Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-01-23
Price Two cents
G5e 9ailp Spy,

HE Tower OF BABEL. "A correspondent
OF the Boston TraUelter, writing from Beirut,
describes the discovery of what is supposed to
be the Tower of Babel. The discovery was
made by Mr.. Place, the French Council at
Mosul, who has already been distinguished
for his oriental researches. The following ex-
tracts are from the letter
1.-THE village of Arbela, so famous in history
for the decisive battle fought near it by Darius
and Alexander, is only a few days journey
from Mosul, to which Mr.. Place, wearied
with the monotonous wonders of Ninevah,
set off with his accustomed enthusiasm in
search of new discoveries, in a region cele-
brated in classical history.
Passing on, Mr.. Place and his party at
length discovered what they believed to be
nothing less than the veritable remains of the
Iower Of Babel-the wonder of wonders, and
the grandest spectacle which the eyes of men
can contemplate in this age of the world.
This proud tower which was built in defiance
of Heaven, and aimed to pierce the very skies,
has lost in the course of ages its cloud reach
ing elevation. Six Of its eight stories have
fallen and crumbled into dust; but the two
which remain are so high that they may BE-
seen for fifty or Sirty miles around The base
OF the tower is quadrangular, and each side
about six hundred feet long.-The tower is
w
white color, which is little shaded with yell
low tint. Under a clear sun, and as whole,
this ancient monument of human skill and
daring presents a fine blending of colors which
sets the painters pallet at defiance. Before
being baked, the bricks had been covered with
characters traced with the accuracy of the
hand OF writing-mRster. Near the top of
the letters the straight strokes were adorned
with tiourishes resembling the heads Of nails.
All was neat, regular and severe and, in
deed those who saw these specimens of an
Gent calligraphv affirm that the fathers of the
human race wrote better hand than their
children.
Among the interesting discoveries of Mr..
Place were certain inscriptions on fllets of
| gold. silver and copper, and also upon metal
| now unknown, and which has somewhat the
appearance of ivory. 1t has been submitted
to the experiments of an intelligent metal
urgist, and its qualities will soon be ascertain
| ed.
| Some very curious photographs, taken by
the expedition, completed their labors, one of
which was of the ruins of the palace of the
| famous Queen Semiramis. The ancient mon.
ument, situated on the height of mountain
raised by the hands of men, overlooks the
awful solitudes which surround Lake Van-a
body Of water six or seven times larger than
Lake Geneva.
1t is net strange that gentleman who had
seen and handled some Of the articles brought
from the tower of Babel by Mr.. Place. should
be excited as he says he was: In relation to
archaeological news, take the liberty to in
form you that l have just seen the Oldest
things of the old world. Indeed, l do not
know that l should be more surprised by see
ing the fragments of the ark itself. Fancy to
| yourself that have just launched and held
in my hand, and turned and turned again in
every way little nsorceau of the tolcer of
Babel! This trinket is moulded clay, Illus
trated and baked by the sons Of Noah, has
passed from the plains of Shinar to the chapel
of St. Mesmin, and is the fruit of the strokes
of the hammer in the hand of Mr.. Place, our
learned and enterprsing Consul. to whom
am indebted for a sight Of tins precious little
relic, about which cluster so many grand
souvenirs"