Mitchell, Lucy M.: A history of ancient sculpture (New York, 1883)

RUINS AT KHORSABAD. 91

planets, — whose holy number was worshipped from a similar pyramid at Ecba-
tana, and from others in Chaldosa. Four of these stories alone remained at
Khorsabad, each of them 6.10 meters (20 feet) in height. These were found
to have been painted in different colors on a layer of stucco ; the varied hues,
doubtless, having been emblematical of the celestial bodies. From the sum-
mit of this gay pyramid, thus raised more than 24 meters (80 feet) above the
plain, it is probable that astronomical observations were made, for the priests
were astronomers as well; the religious systems of ancient Chaldaea, and its
daughter land, Assyria, having been thoroughly interpenetrated with the wor-
ship of the heavenly bodies, and especially the stars. There can be no doubt
that these pyramids were looked upon as sacred buildings,—no other struc-
tures having been found corresponding to temples,—and that their summits
were crowned by small shrines or altars, which may have had sacred images.
In art character these Assyrian temples fall infinitely short of the structures
raised to their gods by both Egyptians and Greeks.

Turning from this ancient tower of Babel ("gate of God"), to the royal
palace itself, we find that fourteen grand halls and many smaller apartments,
covering four hectares (nearly ten acres) of land, and connected by numerous
doorways, united to form the Seraglio, the smaller ones, doubtless, occupied by
the monarch himself and his immediate attendants, and the larger correspond-
ing to state apartments of modern palaces.

At the southern corner of the building we come upon a whole complex of
courts and rooms, the safe retreat of Sargon's wives and children. Spacious
and gorgeously decorated courts within this harem offered pleasure-grounds
for their ladyships ; but only two exits communicated with the outer world, and
these well guarded by small chambers, doubtless for attendant eunuchs. Avast
court formed the core of the remaining part of the palace. On the side towards
the harem were storehouses, as was evident from their build, and their con-
tents when discovered. On the other side were stables, kitchens, and outbuild-
ings of various kinds. Numerous passages piercing the walls connected the
two parts of the palace.

At the foot of this regal dwelling M. Place found Sargon's city, surrounded
by high walls furnished with towers. Place calculated that the walls originally
towered up twenty-three meters, a height greater than that of houses facing
modern city avenues, and had a still greater width (twenty-four meters). Pier-
cing them were three ornamental gateways, and four of less ambitious finish,
but all so spacious and complex in build as to call to mind the importance of
the city-gate in the story of Abraham and of Boaz and Ruth.,2S

All these walls, whether of palace or surrounding the city, and varying
from two to twenty-four meters in thickness, were built of sun-dried brick.
Kiln-baked brick, indeed, made the vaulted ceilings, and covered the floors;
but otherwise the structures were all of this crumbling, crude material. Being