of Assyria—The inscrip- tions furnish but little information, yet sufficient to prove the great advincement of the Assyrians in the arts and sciences of a civilised nation xix CHAPTER 1. Renewal of excavations in Assyria—Return to Mosul—Discoveries at Kouyunjik–Visit to Nimroud-Excavations in the Mound- Mr. H. Rassam. -Sculptures representing transport of winged bulls discovered at Kouyunjik — Fresh sculptures-Discovery of gateway–High Mound at Nimroud explored I CHAPTER II. Discovery of the grand entrance to Sennacherib's palace–The inscrip- tions containing the annals of his reign-Account of his war with Hezekiah-Sculptures representing siege of Lachish— Jewish cap- tives—Discovery of arched vault at Nimroud—of painted bricks Attack of the Tai on village of Nimroud—Discovery of chamber containing bronze bowls, glass, and other relics 40 xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. FAGE Visit to the winged lions by night—The bitumen springs—Removal of the winged lions to the river—Loss and recovery of lion-Visit to Bavian—Description of rock sculptures Inscriptions-Sculptures at Kouyunjik . 67 CHAPTER IV. Preparations for a journey to the Khabour-Sheikh Suttum— His rediff-Departure from Mosul—First encampment-Abou Kha- meera-A storm—Tel Ermah—A stranger—Tel Femal-A sun- set in the desert-A Febour encampment—The Belled Sinjar-The Sinjar hill—The dress of the Yezidis—The Shomal-Return to the Belled-A snake-charmer- Journey continued in the desert-Rish- wan-Encampment of the Boraij—Dress of Arab women-Rath- aiyah-Hawking—A deputation from the Yezidis—The Khabour -Arrival at Arban So CHAPTER V. Encampment on the Khabour-Sheikh Suttum-Mohammed Emin -Discovery of winged bulls- of Assyrian relics--of lions--of human figure—of various objects of antiquity—The Chebar of the Captivity-Our tents—Bread of the Arabs—Their food—Their knowiedge of medicine—The Deloul, or Dromedary—Adla—A storm-Animals on the Khabour~Visit to Moghamis 116 CHAPTER VI. Leave Arban The banks of the Khabour — Artificial mounds- Mijwell—The cadi of the Bedouins—The 'thar,' or blood revenge -Caution of Arabs—A natural cavern-An extinct volcano The confluents of the Khabour - Suleiman Agha — Encampment at I'm-Jerjeh — Mohammed Emin leaves us — Visit to the Milli Kurds—Arab love-making — The Dakheel — Bedouin poets and poetry—Leave the Khabour-Arab sagacity — The Hol— Khatou- niyah-Return of Suttum— Ferhan-Sinjar villages—Eski Mosul -Departure of Suttum 139 . CHAPTER VII. Discoveries at Kouyunjik-Procession of figures bearing fruit and game-Locusts—Led horses—An Assyrian campaign-Dagon, or the fish-god—The chambers of records—Inscribed clay tablets — Return to Nimroud-Effects of the flood — Discoveries - Small temple under high mound—The Evil Spirit-Fish-god-Fine bns- relief of the king ---Great inscribed monolith— Cedar beams--Second temple. 163 CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER VIII. PAGE The summer-Encampment at Kouyunjik-Mode of life--Depar- ture for the mountains Akra Rock-tablets at Gunduk District of Zibari–Namet Agha-District of Shirwan-of Bara- dost-of Gherdi- of Shemdina-Mousa Bey—Nestorian bishop- Convent of Mar Hananisho— District and plain of Ghaour – Dizza — An Albanian friend — Bash-Kalah Izzet Pasha A Jewish encampment - High mountain pass — Mahmoudiyah First view of Wan. 184 CHAPTEK IX. Mehemet Pasha-Description of Wan— Its history— Improvement in its condition—The Armenian bishop-The cuneiform inscrip- tions—The caves of Khorkhor—The Meher Kapousi-A tradition -The Bairam-An Armenian school-Amikh—The convent of Yedi Klissia — Leave Wan — The Armenian patriarch - The island of Akhtamar - An Armenian church — History of the convent-Pass into Mukus—The district of Mukus—of Shattak -of Nourdooz- A Nestorian village - Encampments — Mount Ararat-Mar Shamoun— Jula-Merik-Valley of Diz—Pass into Jelu—Nestorian district of Jelu-An ancient church—The bishop -District.of Baz--of Tkhoma—Return to Mosul. 205 . CHAPTER X. Discoveries at Kouyunjik during the summer - Description of the sculptures-Capture of cities on a great river—Alabaster pavement -Conquest of tribes inhabiting a marsh—Their wealth-Cham- bers with sculptures belonging to a new king—Conquest of the people of Susiana—Portrait of the king—His guards and attendants The city of Shushan-Captive prince-Musicians—Captives put to the torture-An inclined passage-Two small chambers—Colos- sal figures. . 238 CHAPTER XI. Departure for Babylon—The Awai-Descent of the river — Tekrit- The plain of Dura—The Naharwan-Samarrah — Kadesia- Palm groves-Kathimain-Approach to Baghdad—The City— Arrival - Modern Baghdad — Departure for Babylon - Abde Pasha's camp— Approach to Babylon—The ruins-Arrival at Hillah—The chiefs of Hillah--Present of lions—Description of the town—The ruins of Babylon--The walls— Visit to the Birs Nim- xiv CONTENTS. PAGE roud-Description of the ruin—View from it-Excavations and discoveries in the Mound of Babel—in the Mujelibé or Kasr—The tree Athelé-Excavations in the ruin of Amran-Bowls, with in- scriptions in Hebrew and Syriac characters—The Jews of Baby- lonia 260 CHAPTER XII. State of the ruins of Babylon-Cause of the disappearance of build- ings—Nature of original edifices—Babylonian bricks—The history of Babylon—Its commerce-Canals and rivers—The arts-En- graved gems-Fall of the city—The mounds of El Hymer-of Anana—Ruins in Southern Mesopotamia-Departure from Hillah --Sand-hills-Villages in the Jezirah-Sheikh Karboul–Ruins -First view of Niffer --The marshes — Arab boats — Arrive at Souk-El-Afaij — Sheikh Agab —— Town of the Afaij — Descrip- tion of the ruins of Niffer — Excavations in the mounds — Dis- covery of coffins —of various relics—Mr. Loftus' discoveries at Wurka—The Arab tribes —Wild beasts — Lions— Customs of the Afaij—Leave the marshes-Return to Baghdad-A mirage. 294 CHAPTER XIII. Departure from Baghdad — Fourney through Mesopotamia-Eari'y Arab remains — The Median wall — Tekrit — Horses stolen Instance of Bedouin honesty - Excavations at Kalah Sherghat -Reach Mosul-Discoveries during absence-New chambers at Kouyunjik-Description of bas-reliefs—Extent of the ruins explored -Bases of pillars-Small objects—Absence of Assyrian tombs- Assyrian relics—Remains beneath the tomb of Jonah-Discoveries at Shereef-Khan—at Nimroud—Engraved cylinders . 329 CHAPTER XIV. Results of the discoveries to chronology and history—Names of earliest Assyrian kings—Annals of Tiglath Pileser 1.—The period of his reign-The dynasty of the Nimroud kings—Sardanapalus I.- His successor—Mention of Jehu, king of Israel-Annals of Tiglath Pileser 11.—Mention of Menahem—Annals of Sargon-of Sen- nacheribof Esar-haddon-of his son and grandson-Nature of Assyrian records—Political condition of Assyria—Religion- Extent of Nineveh—Assyrian architecture Sennacherib's palace at Kouyunjik—The palaces at Nimroud–Fortifications of Nim- roud, Khorsabad, and Kouyunjik—Conclusion . · 351 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE XXV XXV XXX Palace of Sennacherib at Kouyunjik, restored Frontispiece Hound held in Leash xxiii Lion let out of Trap. xxiv Wounded Lioness Lion seizing Chariot Wheel King transfixing Lion with his Spear. xxyi King in close Combat with a Lion xxvi Wild Ass captured by Hounds . xxvii Wounded Wild Ass seized and pulled down by Hounds xxvii King hunting Lions . xxviii Wild Ass captured with Lasso xxix Gazelle pursued by Huntsmen xxix Wounded Gazelle xxix King pouring Libation over Dead Lions Sardanapalus and his Queen seated at a Banquet xxxi Statue of the God Nebo xxxii Palace of Sennacherib.—Plan I. Underground Excavations at Kouyunjik 6 Head-dress of Captives employed by Assyrians in moving Bull. (Kouyunjik.) 19 Cart with Ropes and Workmen carrying Saws, Picks and Shovels, for moving colossal Bull. (Kouyunjik.) Workmen carrying Ropes, Saws, and other Implements for mo- ving Bull. (Kouyunjik.) Stag. (Kouyunjik.) 23 Wild Sow and Young, amongst Reeds. (Kouyunjik.) 23 King superintending Removal of colossal Bull. (Kouyunjik.) 25 Village with conical Roofs, near Aleppo 26 Assyrians placing a human-headed Bull . (Kouyunjik.) 27 Plan of Northern Gateway to Inclosure of Kouyunjik 32 Square Tower and small Temples. Mound of Nimroud. — Plan II. 34 Tunnel along Eastern Basement Wall of Tower. (Nimroud.) 35 21 21 xvi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE 36 36 . Western Face of Basement of Tower. (Nimroud.) Northern Face of Basement of Tower. (Nimroud.) Tower on a Mound. (From a Bas-relief, Kouyunjik.) 39 Remains of Façade and Grand Entrance of the Palace of Senna- cherib. (Kouyunjik.) · 41 Existing Remains at Khorsabad, showing original state of Grand Entrance at Kouyunjik 43 Bulls with historical Inscriptions of Sennacherib. (Kouyunjik.). 46 Sennacherib on his Throne before Lachish 49 Jewish Captives from Lachish. (Kouyunjik.) 51 Bronze Socket of the Palace Gate. (Nimroud.) 52 Vaulted Drain beneath South-east Palace. (Nimroud.) 53 Vaulted Drain beneath the North-west Palace at Nimroud. 54 Excavated Chamber in which the Bronzes were discovered. (Nimroud.). 57 Bronze Bells found in a Cauldron. (Nimroud.) 58 Handles of Bronze Dishes, from Nimroud 60 Bronze Vessels, taken from the Interior of a Cauldron 60, 61 Bronze Wine Strainer 61 Bronze Dish, from Nimroud 61 Bronze Cup, 64 in. diameter, and iſ in. deep 61 Bronze Shields from Nimroud Bronze Cube inlaid with Gold. (Original Size.) Fallen Rock-Sculptures. (Bavian.) 72 Assyrian Fountain. (Bavian.). 73 A Captive. (Kouyunjik.) 76 Bas-relief from Kouyunjik, representing fortified City, a River with a Boat and Raft, and a Canal 77 Bas-relief representing a River, and Gardens watered by Canals, (Kouyunjik.) Sheikh Suttum 85 Our First Encampment in the Desert 87 Interior of a Yezidi House at Bukra, in the Sinjar 96 A Group of Yezidis . 99 Arab Nose Ring and Bracelet of Silver 107 Suttum, with his Wife, on his Dromedary 109 A trained Falcon 115 Artificial Mounds on the Khabour 117 Sheikh Mohammed Emin 119 Winged Bull discovered at Arban Lion discovered at Arban 123 Bas-relief discovered at Arban 124 Arab Women grinding Corn with a Hand-mill, rolling out the Dough, and baking the Bread 128 Saddling a Deloul or Dromedary 133 63 64 78 I21 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, xvii PAGE . . . racters . Volcanic Cone of Koukab 143 The Tent of the Milli Chief 147 Women of the Milli Tribe 149 Town and Lake of Khatouniyah 157 Arab Camels 159 Attendants carrying Pomegranates and Locusts. (Kouyunjik.). 164 The King in his Chariot passing through a Stream in a Valley. (Kouyunjik.) 167 Assyrian Cylinder, with Dagon, or the Fish-god 168 Cylinder, with Assyrian Records 169 Clay Tablet with Cylinder impressed. (From Kouyunjik.) 170 Inscribed Tablet, with Inscription at one end in Cursive Cha- 171 Piece of Clay with Impressions of Seals 172 Impression of a Seal on Clay 172 Back of the same Seal, showing the Marks of the String and the Fingers 172 Impressions of the Signets of the Kings of Assyria and Egypt. (Original Size.) 173 Part of Cartouche of Sabaco, enlarged from the Impression of his Signet 173 Royal Cylinder of Sennacherib 174 Entrance to Small Temple. (Nimroud.) 176 Fish-god at Entrance to small Temple. (Nimroud.) 177 Effigy of King. 178 Entrance to a small Temple dedicated to Beltis." (Nimroud.) Statue of King from Temple. (Nimroud.) 182 Landing Place with Ferryboats on the Tigris at Mosul 184 A Kurd 190 The Castle of Mahmoudiyah The Town and Rock of Wan 207 Tombs in the Rock at Wan 209 Kurds of Wan A Nestorian Family 224 Arabs and Nestorians moving a Slab at Kouyunjik 239 Assyrian Warriors in a Cart, captured froin the Elamites. (Kou- yunjik.) 246 Singers coming out to meet the Conquerors. (Kouyunjik.) 252 Musicians coming out to meet the Conquerors. (Kouyunjik.) 253 Assyrians flaying their Prisoners alive, and carrying away Heads of the Slain. (Kouyunjik.). 254 Assyrians torturing their Čaptives. (Kouyunjik.) 256 Colossal Figures at an Entrance. (Kouyunjik.) 257 Cases containing Sculptures ready for Embarkation 258 A Kellek, or Raft of Skins, on the Tigris 261 . . . 181 202 . 212 . . . . . а. xviii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE . . . 336 Plan of Part of the Ruins of Babylon on the Eastern Bank of the Euphrates 274 The Birs Nimroud, or Tower of Babel of early Travellers 278 Eastern Face of the Birs Nimroud with proposed Restoration 280 Mound of Babel : Ruins of Babylon 283 The Mujelibé, or Kasr: Ruins of Babylon. (From Rich.) 286 Babylonian Brick 287 Fragment from the Mujelibé. (Babylon.) 289 Inscribed Earthen Bowls, from Babylon 291 Terracotta Tablet from Babylon, representing a Dog . 302 Babylonian Cylinder in Sienite. (Size of the Original.) 304 Engraved Gem from Babylon 304 Cylinder in the British Museum 305 Heads of Arab Delouls 312 Lid of Glazed Coffin 320 Glazed Coffins from Babylonia, in the British Museum 321 Terracotta Model of a Body in a Coffin 321 Throne-room, Teheran 327 Loading a Camel. (Kouyunjik.) 333 Captives in a Cart. (Kouyunjik.) 334 Captives resting 334 Battle in a Marsh in Southern Mesopotamia. (Kouyunjik.) Assyrians cutting down the Palm Trees belonging to a captured City. (Kouyunjik.) Assyrian Pedestal, from Kouyunjik 340 Cylinder in green Jasper . 343 Ancient Assyrian Cylinder, in Serpentine 344 Assyrian Cylinders, in Serpentine 345 Babylonian Cylinders, in Agate, Porcelain, Iron Hæmatite, and Jasper . 346, 347 Cylinders, with Semitic Characters Persian Cylinders, in Red Cornelian, Chalcedony, Rock Crystal, and Onyx 349 Bas-relief, representing Pul, or Tiglath Pileser. (Nimroud.) 359 The Great Hall of Sardanapalus' Palace, restored To face 383 Court of Sargon's Palace at Khorsabad, restored after Fergusson 380 Exterior of a Building. (From a Bas-relief at Kouyunjik.). 384 Plan of the Mound of Nimroud. 389 Mound of Nimroud . 390 Plan of Mound and Inclosure of Nimroud 393 Plan of Mound and Inclosure of Kouyunjik 395 Ornament on Top of Walls. (Kouyunjik.) Double Ditch and Walls of Inclosure of Kouyunjik Last View of Mosul 402 . 338 348 396 398 . INTRODUCTION. AFTER THE TERMINATION of the expedition described in this volume and my return to England in the spring of 1851, the excavations at Kouyunjik were continued on a limited scale by Mr. Christian Rassam, the British Vice- consul at Mosul, their general direction having been con- fided by the Trustees of the British Museum to Sir Henry Rawlinson, then H.M. Consul General, and the Political Agent of the East India Company at Baghdad. Sir Henry visited the ruins in the early part of 1852. The excavations were chiefly carried on amongst the ruins of the palace of Sennacherib in the south-west corner of the mound of Kouyunjik, and at Shereef Khan, an ancient Assyrian site to the north of Nineveh. The sculptures discovered at Kouyunjik formed for the most part a continuation of the bas-reliefs previously un- covered, representing various wars of the Assyrians. In that part of Sennacherib's palace, in which his grandson had caused to be executed the bas-reliefs representing the con- quest of Elam or Susiana, discovered previously to my depar- ture,* were found a number of clay tablets and fragments of cylinders of the same material, which form an important * See Chap. x. Drawings of the sculptures discovered by Sir H. Rawlinson and Mr. C. Rassam were made by Mr. Hodder, and are now in the British Museum. a 2 XX INTRODUCTION. addition to the large collection of similar records sent by me to this country. At Shereef Khan, the ruins which I had discovered proved to be the remains of a palace built, according to Sir H. Rawlinson, by a younger brother of Esar-haddon, and of a temple dedicated to the Assyrian Neptune. No sculptures were found amongst them, but several inscriptions of interest were obtained from them, and a beautiful cylinder in chalcedony, bearing the name of a king of a dynasty tributary to Assyria, and ruling on the river Khabour. The French Consul at Mosul, M. Place, also commenced excavations in the mound of Kouyunjik after my return to Europe. The only discovery of any interest which he made was that of an inscribed tablet bearing the name of Sarda- napalus, the builder of the north-west palace at Nimroud, and apparently stating that that monarch erected a temple at Kouyunjik. If such be the case, other remains of the same period may still exist in some part of the mound hitherto unexplored, and it would be proved that, long anterior to Sennacherib, an Assyrian city stood on this site. In the mound of Nebbi Yunus, a pair of winged, human- headed bulls were accidentally discovered by an inhabitant of the village, who was digging the foundations of his house. The Turkish authorities took possession of them, and carried on excavations for a short time, uncovering sculptured slabs and inscriptions. But these excavations were soon abandoned, as the mound is covered with the buildings surrounding the so-called tomb of Jonah and the burial-ground depend- ing upon it, which could not, without giving offence to the people of Mosul, be disturbed. Sufficient, however, was discovered to lead to the belief that the mound covers the ruins of palaces of great interest and importance, richly adorned with sculpture, and built by three different kings- the grandson of the builder of the centre palace at Nimroud, Sennacherib, and Esar-haddon. INTRODUCTION. xxi Mr. Vice-consul Rassam removed and packed for trans- port to England a collection of bas-reliefs which I had dis- covered in the palace of Sennacherib, but, unfortunately, the raft on which they were sent to Baghdad was plundered on the way by the Arabs, and the sculptures were destroyed. Parliament having voted a grant of money for further researches in Assyria, Mr. Hormuzd Rassam, who had been my companion during my two expeditions, and to whose zeal, ability, and influence over the Arabs I had been so much indebted for their success, was requested by the Trustees of the British Museum to superintend the excava- tions. He had accompanied me to England, from whence he returned to Mosul, and was again amongst the ruins in the month of October, 1852. A general direction over the expedition was confided to Sir Henry Rawlinson. Mr. Hormuzd Rassam's excavations proved highly suc- cessful, and to them we owe many discoveries of great interest and value. On his arrival at Mosul he placed workmen at Kouyunjik and Nimroud, and proceeded himself to the great mound of Kalah Sherghat, where, from the fragments dug up during previous explorations, ruins of great antiquity and importance might be presumed to exist. But the palaces, or temples, which may once have stood there, had been so completely destroyed, that, with the exception of the remains of a colossal human-headed bull and lion in black basalt (a material apparently very generally employed by the Assyrians at this place), and a few fragments of alabaster slabs, no traces of buildings were discovered. Mr. Hormuzd Rassam was, however, fortunate enough to find two cylinders, which, with the cylinder previously obtained by me from the same ruins, enable us to complete the annals of one of the earliest Assyrian kings of whom we have any detailed records. His name, if the cuneiform characters composing it be correctly interpreted, is Tiglath Pileser (cor- responding with that of the later monarch mentioned in the xxii INTRODUCTION. Bible), and he appears to have reigned between 1200 and 1100 years B.C. At Kouyunjik Mr. H. Rassam discovered the entire obelisk in white limestone, and the upper part of a second, now in the British Museum. These highly important monu- ments are of the same shape as the black obelisk obtained from the centre palace at Nimroud,* and are covered with an inscription containing annals of the founder of the north- west palace at Nimroud, and a series of small bas-reliefs representing his exploits in war, and captives, or tributaries with their offerings brought into his presence. At the beginning of 1854 Mr. H. Rassam commenced excavations in the northern part of the mound of Kouyunjik. He was fortunate enough to discover, deep below the sur- face, the remains of a palace built by the grandson of Senna- cherib, and son of Esar-haddon. His name, according to Sir Henry Rawlinson, is to be read Asshur-bani-pal; to Dr. Hincks, Asshur-idanna-bal ; to M. Oppert, Assur-iddanna- palla. He was one of the last of the Assyrian kings, pro- bably the last but one; and there are grounds for conjecturing that he can be identified with the Sardanapalus of the Greek and Roman legends. The inscriptions and sculptures be- longing to his reign which have been preserved, prove that he was a great conqueror, and equally renowned for his feats in war and in the chase. They are for the most part in excellent condition, not having been exposed to fire like those in the palace of Sennacherib. Of the building itself the remains of some halls and chambers were unco- vered, and probably a considerable part of it yet remains to be explored. The most important bas-reliefs discovered by Mr. H. Rassam, and sent to this country, are those representing hunting scenes, in which the king takes the principal part, now placed in the Assyrian collection in the basement floor * Nineveh and its Remains, p. 244. INTRODUCTION. xxiii of the British Museum. For extreme delicacy and minute- ness of execution, and for remarkable truth to nature and vigour of treatment in the delineation of animals, they are equal if not superior to any other sculptures brought from Assyria. In that which constitutes the highest quality of art, in variety of detail and ornament, in attempts at compo- sition, in severity of style, and purity of outline, they are inferior to the earliest Assyrian monuments with which we Hound held in Leash. are acquainted—those from the north-west palace at Nim- roud. They bear, indeed, the same relation to them as the later Egyptian monuments do to the earlier. In these bas-reliefs Asshur-bani-pal is seen hunting the lion, sometimes engaged in close combat with the animal, and in pursuing the wild ass, the stag, and the gazelle. As usual in the sculptures adorning the walls of the Assyrian palaces of the later period, the sculptor has endeavoured to portray all the incidents of the events which he is recording. We have first the preparation for the chase. Huntsmen are xxiv INTRODUCTION. seen leading the dogs or hounds in leashes, and men and mules are laden with the nets, ropes, and gins which were used in the capture of deer, gazelles, and wild asses. The king appears to be represented as hunting in the parks or preserves attached to the royal palaces, which were stocked with wild animals, as well as in the open country. Lions, kept in cages, are turned loose for him to kill. The cage was drawn, probably by oxen, to the spot where the beast was to be set free. A box on the top of it protects a im ფული დოკუ, LAYU Innnnn VG mipira Quic .. SUITE Lion let out of Trap. huntsman or attendant who, by raising a trap, opens the door from whence the lion issues. The wary motions of the animal on leaving the cage are admirably portrayed in the sculptures. The king is seen hunting from his chariot, on horseback, and on foot. When in his chariot he is accompanied by the charioteer and two armed warriors. In some bas-reliefs he is seen transfixing a lion with arrows, and dead and dying lions lie scattered around him. The various attitudes INTRODUCTION. XXV of the beasts, whether wounded or in the last struggle, or stretched lifeless on the ground, are portrayed with singular vigour and truth to nature. Wounded Lioness. Sometimes the lion is represented as springing upon the chariot, when the king receives the animal upon his spear, Lion seizing Chariot Wheel. or transfixes it with a short sword, whilst his attendant war- riors pierce it with their spears. In one bas-relief a wounded lion is seen seizing the wheel of the king's chariot, which, in its rage and agony, it is endeavouring to crush with its xxvi INTRODUCTION. powerful jaws. The representation of the animal is full of life and artistic energy. Coa OOC .000 King transfixing Lion with his Spear. OOO King in close Combat with a Lion. When the king is represented on horseback, he is attended by a horseman leading a second horse for his use. In some INTRODUCTION. xxvii bas-reliefs the king is seen engaged on foot in close combat with the lion, and transfixing it with a spear or an arrow. Attendants standing behind are ready to supply him with fresh weapons, which they carry in their hands. He is sometimes attended and protected by a warrior who holds a shield before him. An interesting series of bas-reliefs represents the chase of Wild Ass captured by Hounds. the wild ass, an animal still found in the Mesopotamian desert. It is pursued by the king on horseback. He is Wounded Wild Ass seized and pulled down by Hounds. armed with bow and arrows, and followed by mounted at- tendants, who carry spare arrows and lead a second horse. The wild ass, when wounded, is represented as being pulled down by large and powerful hounds, apparently of the mastiff breed. The struggle between it and the dogs is portrayed with great spirit. In one bas-relief the animal is represented as having been xxviii INTRODUCTION. In IM King hunting Lions. INTRODUCTION. xxix Wild Ass captured with Lasso. caught by a kind of lasso, with which the huntsmen lead it away. Gazelle pursued by Huntsmen. Wounded Gazelle. The gazelles are also pursued by the king, armed with bow and arrows. They are portrayed (and always with the INTRODUCTION. xxxi This sculpture, and one or two others from the same series now in the British Museum, especially a warrior on a horse at full speed, are carved with the sharpness, preci- sion, and delicacy of a Greek gem. They are singularly fine examples of the perfec- tion to which the Assy- rians had attained in the technical part of the art of sculpture. At Nimroud Mr. Hormuzd Rassam's re- searches were chiefly confined to the ruins of the south-east palace. He found that the building which I had partly explored had been erected over the remains of a more ancient edi- fice. Amongst the earlier ruins, which were at a considerable depth be- neath the soil, were no chambers with sculp- tured walls, but bas- reliefs brought from the centre palace, and seve- ral detached objects of great interest were ob- tained from them. A large tablet, or stele, similar in form to the one obtained from the temple in the north-west corner of the mound,* was found in situ. It contained the effigy of a king (believed to be the grandson of Sardanapalus), and an inscrip- * See p. 178. Banquet. Sardanapalus and his Queen seated at a Swim xxxii INTRODUCTION. tion recording the an- nals of his reign. It is now in the British Mu- seum. In another part of the building, sup- posed to be a temple dedicated to Nebo by a king, whose name, according to Sir Henry Rawlinson, is to be read Iva-lush, or Yama-Zala-Khus; or, according to M. Op- pert, Hou-likhous, and who reigned about 800 B.C., were discovered two de- tached statues of the god, very very rudely carved. On them is inscription, which, according to Sir Henry Rawlin- son, states that they were offered to Nebo by an officer who go- verned certain places in the Assyrian em- pire for the life of the king (Iva-lush), and of his wife Sammu- ramit, that the god might lengthen the king's life, prolong his days, increase his years, and give peace to his house an Statue of the God Nebo. INTRODUCTION. xxxiii and people, and victory to his armies. * This Sammu- ramit' has been identified, probably upon very slender grounds, with the Semiramis of classic story; and the group of cuneiform characters, supposed to represent her name upon these statues, has enabled Mr. Rawlinson to fix her place in history, to dispose of classic fables, and to show in a proper light her story, her character, her descent, and her true connection with the Assyrian monarchy. The two statues are now in the national collection. Whilst Mr. Hormuzd Rassam was carrying on the ex- cavations near Mosul, the late Mr. Loftus, accompanied by Mr. Boutcher, an artist sent to the East by Messrs. Dicken- son of Bond Street, had been engaged by the subscribers to the 'Assyrian Excavation Fund' to continue the examina- tion of the mounds in Southern Mesopotamia and Baby- lonia, which he had commenced when attached to the mission of Sir Fenwick Williams of Kars, the British Com- missioner for the determination of the boundaries between Turkey and Persia. To Mr. Loftus' skill and energy we owe many valuable discoveries in those ruins, the most important being the inscribed bricks and tablets containing the names of kings who are believed to have belonged to a dynasty that reigned at a very remote period—probably between 1900 and 1800 B.C.—in lower Chaldæa. Mr. H. Rassam having left Mosul for England early in the spring of 1854, the subscribers to the Assyrian Excavation Fund determined to continue the excavations at Kouyunjik and Nimroud, and Mr. Loftus was directed to proceed to Mosul. Mr. Vice-consul Rassam was at the same time requested by the Trustees of the British Museum to superintend the removal * Rawlinson's Ancient Monarchies, vol. ii. p. 382, note. + She was a Babylonian princess, the last descendant of a long line of kings, whom the Assyrian monarch wedded, to confirm through her his title to the southern provinces.' Instead of the heroine of the “uncivilised ancients,' she was a very prosaic and commonplace princess,' like 'Atossa, or Elizabeth of York' ('Ancient Monarchies,' ii. 384, 385) ! b xxxiv INTRODUCTION. t and transport to England of the sculptures discovered by his brother, and to continue the excavations at Kouyunjik on a very reduced scale, chiefly for the purpose of re- taining possession of the ground. Mr. Loftus discovered some new chambers in the palace of Asshur-bani-pal, on the northern side of the Kouyunjik mound, and found other bas-reliefs representing hunting scenes, which complete the series now, in the British Museum. Very spirited and accurate drawings of these and other sculptures were made by Mr. Boutcher. Excavations on a limited scale were carried on by Mr. Loftus at Nimroud-chiefly amongst the ruins of the centre palace, of the upper chambers connected with it, and of the earlier edifices beneath the south-east palace, but no dis- coveries of importance were made in them. Mr. Loftus returned to Europe in 1854, and from that time no further excavations have been carried on by British agents amongst the Assyrian ruins. M. Place, the French Consul at Mosul, continued for a short period the explo- ration of the mounds of Khorsabad. No new sculptures were obtained from them; but a careful examination of the ruins, and the discovery of a variety of architectural details, have enabled him to restore many external features of the Assyrian palaces, and to settle several interesting questions of construction which had previously been unde- termined. He also found a large inscribed clay cylinder and various tablets, several in gold, of the time of Sargon, the founder of the Khorsabad palace, whose annals by their assistance can now be almost entirely restored. There yet remains much to be done before it can be said that the Assyrian ruins have been fully and satisfactorily explored, and that we possess all the materials which they are likely to afford for the investigation of Assyrian history. As yet owing to a variety of circumstances—to the limited means at the disposal of those who have been engaged in INTRODUCTION: XXXV these researches, to the want of that knowledge which has since been partly furnished by a careful examination of the inscriptions, and by a comparison of the monuments now collected together, and to the condition of the country in which the ruins are situated—those extensive and systematic excavations which are absolutely necessary before we can determine the exact period and nature of the numerous ruins existing in Assyria, and before we can deal with confi- dence with the materials at our disposal, have yet to be carried on. For instance, there are now reasons for conjec- turing that the mound of Kouyunjik covers the remains of edifices erected by some of the earliest Assyrian kings. As yet, with the exception of the obelisk in white stone, and of the solitary detached tablet of the time of Sardanapalus (about 900 B.c.) found by M. Place, no remains earlier than the palace of Sennacherib have been discovered there. It would appear from the inscriptions, that palaces or temples were built at Nimroud at least two or three hun- dred years before the foundation of the north-west palace, the most ancient edifice yet explored in that mound. Ac- cording to Sir Henry Rawlinson, Kalah Sherghat represents the primitive Assyrian capital, founded many centuries before Nineveh. With the exception of the cylinders of Tiglath Pileser the First (about 1130 B.C.) and one or two bricks in- scribed with doubtful royal names, no remains which can with confidence be ascribed to an earlier period than the son of Sardanapalus, the builder of the north-west palace at Nim- roud (about 850 B.C.), have been discovered in that mound. That other extensive edifices with sculptured walls will be dis- covered in unexplored Assyrian mounds I do not anticipate; but the remains of bas-reliefs of an earlier date than any- thing we yet possess, and, what is even more important, inscriptions belonging to the times of the earlier kings-to those who, there is reason to believe, reigned in Assyria more than twenty centuries before the Christian era—may still b 2 xxxvi INTRODUCTION. be buried below the soil, and are probably far beneath the foundations of the edifices hitherto explored. It is evident that the arts and manufactures did not spring at once into existence at the time of the erection of the north-west palace at Nimroud, where we find them already at the highest per- fection they appear to have at any time attained in Assyria. They were probably brought to that perfection by many successive ages of slow, perhaps almost imperceptible, deve- lopment, unless, indeed, the Assyrians borrowed them whole- sale from elsewhere, of which we have no evidence whatever. So far from this being the case, Assyrian art appears to have been original, and peculiar to the people who inhabited the northern part of Mesopotamia. Nothing has hitherto been discovered in Babylonia which would warrant us in asserting that the Assyrians derived their sculpture or their archi- tecture from that country. The contrary, indeed, would appear to be the case. It is more probable that Babylonia owed these arts to Assyria. As regards the alphabet and literature of the Assyrians, however, this may not have been the case; but as yet we have no proof that they derived them from Babylonia, or any other country. The researches to be hereafter made amongst the Assy- rian ruins must be of a very different nature to those hitherto carried on. The explorer can no longer hope for that rich harvest of sculptures and inscribed monuments which has rewarded those who first discovered the Assyrian palaces, although there is probably still much left to be gleaned. All that we can expect is, that by patient toil and a most careful and systematic examination of all the principal mounds, we may be able to determine their relative antiquity, to add to the large collection of inscriptions already brought together for the elucidation of Assyrian history and philology, and to obtain materials for the restoration of the architecture of the Assyrians. To accomplish this will be a matter of immense labour and expense, as the vast mounds of earth INTRODUCTION. xxxvii which cover the Assyrian ruins will have to be explored to their very foundations, and tunnels or trenches carried through them in every direction; for it is impossible to con- jecture what may yet remain beneath the edifices hitherto ex- plored at Nimroud, Kouyunjik, and elsewhere. In addition, these edifices themselves should be still further examined, not with the view alone of collecting sculptures and other objects of art, however great their interest, but of obtaining a complete plan of them, and of ascertaining all the archi- tectural features and details that may still remain. This has been hitherto only partially attempted in one Assyrian ruin—that of Khorsabad, at the expense of the French Go- vernment. It is very probable that many years may elapse before such a systematic examination of the Assyrian ruins will be made. But until these mounds are explored in the manner I have indicated, it cannot be said that we have obtained the materials which are necessary to enable us to restore the history and to illustrate the arts and manners of the ancient Assyrians. That a vast deal—far more than the most sanguine explorer could have anticipated—has been done during the last few years is indisputable. Although our knowledge is far from complete, yet the sculptures and inscriptions have enabled us to put together a part of the skeleton of Assyrian history, and to illustrate to a certain extent the manners, arts, sciences, and literature of the Assyrian people. So much unreason- able incredulity still exists as to the extent to which this has been effected through the interpretation of the cuneiform inscriptions, and the evidence upon which that interpretation rests has been so summarily rejected by English writers of great and deserved authority,* that a short account of the * Sir George Lewis, who was one of the most incredulous of these writers, and who was wont to quiz, with his ready and kindly wit, the cuneiform decipherer, as well as the Egyptologer, admitted to me shortly before his death, that he had never seriously investigated the principles xxxviii INTRODUCTION. history of cuneiform decipherment may be interesting to some of my readers, and may tend to remove those erro- neous impressions which exist on the subject. The investigation of the arrow-headed character is by no means a new study. It was first seriously attempted in the year 1802, by Grotefend, a learned German scholar. At that time the only materials accessible for this purpose, with the exception of the well-known inscribed bricks from the ruins of Babylon, were the inscriptions carved on rocks and on the remains of edifices at Persepolis and Hamadan (Ecbatana), and near other ancient sites in Persia. Copies of these inscriptions, more or less accurate, had been brought to Europe by various travellers from the time of Tavernier and Chardin. Fortunately, although short, they afforded the most important materials for break- ing ground and taking the first step in the interpretation of the cuneiform character. They are trilingual—that is to say, that the same inscription is repeated three times in a different language and in a different character; but, unfor- tunately, unlike the trilingual inscription on the celebrated Rosetta stone, which furnishes a key for the decipherment of the Egyptian hieroglyphics, neither the languages nor the and the evidence upon which the interpretation of the arrow-headed in- scriptions rested. Lord Macaulay rejected the interpretations with un- disguised contempt, and other classical scholars of scarcely less authority have contributed to form the unfavourable opinion upon the subject which prevails in England. I attribute this, in a great measure, to the fact that those who have been hitherto engaged in the work of decipher- ing the cuneiform inscriptions have not placed before the public, in a popular and elementary form, a history of their discoveries, and of the process which has led to them ; showing how, step by step, the results have been arrived at, and explaining the contradictions and discrepancies which exist in the interpretation of names, &c., as well as those which are inevitable in the first attempts to interpret an unknown character and language. Supposed discoveries have also been announced with too much confidence, and afterwards abandoned or ignored without sufficient ex- planation, whilst theories, more ingenious than sound, have been put forward to reconcile apparent discrepancies between the contents of the inscriptions and accepted biblical and profane history, FIRST COLUMN. 《I (mm1《《《《《I