The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-11

of the most varied and tasteful description,
taken from both the animal and vegetable
world. more than one necklace OF elegant |
FORM was generally suspended around the
neck. The arms were encircled with armlets,
and the wrists with bracelets, all equally
remarkable for the taste and beauty of their
design and workmanship. The clasps were in
the shape of the heads of lions and other
animals, and in the centre of the bracelets
were stars and rosettes, which were probably
inlaid with precious stones. Earrings of many
kinds were worm" The designs often resem-
bled those employed in modern iewelry.
This luXuriance and richness of the dress
and personal ornaments of the Assvrians were |
accompanied by corresponding amount of |
attention to the cosmetic arts and the toilet |
"They carefully and elaborately plated
their hair and their boards The hair was
parted over the forehead, and fell from behind
the ears on the shoulders, in a large bunch of
ringlets. The beard was allowed to grow to
its full length and, descending low on the
breast, was divided into two or three rows of
curls The moustache was carefully trimmed
and curled at the ends. The hair as we'll as
the beard, appears to have been dved. as is
still the custom in Persia; but it has been
doubted whether the hair represented in the
sculptures was natural or artificial The
latter was probably, in many instances, the
| case, as their neighbors, the Egyptians. were
accustomed to wear large wigs. elaboratelv
| plated and adorned, and even false boards
| were not unknown among them" The eve
| brows and eyelashes were dyed black: and
| dark pigment, consisting chiefly of finely pow
dered antimony, was employed to blacken the
| extreme edges of the lids, and thus increase
the b1illiancy 1.-THE eyes. The charms of the
| complexion were promoted by the use of skin
cosmetics. The cheeks and lips had their
hues frightened or modified, as occasion might
require: and the teeth received like atten-
| ton. Nor were cleanliness and hygiene for
gotten-the luxuries of the bath being not
only highly priced, but profuseiy provided for
and indulged in.
A description of the toilet of the voluptu-
ous Assyrians is given in the amusing story of
Parsondes. On Nanarus upbraiding Par
sondes for his ingratitude, he replied:-"Am
! not more manly, and more useful to the
king than you are, who are shaved, and have
your eyes underlined with stibium and your
face painted with white lead ?" On which
Nanarus, beckoning to a eunuch said "Lead
Off this fellow. Shave and rub with pumice-
stone the whole of his body, excepting the
head. Battle him twice day and anOint him.
Underline his eyes, and plat his hair as
women do. Let him learn to play on the
harp, and to accompany it with his voice, that
4 he may appear among the female musicians,
with whom he shall pass his time, having
smooth skin and wearing the same garments
as they do.' These ORDERS we are told, were
carefully executed, and the rough Parsonde!
soon assumed the soft and effeminate appear
ance which he had derided in his tormentor.
These voluptuous and efeminate practices
were common among the MOBILES and higher
classes Of the Assyrian empire. Xenophol
informs us that Astyages had his eyes ant
face painted, and wore false hair. According
to Athen@us, the gentle but luxurious Sar
danapalus assumed the dress and ornaments
of woman. His chin was shaved, and his
skin, which was kept smooth with pumice
stone, was white as milk; and his eyes and
eyebrows were painted black, in the manner
above referred to. This monarch, the last o
a long line of sovereigns, whose only fault!
were his extreme love of the arts of peace anC
civilization, and his voluptuous habits anC
etfeminacy, is said to have allowed his sceptr'
to pass from his grasp, "as he was endeavor
ing to finger the fine needle and thread,
surrounded by the gentler portion OF hi
household, ....
BABYLoNIANs AND PERsIANs.
, The Babylonians, Chaldaans, Medes, Pei
SLAMS, and Phenicians, for the most par
= resembled the Assyrians in the richness of tn
l costume of their princes and mobiles, as well
2 in the complicated character of their toile
5 We are told that the Persians, at the time
: Darius, were remarkable for the length an
t beauty of their hair, and that artificial heat
dlesses were in common use among then
: According to Herodotus, the Babylonians wol
l their hair long. The extreme magnifcence
S this people, even in their later days, may
n imagined from the circumstance that Cato, Q
t receiving, as legacy, "Babylonian! ga
a ment," sold it, because he conceived 1t W. W.
n too costly for Roman citizen to wear. III
t descriptions given of ancient Babylon ana IL i
d people appear indeed, almost mcredlbl
!. During the reign of Nebuchadnezzar this cit
r was the envy and admiration of the who
d Eastern world. 1t contained everything whic
}, luxury and sensuality could conceive or rich'
T procure. The greatness of this golden cit.
g 'fts magnifcence and vices, are frequen
|. tened by the sacred owriters