DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.803#0095
SCULPTURE. ; 89
But of Hebrew art, scarcely a wreck of any kind
now remains. We have the silver shekel *, and we
have Roman representations of the candlestick with
seven branches, and of the table of the shew-bread,
in a bas-relief upon the arch of Titus; but nothing
more. The sculptures with which temples were
adorned, both that of Solomon, and that which was
raised after the return of the Jews from captivity,
have been swept away. We know them only in de-
scriptions f.
. Among the kingdoms contemporary with scripture
time, the fame of many in curious workmanship was
great. Diodorus Siculus describes the riches of
Babylon and Nineveh at a remote period ; with the
statues of Belus, Ninus, and Semiramis. In the
epistle of Jeremiah to the captives who were led
away by the king of Babylon, we read of gods of
gold and silver, of stone and of wood, in that city,
which were exhibited upon days of solemnity |.
This was about six hundred and thirty years before
Christ. Two hundred years later, the statues of gold
W Babylon are mentioned by Herodotus §. Homer
distinguishes the Sidonians for their excellence in the
arts of design ; and Tyre has been already mentioned
in the notice of Hiram. But all these, as well as all
* That -which was struck by Simon Macchabeus, about the
year b. c. 142, is genuine. It has a cup on one side, and an
almond branch upon the other, with a legend in Samaritan
characters.
T See Hieron. Pradi et Joan. Bapt. Villalpandi e Soc. Jesu in
"Zechtelein Explanationes, et Apparatus Urbis ac Templi fiiero-
solymilani commentariis et imaginibus illustratus. 3 torn. fol.
Romas, 1005.
t Baruch, ch. vi. ver. 3.
§ Herodotus, i. 183. The statue of Jupiter Belus was seated
on a throne before a table, and was of pure gold. Its value was
estimated by the Chaldeans at eight hundred talents. Tradition
sfoke of an older statue of gold, twelve cubits high.
i3
But of Hebrew art, scarcely a wreck of any kind
now remains. We have the silver shekel *, and we
have Roman representations of the candlestick with
seven branches, and of the table of the shew-bread,
in a bas-relief upon the arch of Titus; but nothing
more. The sculptures with which temples were
adorned, both that of Solomon, and that which was
raised after the return of the Jews from captivity,
have been swept away. We know them only in de-
scriptions f.
. Among the kingdoms contemporary with scripture
time, the fame of many in curious workmanship was
great. Diodorus Siculus describes the riches of
Babylon and Nineveh at a remote period ; with the
statues of Belus, Ninus, and Semiramis. In the
epistle of Jeremiah to the captives who were led
away by the king of Babylon, we read of gods of
gold and silver, of stone and of wood, in that city,
which were exhibited upon days of solemnity |.
This was about six hundred and thirty years before
Christ. Two hundred years later, the statues of gold
W Babylon are mentioned by Herodotus §. Homer
distinguishes the Sidonians for their excellence in the
arts of design ; and Tyre has been already mentioned
in the notice of Hiram. But all these, as well as all
* That -which was struck by Simon Macchabeus, about the
year b. c. 142, is genuine. It has a cup on one side, and an
almond branch upon the other, with a legend in Samaritan
characters.
T See Hieron. Pradi et Joan. Bapt. Villalpandi e Soc. Jesu in
"Zechtelein Explanationes, et Apparatus Urbis ac Templi fiiero-
solymilani commentariis et imaginibus illustratus. 3 torn. fol.
Romas, 1005.
t Baruch, ch. vi. ver. 3.
§ Herodotus, i. 183. The statue of Jupiter Belus was seated
on a throne before a table, and was of pure gold. Its value was
estimated by the Chaldeans at eight hundred talents. Tradition
sfoke of an older statue of gold, twelve cubits high.
i3