File:Nineveh and Babylon - a narrative of a second expedition to Assyria during the years 1849, 1850, and 1851 (1882) (14580669759).jpg

Identifier: ninevehbabylonna00laya (find matches)
Title: Nineveh and Babylon : a narrative of a second expedition to Assyria during the years 1849, 1850, & 1851
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Layard, Austen Henry, Sir, 1817-1894
Subjects: Nineveh (Extinct city) Babylon (Extinct city) Middle East -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : J. Murray
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ought from the forestsof Lebanon by Sardanapalus. After a lapse of nearly threethousand years, it had retained its original fragrance. Manyother such beams were discovered.f The whole superstruc-ture, as well as the roof and floor of the building, like thoseof the temple and palace of Solomon, may have been ofthis precious material. About one hundred feet to the east of the building lastdescribed, and on the very edge of the artificial platform, Idiscovered a second temple, apparently dedicated to theAssyrian goddess, Beltis. Its principal entrance faced thesouth, and was on the same level as the north-west palace.This gateway was formed by two colossal lions with extendedjaws, gathered-up lips and nostrils, and flowing manes. Theheads, though to a certain extent conventional in form, weredesigned with that vigour and spirit so remarkably displayedby the Assyrian sculptor in the delineation of animals. The * Chamber c. Plan IT. p. 34. \ Scvcial specimens are now in the British Museum.
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l82 NINEVEH AND BABYLON. (Chap. limbs conveyed the idea of strength and power, the veins and muscles were accuratelyportrayed, and the outline ofthe body was not deficient intruth. But the forepart of theanimal, which was in full, wasnarrow and cramped, and un-equal in dignity to the side.In the general treatment thesculpture resembles the archaicmonuments of Greece, and itis on this account peculiarlyinteresting. In it, indeed, wemay perhaps trace those con-ventional forms from which theGreek artist first derived hisideal lion.* This gateway, about eightfeet wide, was ))ave(l with oneslab, on which was a part of theusual inscri))tion containingthe annals of Sardanapalus.The height of the hons wasabout 8 feet, and their lengththirteen. An inscription wascarved across them. In frontof them, in the corners formedby walls projecting at rightangles with the entrance, weretwo altars, hollow at the top,and ornamented with gradinesresembling the battlements ofa castle, f The exterior wallsap

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