Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-21
A Buried Civilization.
WHAT THE WOLF EXPEDITION FOUND IN BABYLON AMI
ASSYRIA.

ASSYRIA.
Dr. j. Hays Ward, editor of the Independent,
who conducted the Wolf expedition to Babylon,
gave very interesting account OF Explorations
In Babylon and Assyria" before the Monday con-
ference of New York Baptist pastors. Dr. Ward
spoke extemporaneousy, and from time to time
gave variety TO his lecture by anecdotes and ex-
plantations OF ancient specimens OF Babylonian
Workmanship which he exhibited,
AFTER describing the geographical and topo-
graphical condition OF the valleys OF the Nile and
Iained by scholars to which CIVILIZATION was the
carrier, the Egyptian or the Babylonian. He was
lncnned 10 think the latter preceded the Egyptian.
mat IL was superior was shown by the cuneifOrm
monuments found there which, almost without ex-
ception, bore dates, though chronology was sup
posed to have been Then unknown. The Egyptiin
monuments Indicated no idea of chronOiogy
scholars now dated BabylOnian civilization as lar
DaeK as 5000 B. c; In speaking OF the cuneirorm
monuments DR.. Ward said that the accounts of
the early legends written upon these monumental
agreed wonderfully with those found In the Book
BOOK OF HeZekiah, the narration OF which as given
by the Kings on the monuments being almost
DIR. Ward then spoke OF the character OF the
country where the explorations are conducted. It
Is not, ne said, until the explorer has gotten be-
yond Constantinople, Beyrout, and all the other
towns over which the civilization OF the west has
spread veneer and made his way Into that coun-
Try, where he travels for days and days without
sSo he wagon out or Of sng thing and IN
.Backsheesh" that he has reached the real east
Wnen the expedition was making its way over
inns country II Travelled for six months without
seeing wagon, and even In Bagdad saw only two
wagons, and these were military ones The Baby
lonian explorer, unlike his fellow In Greece
does not look for ruins but for mounds Tor the
reason mat In Babylon stones were rarely used In
building. Every city was built on an artificial
plateau. Each building had its central court,
something Ike the Greek peristyle or the Homeric
megaron, about which were the apartments
Brick vas the chief material used. The WRITINGS
OF the ancient Babyl0nians were universally
made on clay tablets with stylus the poiut OF
which was triangular. AL important Documents
such as of1c1al records wills, &C., were rendered
permanent 0y careful process OF hardening
Among the curious relics DIR. Ward exhibited a
small cylinder ON which was written an account
OF the building OF one OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
palaces, and bore the kings signature The
cyunuer was found In the cornerstone of the
palace, and was placed therein with other vain.
aDles. IL was the custom then as now to place In
tne corner-stones historical accounts records and
| otner documents OF the king under whose reign
the building was erected. DR.. Ward also Showed
hematlte, which no Assyrian or Babylonian gentle
man was ever Without On them was engraved
the deity he worshiped and his family history.
and with 1t he stamped his will and all other im.
portant documents.
In closing his lecture DR.. Ward said: sSThe Baby
ionian neio Is rich one compared with the mod
ern Greek: Whole cities lie as yet unopened and
untouched, The Arabs are daily 1nding things
There. The AssyrianS and Babylonians were a
Sciehtlnc and literary people. They had their
uDrarles, and vast records valuable 10 modern re-
search are awaiting the explorer. The dirnculties
Desettlng MIN are many, Chief OF which, aside from
the hardshtps OF travel are those imposed by the
ousy inexplicaole every exploring party which en-
tiers these domains"