DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0229
Chap. I.
NIMROUD.
165
or attacliecl any importance to tiie preservation of tlieir boclies after
deatli.
In one corner of tlie palace at Kliorsabad is founcl a Tbuilding of
black stone, raised on a terrace by itself, and, tbougb mucb ruinecl, still
sbowing, witb sufficient clistinctness, tbat it was exclusively devoted to
religious purposes, ancl a seven-storiecl pyramidal temple bas lately
been discovered tbere. Notbing of tbe sort bas been founcl at Koyunjik,
ancl, witb tbe exception of tbe great pyramid at tbe nortb-west angle,
wbicb is almost certainly a religious eclifice, Nimroucl is also witbout
anytbing tbat can properly be callecl a temple.
All tbe buildings, tberefore, tbat bave been cliscovered in Assyria
are palaces, or, perhaps it migbt be more correct to say, palace-temples,
like tbose in Egypt, regarding wbicb it is difficult even now to say
wbetber tbey ougbt to be called palaces or temples. In Egypt, bow-
ever, tbe latter element was certainly tbe predominant ancl overruling
one. In Assyria, on tbe other band, tbe buildings partook far more
of tbe palatial tban tbe sacrecl character, tbougb, at tbe same time,
many of tbe apartments seem, from tbe nature of tbeir sculptures, to
liave been principally at least devotecl to tbe purposes of worsbip.
Nimroud.
Tlie oldest of tbe buildings bitberto excavatecl in Assyria is the
North-west palace at Nimroud, built by a Sardanapalus, about tbe year
900 b.c. Tbougb not tbe largest, it more tban makes up for tbis cfefi-
ciency by tbe beauty of its sculptures, ancl tbe general elegance of its
ornaments. Tbese are not only superior to tbose of the following
dynasty, but so clifferent from tbem that it was difficult to believe
tbat a greater interval bad not elapsecl between them, at least before
tbe inscriptions bad been sufficiently clecipbered to correct the clates
originally assigned.
As will be seen by tbe annexed wooclcut (No. 109), tbe excavatecl
portion of tbe palace is nearly a square, about 330 ft. eacb way. Tbe
principal entrance was on tbe nortb, at tbe heacl of a noble fiigbt of
steps, leading from tbe river to tbe level of tbe terrace on wbicb tbe
palace stoocl. From tbis, 2 entrances, aclomed witb wingecl bulls, lecl
to a great hall, 152 ft. in lengtb by 32 in widtb, at tbe upper encl of
wbicb was situated tbe tbrone, ancl at tbe lower a smaller apartment
or vestibule opened on tbe terrace tbat overlooked tbe river. Within
tbe great ball was one of smaller dimensions, opening into tbe central
court of tbe palace, tbe entrance of wbicb was so arranged as to ensure
privacy, proving tbat it partook of tbe nature of tbe private apartments
or Ilareem of tbe palace. To tbe eastward of tbis was arranged a suite
of apartments, 3 deep, decreasing in width as tbey receded from tbe
ligbt. To tbe soutb was a double suite, apparently tbe banqueting-
halls of tlie palace, and to tbe westward a fourtb suite, more ruined,
bowever, than the rest, owing to its being situated so near tbe edge
of tbe terrace. As far as can be made out tbe ropms on tbis face seem
to bave been arranged 3 deep: tbe outer opened on tbe terrace by
NIMROUD.
165
or attacliecl any importance to tiie preservation of tlieir boclies after
deatli.
In one corner of tlie palace at Kliorsabad is founcl a Tbuilding of
black stone, raised on a terrace by itself, and, tbougb mucb ruinecl, still
sbowing, witb sufficient clistinctness, tbat it was exclusively devoted to
religious purposes, ancl a seven-storiecl pyramidal temple bas lately
been discovered tbere. Notbing of tbe sort bas been founcl at Koyunjik,
ancl, witb tbe exception of tbe great pyramid at tbe nortb-west angle,
wbicb is almost certainly a religious eclifice, Nimroucl is also witbout
anytbing tbat can properly be callecl a temple.
All tbe buildings, tberefore, tbat bave been cliscovered in Assyria
are palaces, or, perhaps it migbt be more correct to say, palace-temples,
like tbose in Egypt, regarding wbicb it is difficult even now to say
wbetber tbey ougbt to be called palaces or temples. In Egypt, bow-
ever, tbe latter element was certainly tbe predominant ancl overruling
one. In Assyria, on tbe other band, tbe buildings partook far more
of tbe palatial tban tbe sacrecl character, tbougb, at tbe same time,
many of tbe apartments seem, from tbe nature of tbeir sculptures, to
liave been principally at least devotecl to tbe purposes of worsbip.
Nimroud.
Tlie oldest of tbe buildings bitberto excavatecl in Assyria is the
North-west palace at Nimroud, built by a Sardanapalus, about tbe year
900 b.c. Tbougb not tbe largest, it more tban makes up for tbis cfefi-
ciency by tbe beauty of its sculptures, ancl tbe general elegance of its
ornaments. Tbese are not only superior to tbose of the following
dynasty, but so clifferent from tbem that it was difficult to believe
tbat a greater interval bad not elapsecl between them, at least before
tbe inscriptions bad been sufficiently clecipbered to correct the clates
originally assigned.
As will be seen by tbe annexed wooclcut (No. 109), tbe excavatecl
portion of tbe palace is nearly a square, about 330 ft. eacb way. Tbe
principal entrance was on tbe nortb, at tbe heacl of a noble fiigbt of
steps, leading from tbe river to tbe level of tbe terrace on wbicb tbe
palace stoocl. From tbis, 2 entrances, aclomed witb wingecl bulls, lecl
to a great hall, 152 ft. in lengtb by 32 in widtb, at tbe upper encl of
wbicb was situated tbe tbrone, ancl at tbe lower a smaller apartment
or vestibule opened on tbe terrace tbat overlooked tbe river. Within
tbe great ball was one of smaller dimensions, opening into tbe central
court of tbe palace, tbe entrance of wbicb was so arranged as to ensure
privacy, proving tbat it partook of tbe nature of tbe private apartments
or Ilareem of tbe palace. To tbe eastward of tbis was arranged a suite
of apartments, 3 deep, decreasing in width as tbey receded from tbe
ligbt. To tbe soutb was a double suite, apparently tbe banqueting-
halls of tlie palace, and to tbe westward a fourtb suite, more ruined,
bowever, than the rest, owing to its being situated so near tbe edge
of tbe terrace. As far as can be made out tbe ropms on tbis face seem
to bave been arranged 3 deep: tbe outer opened on tbe terrace by