Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-21
Ruins of Ancient .Ninerah An interesting &C

Ruins of Ancient .Nineuah. An interesting ac-
ccount of the researches and excavations, now in
progress under the superintendent Of the French
Consul, among the ruins OF Mosu or the mounds
of ancient Nnevah, is given in a letter from the
Rev. Mr.. Laurie, dated August 8, 1884, published
in the Missionary Herald for February. The mound
of Khorsabad, at present in progress of excavation
stands in corner of an enclosed area about one
mile square, the walls of which are similar to those
near Mosul. They are mere elongated tumuli with
remains of towers at various distances, and origin
ally faced externally with large stones. The top Of
the mound is fiat, and between six and seven hun
bred PAGES in circumference. Eleven rooms have
been excavaed, the largest of which is one humid
red feet in length by thirty in width. The walls
are very thick, and are formed of surfaces of stone
interlaid with masses of earth Each block of stone
is ten feet high and one thick They vary in
breadth. On their surfaces are figures executed
in bas relief Some occupy the whole height of the
wall others are in double rows with u broad in
scrlptlon between.
Mr. Laurie writes The sculptures represent a
variety of objects. In one place is a royal feast,
with chairs and tables in European STYLE In an
other they prosecute seige and while some use
the battern9 ram, advance under the testudo,
others fire the gates, while the devoted defenders
fall transported, from the walls. In one instance
row of figures in front of the fortress are mpaed
by tile breast In another, dead bodies and head
flows in front of the beleagured fortress The
names of most of these castles are inscribed upon
them. Elsewhere captives loaded with chains ap-
proach the conqueror on Bonded knee and the ex-
ecutioner, standing by pile of heads, waits with
uplted sword the nod that is to decide the fate OF
each one as he passes by. One room is entirely
occupied with royal hunt. The kings chariot is
driven through the forests; birds perch on the
trees; deer run beneath them and the timld hare
flies at their approach. Slaughtered game bears
testimony to the hunters, some Of whom are seer
carrying it in their hands, The most remarkable
soul ptures however, are those at the gates. These
are guarded on each side by five footed monster
of gigantic proportions To the body of a bull, fit
teen feet high and eighteen in length, is attaches
! an immense human head. The side of the bull i
concealed by wings which spring from the shout
der; and the fifth foot was added by the artist tina
! two might appear in front as well as side view. Blu
what is still more strange, the huge monster
scuptured on a single stone four feet in thickness
How they managed to transport it, or sci it up o
the mound is question no one has yet presume
to answer. Fifteen of these monsters more or les
perfect, have been found already. In connectio
! with these generally stands the figure of man wit
a birds head, like the image of Osiris in Egypt.
There is great variety of dress and armor in tn
several groups. In some cases large umbrella
borne over the king. Some dresses claim remot
antiquity while resembances TO more moder
style may be traced in Others But these are thing
understood better from painting than description
AS to features, amid other divelsities there is OIL
head that is decidedly African. The sculpture
are admirably executed. The muscles are distnc
ly and correctly delineated, and every countenanc
wears expression corresponding to the situate
of the individual.
The result of these researches will be publisht
by the French Government. The resident const
NJ. Botta, has copied the inscriptions, and NJ. Fla
din, the artist engaged on the work, has made
great number of very accurate and spirited dra'
h ings. At the date of NJ Lauries letter, the the
i mometer at Mosul had for several days stood at j
TO 100