Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-14

DriCk WORK CnlrtN or 1OrtV 1ee5 nigh. TN THIS pavement
rose the palace or temple, with all its halls or cham
bers. The first object then in these researches, was
to pierce down in this foundation platform, Ito pene-
trate deeper was vain and lost labur) and, having
reached its level, to work onwards in any direction a
long its surface till the wall crossed the wav. Then
TO follow the wall till broken by gates or openings
which led into other galleries or chambers. The gates
OF the more important chambers were usually designa-
ted by a pair of gigantic frures-buls lions, or of COM
poSite forms-the colossal warders Of these vast halls.
The gates or doors (f there were gates or DOORS being
of>ome less durable material, had entirely persisted
This knowledge, however, of the fundamental princi-
pie of Assyrian architecture was gained only by obser-
walton and experience.
We insert another deeply interesting extract from
Mr.. Layard's book descriptive Of 4 scene which ensued
on the exclamation Of an ancient work Of art by his ~
rab laborers.
"On the morning rode to the encampmcnt Of
Sheikh ADD urrahman, and was returning to the
mound, when I saw two Arabs Of his tribe urging
their mares to The tor oft1eir sfeed. On approaching
me they stopped. Hasten. O Bev,' exclaimed one of
them ;'hasten to the diggers, for they have found
Nimrod himself. Wallah, it is wonderful, but III g true,
we have seen him with our eyes. There is no god but
God, and both joining in this pious exclamation, they
galloped Of without further words in the direction Of
their tents.
0 reaching the ruins T descended into the new
trench, and found the workmen, who had already seen
me as | approached, standing near q heap Of baskets
and cloaks. Whilst Awad advanced and asked for q
present te celebrate the occasion, the Arabs withdrew
the screen they had hastily constructed, and disclosed
an enormous human head s~uclptured in fall out Of the
alabaster,of the country. They had uncovered the up
per part Of q figure, the remainder of which was still
buried in the earth. | saw at once that the head must
belong to a winged lion or bull, similar to those of
khorsabed and Persepols. It was in admirable pre-
! seryatior. The expression was calm vet majestic, and
the outline Of the features showed a freedom and a
knowledge Of art scarcely to be looked for in the
works of % remote a period. The cap had three
horns, and unlike that Of the human headed bulls lit
hert0 found in Assyria, was rounded, and without O.
nanent at the tof-
II was not surprised that the Arabs had been
amazed and terrified At this apparition. It required
no stretch Of imagination to con lure up the most
strange fancies. This gigantic head, blanched With age
thus rising from the bowels Of the earth might well
have belonged to one Of those fearful beings which are
pictured in the traditions Of the country as appearing
to mortals slowly ascending from the regions below
One Of the workmen, on catching the first glimpse Of
the monster, had shrown down his basket and ran Of
towards Mosul as fast as his legs could carry him. /
learnt this with regret, Us anticipated the conse-
quenees.
'4NVhilst [ was experimenting the removal of the
earth, which still chung to the sculpture, and giving
! directions for the continuation Of the work, a noise of
horsemen was heard, and presently Abd-urrahman,
followed by halfh tribe, appeared on the edge Of the
trench. As soon as the two Arabs had reached the
tents, and published the wonders they had seen, every
one mounted his mare and rode to the mound to salts
fv himself of the truth Of these inconceiyable reports
When they beheld the head, they all cried together,
There is no god but God, and Mohammed is his Prop
betH II was some time before the skeikh eouId be
prevailed upon to descend into the pit, and convince
himself that the image lie saw was Of stone. This is
not a work Of mems hands, exclaimed he, but Of
those infdel giants Of whom the Prophet, peace Be
with him has said that they were higher than the
tallest date tree: this is one Of the idols which Noah,
peace be with himl cursed before the food In this
opinion, the result Of a careful examination, all the
bystanders concurred. '-pp 65, Is.
The london Times, in the conclusion Of an article
on Mr.. Layard's book, remarks, 'that in these days,
when the fulhInent Of prophecy is engaging so much
attention, we cannot but consider that the work of
Mr.. Layard will be found to afford many extraordinary
proofs Of the truth of biblical history, and Of the pro
phets Isaiah and Ezekiel against She kings of Assyria,
and of the destruction of Nineveh in particular. Even
the colors and decorations, as found in the palace of
Nimrod, agree exactly with those described by the
prophet Ezekiel. The circumference of Ninevch, as
mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, was found by Mr.
Layard to be extremely accurate, and the conn ection
Of The A~ssyrians with the Jews was clearly ascer-
tanned. The history Of the kings Of A~ssyria,as shown
on various sculptures, is highly interesting and throws
great light on the manners Of that ancient people,