the presumed site of Nineveh seemed to consist of mere shapeless heaps or mounds of earth and
rubbish. Unlike the vast masses of brick masonry which mark the site of Babylon, they showed
externally no signs of artificial construction, except perhaps here and there the traces of a rude wall
of sun-dried bricks. Some of these mounds were of enormous dimensions, looking in the distance
rather like natural elevations than the work of men’s hands. They differ greatly in form, size and
height. Some are mere conical heaps, varying from 50 to 150 feet high; others have a broad flat
summit, and very precipitous cliff-like sites furrowed by deep ravines worn by the winter rains.
The principal ruins are— (1) The group immediately opposite Mosul, including the great mounds
of Kouyunjik and Nebbi Yunus ; (2) that near the junction of the Tigris and Zab comprising the
mounds of Nimroud and Athur ; (3) Khorsabad, about ten miles to the east of the former river; (4)
Shereef Khan, about 5 1/2 miles to the north Kouyunjik; and (5) Selamiyah, three miles to the north
of Nimroud. Discoveries.—The first traveller who carefully examined the supposed site of Nineveh
was Mr. Rich formerly political agent for the East India Company at Bagdad; but his investigations
were almost entirely confined to Kouyunjik and the surrounding mounds of which he made a survey
in 1820. In 1843 M. Botta, the French consul at Mosul, fully explored the ruins. M. Botta’s
discoveries at Khorsabad were followed by those of Mr. Layard at Nimroud and Kouyunjik, made
between the years 1846 and 1850. (Since then very many and important discoveries have been
made at Nineveh, more especially those by George Smith, of the British Museum. He has discovered
not only the buildings, but the remains of fin ancient library written on stone tablets. These leaves
or tablets were from an inch to 1 foot square, made of terra-cotta clay, on which when soft the
inscriptions were written; the tablets were then hardened and placed upon the walls of the library
rooms, so as to cover the walls. This royal library contained over 10,000 tablets. It was begun by
Shalmaneser B.C. 860; his successors added to it, and Sardanapalus (B.C. 673) almost doubled it.
Stories or subjects were begun on tablets, and continued on tablets of the same size sometimes to
the number of one hundred. Some of the most interesting of these give accounts of the creation and
of the deluge and all agree with or confirm the Bible.—ED.) Description of remains .—The Assyrian
edifices were so nearly alike in general plan, construction an decoration that one description will
suffice for all, They were built upon artificial mounds or platforms, varying in height, but generally
from 30 to 50 feet above the level of the surrounding country, and solidly constructed of regular
layers of sun-dried bricks, as at Nimroud, or consisting merely of earth and rubbish heaped up, as
at Kouyunjik. This platform was probably faced with stone masonry, remains probable which were
discovered at Nimroud, and broad flights of steps or inclined ways led up to its summit. Although
only the general plan of the ground-floor can now be traced, it is evident that the palaces had several
stories built of wood and sun-dried bricks, which, when the building was deserted and allowed to
fall to decay, gradually buried the lower chambers with their ruins, and protected the sculptured
slabs from the effects of the weather. The depth of soil and rubbish above the alabaster slabs varied
from a few inches to about 20 feet. It is to this accumulation of rubbish above them that the bas-reliefs
owe their extraordinary preservation. The portions of the edifices still remaining consist of halls,
chambers and galleries, opening for the most part into large uncovered courts. The wall above the
wainscoting of alabaster was plastered, and painted with figures and ornaments. The sculptured,
with the exception of the human headed lions and bulls, were for the most part in low relief, The
colossal figures usually represent the king, his attendants and the gods; the smaller sculptures,
which either cover the whole face of the slab or are divided into two compartments by bands of
inscriptions, represent battles sieges, the chase single combats with wild beasts, religious ceremonies,
frankie
(Frankie)
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