The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-10-14
New Discoveries Mt Nineveh.

The London Assyrian Excavation Society
have just issued q most satisfactory report of
the progress Of their agent at Babylonia. The
following extract is of the highest interest:
In addition to the discoveries mentioned by
Mr.. Lotus, the committee have to announce
that new palace has been found at Nincvch,
in the mound Of KOuyinjink, Of which Colonel
Rawlinson reports in the following terms:
"a most beautiful palace has recently been
discovered in Nineveh, belonging to the son of
Esar Haddon. The sculptures are Infinitely SUI
perior in variety of subject, in artistic treat
ment, and in skill and dclicacy of execution to
everything which has been before found. The
palace, also, is of great extent. containing, per-
haps, five hundred sculptured flags, and the
marble is generally in good state Of preserva-
ton.
In another letter, he adds:
The new palace is by far the most magnif-
cent thing yet discovered in Assyria. Each
hall, room, and passage is devoted to a sepa-
rate subject ;where the series is complete, and
the sculpture we'll preserved. as not unfrc-
quently happens, is of extraordinary interest.
Intact. the variety of subjects, artistic group
ing and treatment high relief, richness of de-
tail and delicacy of execution. entitle the pa
lace to be reckoncd the chef d'ourre of Assyri-
an art. Some Of the pavement slabs are most
superb, and the animals. trees and flowers even
the human figures, are much more natural and
free from cOnycntiOnalities than in any of the
earlier palaces. There are between two and
three hundred sculptured slabs already unco-
vered, and not above one half of The palace is
yet explored.
Colossal bulls and lions there are none, but
monsters centaurs, hippOgryphs, ETC., there are
as many as you please.
At one of the entrances there are a pair OF
round, ornamental pedestals, which certainly
supported columns but as there are no re-
mains of such columns, they must have been
formed, suppose, of wood.
On one slab there is city, with a double
wall, and within, temple, faced with row of
columns, supported on the back of animals.
On another there is mound; on the top of
which is castle : and to give more extent to
the upper platform, causeway is run out from
the top of the masonry, with sharp-pointcd
arches stretching down the side of the mound
Another private letter, from a gentleman re-
siding at Mosul, speaks in the same terms of
praise Of these new discoveries. and adds some
further particulars regarding the subjects of the
sculptures. In speaking of the slab represent
ing the palace or temple alluded to above, he
says:-"t represents very infinitely the cxte-
rior architecture. The second story is built
with pillars, which have their basis on the backs
OF lions and human-headed bulls, with their
heads like those found at khorsabad." lie also
mentions the representation of bridge with
three-pointed arches, and other particulars il
Illustrative OF the architecture ofthe period
One of the best executed slabs represents
lion hunt.
:. In this seene,'' he says. "the king is the
principal huntsman, and is in the act of strik-
ing lance into lion springing upon his cha
riot, while seven others, already pierced with
many arrows, some of which are dead. others
dying. are most beautifully and naturally por-
trayed upon the slabs. On another slab thew
have represented park, with an open gate,
through which is seen the king hunting lions,
executed on very minute scale, as if they in,
tended it at a distance
lie concludes by saying "that the art dis
played IN the treatment of both men and ami
mails in there bas-relieis surpasses everything
discovered in the ruins of Assyria."
The committee take this opportunity of call
ing the attention of subscribers to the progress
lately made in the decypherng of the inscrip-
tlons which comprise the Identification of all the
Assyrian kings mentioned in the Biblc-ex-
tending the chronology of Assyria to a period
Of about two thousand years before Christ. An
almost perfect series of the names of the an
cient kings OF Assyria has also been discovered
and numerous illustrations of the Sacred Scrip,
lures, OF the highest interest.