The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-01-17
A aijRIED cIvu IzATIoN.
What the Wolf Expedition Found In Baby
Ion and Assyria.

DR.. j. Hays Ward. editor of the
Independent, who conducted the Wolf
expedition to Babylon, gave a very
interesting account of Explorations in
Babylon and Assyria" before the Mon
day morning conference of Baptist
pastors, says the New York Times.
After describing the geogra phical
and Typographical condition of the
valleys of tie Nile and Eup!rates, DR..
Ward spoke of the doubt entertained
by scholars rs to which civilization
was earlier, the Egyptian or the Baby
ionian. He was inclined to think the
latter preceded the Egyptian. That
it was superior was shown by the
cuneifOrm monuments found there,
which, almost without exception, bore
dates, though chronology was sup
posed to have been then unknown. The
Egyptian monuments indicated no idea
of chronology. Scholars now dated
BabylOnian civilization as far back as
5000 B. G. In speaking of the cunei-
form monuments DIR. Ward said that
the accounts of the early legends writ
ten upon these monuments agreed
wonderfully with those found in the
book of Genesis, particularly that of
/ the flood, and in the history of the reign
of Huzewah, the narration of which as
| given by the kings on the monuments
being almost identical.
DR.. Ward then spoke of the character
of the country where the explorations
are conducted. 1t is not. he said, un-
til the explorer has gotten beyond
Cunstantinople, Beyroot, and all the
other towns over which the civiliz;i.
tiOn of the west has spread II veneer,
and made his way into that country,
where he Travelled for DAYS and days
without seeing road. wagon, or q
living thing. and. in short. until he is
out of hearing of the word ''back.
sheesh," that he has reached the real
east. When the expedition was max.
ing its way overthis country ittraveled
for six months without seeing wagon,
aud even in Badgad saw only two
wagons, aud these were military ones
The Baby lonian explorer, unlike hi:
fellow in Greece. does not look fol
ruins, but for mounds, for the reason
that in Babylon stones were rarely
used in building. Every city wai
built on an artificial plateau. Eacl
building had its central court, some
thing like the Greek peristyle or thu
Homeric megaron, about which were th,
apartments. Brick was the chief ma
terial used. The writings of the ancien
Babylonians were universally made Ol
clay tablets with stylus. the point o
which was triangular. All importan
documents, such as official records, wills
etc., were rendered permanent by +,
careful process of hardening.
Among the curious relics DR.. War,
exhibited small cylinder on whic
was written an account of the build
ing of one of OfNebuchadnezzar'sp palaces
and bore the kings signature. Th
cylinder was found in the conversion
of the palace. and was placed therci
with other valuables. 1t was the Gus
tom then as now to place in the corner
stone historical accounts, records, an
other documents of the king unde
whose reign the building was erected
DR.. Ward also showed several string
of seals, made of quartz and hematitt
which no Assyrian or Babylonian gen
tleman was ever without. On ther
was engraved the deity he worshipe
and his family history, and with it h
stamped his will and all other impOr
ant documents.
In closing his lecture DR.. Ward salt
1.-The Baby ylonian field is rich on
compared with the modern Greel
!. Whole cities lie as yet unopened an
untouched. The Arabs are dali
finding things there. The Assyr
ans and Babylonians were sciel
tific and literary people. They ha
, their libraries. and vast record
valuable TO modern research, are
waiting the explorer. The difficulti'
: besetting him are many, chief
which, aside from the hardships
travel, are those imposed by the Turl
ish government, which watches with
jealousy inexplicable every explorin
party which enters these domains"