Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-01-13
Written for the Delaware Gazette.
RELICS,

RELICS.
Material relics gil up great many pages in
the worlds history that would otherwise remain
in the most absolute oblivion. In many in
stances where history has failed to chronicle
the deeds of nations, and cities and where even
traditions have failed to penetrate the obscuri-
ty, relics discover TO US interesting pages of
truth -e
Deep interest in this subject is a happy char
acteristic of the present time. Great minds,
and nations, are giving much attention to their
collection and preservation. At present, the
greater the obscurity that rests On nation or
city, the more are its relics valued and sought
after. But until recently this was not the
| case; for up to the year 1889 there was but
| one collection of Assyrian antiquities in Eu-
rope. A case in the British Museum, scarcely
three feet square, inclosed these relics not
only of the great city Nineveh, but of Baby
lon itself
Perhaps no spots in the world afford finer
fields for the antiquarian, than the sites of
| these two cities. Though the former of these
has its remains more deeply imbeded, and OBJ
scured, by the collecting rubbish of twenty
five centuries; though above her once spacious
| and glittering halls, the pow has already pas
sed, and the corn waved; and though the pro-
phetic language has long since come true that
I" Nineveh shall be desolation, and dry like
wilderness, and flocks lie down in the midst
! of her; all the beasts of the nations both the
cormorant, and the bittern, lodge in the upper
lintels of it their voice singing in the win
dows and desolation is in the thresholds )"
yet her remains are to US more full Of interest
than those of any city of the east.
Egypt has indeed monuments, no less ancient,
and no less wonderful, but they have stood
forth for ages to testify her early power and
renown; whilst the ruins of Nineveh have
been buried and shut out from the light of day
for near three thousand years.
Although the names of Nineveh and Asvria
have been familiar to US from childhood and
are connected with our earliest impressions de-
rived from the Inspired Writings. it is only
when we ask ourselves what we really know
concerning them, that we discover the extent
of our Ignorance, relating to their history, and
even to their geographical position. But the
earth as though unwilling, that the entire his
tory of her earlier inhabitants should be lost,
has kept in her own bosom relics that throw
much light into the darkness of the past.
Let us for brief space consider some of
the relies Recently discovered at the site of
the ancient Nineveh. Ltyard dug up from
her ruins, several hundred granite Slabs, highly
embelsled. One of these about twelve feet
square in bas-relicf, sets forth the wars and
conquests of one Of the kings.
He stands gorgeously attired in a chariot,
drawn as usual by three horses, richly capari-
soncd: He is distharging an arrow at the be-
seged enemy, who are defending their towers
and walls An attendant, protects the person
of the King with shield, Il second is urging
on the horses Above the King discharging
an arrow, the head of which is in the form of
a trytant, is the great Deity: Behind are
many chariots filled with the friends of the
King, bearing and defending his Standard
On the adjacent Sab was the return after vic
tory. In front are warriors carrying heads
and throwing them at the feet Of tile King,
who is now sitting on throne of elegant de-
sign and careful workmanship. His feet are
placed on stool supported by lions paws
! He is clothed in robe of the most elegant
embroidery.
| From this much abbreviated description let
us see what we may learn of the arts of the
! Nipevites The slabs upon which the stulp-
/ ture is wrought, are mostly Of limestone
/ Now, as travellers all agree that this kind of
stone is not found near the site of the city, we
may reasonably suppose that some knowledge
of the mechanical powers was necessary to the
| transportation OF these masses of stone.
Representations of the pully have, indeed,
| been discovered on some of the slabs. When
we consider the hardness of limestone, and its
considerable resistance to the tools of the
sculptor, we must conclude that they were
edged with steel. -5r
To indicate the gorgeousness of the Kings
dress, in battle, colors were used by the sculp-
tors which are yet brilliant, though for more
than a score of centuries. they have been sub
| jected to the most destructive and defacing sur
roundngs Such perfection in the art of mix
ing colors could not have been arrived at with
out considerable knowledge of chemical af-
finitics and combinations.
| The Kings fine array, and the ensign in the
breeze, also indicate to US the existence OF
spindles and looms, in those days. Even the
Scriptures speak of the garments of the Kings
being nlade of the dyed cloth, and the en-
broidered work. a
The charriots, though extremely beautiful
and in some cases gided, seem to lack strength,
no iron being used in their construction. The
wheels have generally six spokes, though rarely
we find eight.
Weapons of warfare in all times, and among
all nations, have been ingenious, and effective
in proportion to their enlightenment. The
relics discovered sustain US in the belief that
the arms of the Assyrians were Of the rudest
and earliest kind. The spear, the bow, the
sword, the dagger and the sling, being com
plete list of all discovered.
History since its beginning, has recorded to
us the existence of an instructive principle II
man, to believe in and adore some supreme
deity. And relics exhumed from the bosom O
the earth, bear testimony Of the exis ence O
the same principle among men, before history
or even traditions were kept. For the slat
which we have described represents the King
who is probably typical of the whole nation
overshadowed and defended by the Deity
: Surely the prophetic words are true, "Tht
Asyrian was cedar in Lebanon, with fai
branches, and with shadowing shroud o
!, high statue All the fowls of heaven made
: their nests in his boughs, and under his branch
! es did all the beasts of The field bring fortl
:, their young, and under his shadow dwelt al
- nations"
:, OUT oF-DooR EXERCISE.