The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-06-27
SymboIicM Figures Ij:om Ni"ereh

The visitor 10 the British Museum Wi,u cut,ot-
! ~ examines the winged bulls, liun- aud uih~
mysterious figures from Ninevrh. u,n irMcl,
fail TO be consinced thai they ate n", mere culv
tural ornaments, but synlbols VI rrI t..a ny I..
/ ics aud ceremonies OF the prineyal rcligiun al
Assyra. The era Of these sculptures 8 so rrunotr,
aud the traditions respecting them obscure
that the inquiry into their Specification Il difficult
and the conclusions arrived ~ unsatisfactory
STILL some attempt has been made to penetrate
the mystery which surrounds them The chri
my biological 6suns are the winged bull with =
mans face the winged lion with a man face
the winged man with irecOne in 0ar hand aud
square basket VI vessel IN the other nnl
man with the head aud wings of an cagl" o.
hawk. The hypothesis which Mr. Ravcnshaw
IN paper read TO the Asiaiic SOceiy msiniainJ
with respect 10 them is, that they are ~ alTeai,
suTmiscd 10y Mr. l.lyard, the originals oi ihe
cherubim OF Ezekiel that they were likrMi.r
the originals uf the apocayp,ic breast 81 81
John aud that. slightly modified ihey wel
afterwards adopted, aud arr now used NJ The
- nibOls Of the four Evangalists Further. thai
they were originally. invented l., the Nag ani
Chaldeans ~ Astronomical symbols ~ the 'qu,.
nociial and sOsiiiihl points that Tie, tcprrseai
IN fact the four s''as0ns -spring summer. autumn
aud winter aud perhaIr also ia" iuur wind
aud tie tour elements.
Ia support AMI illustration ui tnc.r yicwr ih-
writer enters into an examination 81 the Iassl
yes Of the Uld Testament AMI in other writing
regarding 'hr chrtuhiui, shoWins that there
no auihotiis IN Scripture for suppo.lng them t"
be- hodirs, infants aud conIcs 10 the cunClusiun
that thu firc Of chrruh was IN reality the fic-
~ a hull ~ ~ earl, period ~ the Chri,tinn
Church ih,sr winged animals werr adopted
the ~ mbOls 90 the -Four Evangelisi- The wing
I'd li0u wa- assigned io st Mlth q. the AuIln,
Of strength the winged oA 10 - Iuk.. ~ il.r
symiUl OF sacrifice the eagle aud chalic, iu -
N.tsa al. .l...N.
winged mAn with a cup and haichet 10 81. Matthew.
AZ the symbol Of power. The rmploymr :"
thee hgutrs ~ Astronomical Symbols formed the
next branch Oiinquiry, and the conclusions were
that the ropal bull. are symbols ~ the sun in
Fauius. or the vernal equinox that III" WINGED
manlion aud eagle headed man the symbols 81
the solsiiccs being the tour chrtubim who watch.
ed the gates Of llrAven. aud upheld the Zoiia,
AZ regards the other myiholugic, fruies. .
u probable that the nan with goat IN his arm.
Irp esrnis the constellation Capricorn, an! the
hsh.sod. tina; oi Pisces. All the nainrs of tlr
gods found in the Nincv,h inscriptions will pro
badly, on further inquiry, prove To be- She nam.s
OF consultations, s'ars, or planets. chosen thu
qua dian angels Of naiiOus, kings, or individuals
The m,siic tree, which form. 30 conspicuous an
object in the sculptures has evidently some as
Economical sgniiication. The number Of H..
rosriirs or lraves vary considerably but nevei
exceed thirty aud the winged circle. OF the new
10" "a ahd some stars, are gcnerall! seen aboN"
u. Hence u seems probably that these trees were
orrerics showing the months, day, OF SEASON
which is being celebrated by the winged figure
or priests who ARE represented ia connection with
them. The winged circles or eyes which Az
frequently placed above the sacred tree, aud sevm
10 form the principal obec, OF alteration so close
ly resemble the winged globes on the portals OF
the Egyptian temples, that II s difficult to ds-
believe the indentiy Of their origin Al first
they were probably typical Of time, but came al
terwards to be looked upon MS the symbols OF
0rmuEi the active creator and source of all
good. These speculaiions may appear more curi.
Gus than profitable still It cannot be nnnierest
ins To inquire what where the ideas Of men 3
O00 years ago, when the earth was comparaiivel,
young TO learn what were the traditions Of Asia
Ms 10 the origin and destiny Of the human race,
aud what notions were then entertained Ms 10
the Creator aud Governor Of the Univefse