The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-07
DAILY CRIES. GENT.
n Assgrian Palace.


ID hssyrian Palace.
IRIS utasior If the Assyrian palace
mass have been Is magnificent as impo-
SIM have led the reader through its
1ai6s and Sc may Judge Of the impress
SION Is balls we're calculated to make (
anon the stranger who, in the days Of /
cid, entered, for tile FIRST time, the abode (
of the Assyrian kings He was ushered I
ii through the portal guarded by the /
colossal lions Oh bulls Of white alabaster
III 6he first hall be found himself sur
rounded BIZ the senlptured records Of |
the empire Battles, sieges triumphs,
the exploits IF The chase, the ceremonies 4
Of religion were portrayed on the walls,
sculptRred ID alabaster, and painted IN
gorgeous colors Under each picture
were engraved ID characters filled up
with bright copper, Inscriptions desert
bling the scenes represented Above
the sculptures were painted other events,
the king. attended By bis eunuchs and
warriors, receiving his prisoners, enter
ing into alliances with other m0harchss
81 performing some sacredduty These
81
borders 81 elaborate and elegant design
The emblematie tree winged bulls, and
monstrous animals, were conspicuous
aInong Che ornaments. AT the upper
end Of the hall was the colossal figure of
the king ia alteration before the SUI
preme Deity, or receiving from his Gu.
nueh Che holy cup He was attended
IN warriors bearing bis arms, and BY the
priests or presiding diYines. His robes,
and those Of his followers, were adorned
with groups of figures. and animals, and
lowers, ail painted with brilliant colors
The stranger trod upon alabaster
slabs each bearing All inscription record
ing the titles, genealogy, and achieve
ments Of the great king Several door
ways, formed BY gigantic winged lions or
bulls, or by tie figures Of guardian del
ties led into apartments, which again
opened into more distant halls In
each we're new sculptures On the walls
Of some were PROFESSIONS Of colossal FIX
ures, armed men and eunuchs follow
ing the king, warriors laden with spoil,
leading prisoners, or bearing presents
and offerings to the gods On the wall
at others we're portrayed the winged
priests, Or presiding diyinities, standing
before the sacred sraes
The ceilings above liim were divided
into square compartments, painted with
flowers on with tie figures Of animals
Some were inlaid with ivory, each com
parsment being surrounded BY elegant
borders and mouldings The beams, as
well as the sides Of the chambers, may
have been gilded, OF even plated, with
gold and silver and the rarest woods,
lie which the cedar was conspicuous,
were used for the woodwork Square
openings in the ceilings of the chambers
admitted the light Of day a pleasing
shadoW was thrown over the sculptured
walls and gave a majestic expression to
the human features of the colossal forms
winch guarded the entrances. Through
these apertures was seen the bright blue
Of AZ eastern sky, enclosed in frame,
on which were painted. ia vivid colors.
the winged circle, in the midst of ele-
CANT ornaments, and the graceful forms
of ideal animals
These edi6ees, as it has been shown,
were great national monuments, upon
the walls Of which were represented in
sculpture, OF inscribed in alphabetic cha
racters, the chronicles Of the empire
lie who entered them might thus read
the history and learn the glory and the
trlumphs Of the nation They served,
at the same time, to bring continually
to the remembrance Of those who as
sembled within them on festive occa-
sions On for the celebration Of religious
ceremonies, the deeds Of their ancestors,
and the power and majesty Of their gods,
A1yq1dS Niaecet