Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
NINEVEIl AND IFS REMAINS

The lata British Quarterlies have much space occu-
pied with reviews q Mr.. Lavard's account Gifts dis
coyeries on The site Of ancient Ninevch. Mr.. Lavard
arrived on the banks Of the Tigrs in October, ISIS
Leaving the vast plain Of level debris broken by huge
mounds, which spread from the bank of the river OPP
posite Mosul, and which had long been called By ira
dition the site of Nineyeh, Mr.. Layard's Interest was
powerfully directed to another qUaItcr-to NlmrOud,
at about five hours distance by the winding of the riv-
er. The following extract from his book is given in
one of the reviews.
Gas descended the Tigris, on a raft, | again saw the
ruins of Nimroud, and had a better opportunity of ex-
aiming them. 1t was evening as we approached the
spot. The spring rains had clothed the mound with
the richest verdure, and tie fertile meadows which
stretched around it were covered with flowers ofevcrv
hue. Amidst this luxuriant vegetation were partly
concealed a few fragments Of bricks, pottery, and ala
baSter, upon which might be traced the well defined
wedges Of cuneiform character. Did not these remains
mark the nature Of tile ruin, it might have been con
founded with a natural eminence. A long line ofcon-
secutive narrow mounds, still retaining the appear
ance Of walls or ramparts, stretched from its base, and
formed a vast quadrangle. The river flowed at some
distance from them It's waters, swollen by the melting
Of the SHOWS on the American hills, We're broken into
a thousand foaming w~hirlpools by an artificial bar
rier built across the stream. On the eastern bank the
soil had been washed away by the current but a
solid mass of masonry still w~ithst0od its impetgosity.
The Arab who guided my small raft gave himself ND to
religious ejaculation, as We approached this tormlda-
Bile cataract, over which we were carried with some Vi
olence. Once safely through the danger, my compan-
ion explained to me that this unusual change in the
quiet face Of the river was caused by a great dam
which had been built by Nimrod, and that in the au-
tumn. before the winters rains, the huge stones of
Which it was constructed, squared, and united by
clamps Of iron, were frequently visible above the sar-
face Of tile stream. 1t was, in fact, one Of those mon
uments Of a great people to be found in all the rivers
Of MesOpotamia, which We're undertaken to insure a
constant supply Of water to the innumerable canals
spreading like network over the surrounding country,
and which, even in the days Of Alexander, were looked
upon as the works Of an ancient nation. No wonder
that tile traditions Of the present inhabitants Of the
land should assign them to one Of the human race! The
Arab was telling me IF tile connection between the dam
and the city built by Arthur, the lieutenant Of Nimrod,
the vast ruin Of which were now before us-of its
purpose as 0 causway for the mighty hunter to cross to
the opposite palace, now represented by the mound OF
Hammun Ali, and Of the histories and fate Of the king
ola primitive race, still the favorite theme of the in
habitants OF the plains Of Shinar, when the last glow
Of twilight faded away, and | fell asleep as we glided
onward to Bagdad."-pp. 10.
1t is the conclusion Of Mr.. Layard that these mounds
were, if not parts Of one vast city, the successive local
tiles occupied or :omprehended by Nineveh under its
successive dynasties. The residence of the King was
probably at the same time the temple. Each great
sovereign, according to the imperial caprice of those
barbaric ages, was proud Of being the founder ofhis
own capital. Thus, in process Of time, there grew up
this cluster Of palace-temples, the dwellings and cen
tres Of worship Of the kings and gods Of Assyria, with
their dependencies, which was loosely termed Nine
veh, and was in fact a city Of three days ioarney--
Each particular capital, as it was built and patronized
BY the actual sovereign, was perhaps the Ntnereh OF
its day.
Mr.. Lavard ascertained the general mode Of build
ing adopted Nv the ancient Assyrians in the valley OF
tie Tigris, the discovery Of which facilitated his fur
ther operations. "Thelo level plains on which they
built their cities compelled them to give artificial 'leva-
ton, both for strength and security, that they might
be seen afar of. and command the adjacent region. A
great pavement, usually Of unburnt brick, was trst
laid down commensurate with the desisn,on I mass OF