The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-16
The Hittites.

Tho most remarkable Of all Hittite monu-
ments are the sculptures at Eyuk, near
Bogabz keni, tirst discovered by Hamilton
and since photographed by Perrot. Here
on the slope of low hill are the remains
of palace, built not Of limestone, like the
other monuments of Asia Minor, but Of
dark granite. Ruined as 1t Is, sufficient is
lett TO show that 1t was modelled on the plan
Of the palaces OF Assyria. At its entrance are
two huge Monoliths, with faces carved iuto
the likeness OF sphinxes. But the sphinxes,
though inspired by the art of Egypt, are
profoundly different from the sphinxes of
the valley of the Nile, and only their feet
and faces are hewn out Of tho stone. Ono
of the monoliLhs further bears upon 1t the
same double eagle that Is portrayed on tho
rocks OF Petra; but this double eagle once
supported the figure of god. The mon.
olitns were tanked by walls, one Of which
is still fairly preserved. Along it runs a
line of sculptures which carry, each one of
them, tho impress of Hittlte art. Here we
may see the Httite warrior In his peculiar
| dress, the Hitlite priest robed as he is at
Bogahz Keni. Elsewhere tho building of
the palace itself Is brought before our eyes,
and the workmen arc represented ascend
ing ladder, or otherwise assisting in the
work. Elsewhere, again, Is bull, mount
ed on sort Of a pedestal. and drawn with
the skill that charactcrizes tho delineation
OF the animal forms occurring among tho
Hlttite characters, or, again, 1t is musi-
clan and a snake. charmel. Hard by Is q
man leading monkey, picture We might
think somewhat out of place in so cold and
northern country. But, curiously enough,
1t il with monkeys that the AsRyrian monu-
| mGnls associate the kinsmen Of the Hittites,
who Inhabited those very regions. On the
walls OF the palace of Assur- natsir- pal at
Nlmrud or CaIah, an attendant IN peaked
boots is leading monkey, just Us he Is at
Eyuk, and following his lord, who wears
the characteristic cap and shoes Of the
llittite race. The black o1clisk Of Shall
manestcr, the son Of Assur natsr- pal, tells
us that he too received apes and monkeys
from the people of Muzri, in Western
Armenia, and among the tribute bearers
are some represented in the familiar Phry-
gian cap and tip-tilted shoes. 1t is thus
that we now know how, at on age Of which
history and tradition are alike silent, tho
influence and art and writing Of the Hittitcs
were making their way to the far West,
carrying with them the elements of East
ern civilization. Tho two-fold road they
Travelled over became at Sardes, which was
thus predestined to be the future center OF
power and civilizing influence throughout
the Western world. Tho interest which
cnvelops the rock carving Of Karabcl Is &C
cordingly very great; the fact that the on
ward Hittitc civilization was stayed only
by the waters of the Aegean Is there en-
gravcd as it were, in stone. But this Is MOI
the only interest that attaches to the sculp
lures. Long before the days Of Renoua
or of Texier, the Ionic settlers in Lydia hac
gazcd upon tho sculpture and wondered
whose it was. ''l'he father of history,
Hcrodotus himself guessed, though valnly
at its origin. lie tells us that Yin Ionic
arc two figures carved on tho rocks, ono by
tho road that leads from tho Ephesian ter.
ritory to Phok@a, tho other by that which
leads from Sardcs to Smyrna; in each cas-,
a man is sculptured three feet IN height
the right hand armed with a spear and th,
left with bow, and the rest of his cloth
ing to match, for it is Egyptian ant
ELhiopic; and the sacred characters O
Egypt run carved across tho brenst from
shoulder to shoulder, with this meaning
81 won this land with my shoulders"