The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
An Important Contribution TO the Lit
ernfure of Archaeology


No other city in the United States has
shown much interest in or contributed
as much TO archaeology as. Philadelphia
For a number of years past number of
public-sprited gentlemen in that city have
contributed freely of time and money for
explorations in Babylonia, Egypt Central
America. Italy and Greece and have added
Immensely to the worlds knowledge OF
the ancient history of these lands. Up
wards of $4,000 have been spent on Baby
lonian exploration alone. AS a result of
these explorations the first volume is pub
lished of "Nippur, or Explorations and Ad-
ventures on the Euphrates" by Dr. John
p. Peters originator and director of the
expedition. In his preface the author ex-
plains why the volumes bear the name
'Nippur." Before the explorations of the
University of Pennsylvania expedition that
name was known only to a few scholars,
and they knew little more than the name
OF the city, and that at an early period
II had played an important part in the re-
lglous development of Babylonia and
through Babylonia, of the world. We now
Know that in the times of the glory of
uneven and Babylon the name of Nip
pur was as familiar to the citizens of
InOse, cities as the names of Nineveh and
bapylon are to us, and that Nippur eXer-
ueVe4opHent an influence potent as
tnat or Jerusalem on our own. The tenn
PIE OF Bel at Nippur was to the religion
OF Bapyionia and Assyria very much What
the temple of Jerusalem was to our re-
Hslon 1t was this city, which exercised
so great an influence the religious life
o! the people that so long dominated the
clVillIeu world, and so materially affected
and determined the religious and scientific
development of both Orient and Occident
ana particularly the great temple of Bel
IN that city, the Oldest temple in the
world which the University of Pennsyl-
this temple the oldest temple in the
world We found that Nippur was a
great and hourishing city. and its temple,
the temple of Bel the religious center of
period as much prior to the time of Abra-
ham as the time of Abraham is prior to our
day. we discovered written records no
less than 5000 years old, and proved that
means In their infancy. Further than this,
our explorations have shown that Nippur
possessed a history extending backward of
the earliest written documents found by us
the Oldest inscriptions ever discovered, and
a great mass of uninscribed Objects in
GUIDING sarcophagi, pottery, stone and
metal implements. etc. The author recites
at length the difficulties that were met
and overcome before the expedition was
allowed to begin it's work. The present
volume can only be regarded in the light
or a full Introduction of Volume II, which
VIII tell of the relies OF great value which
were found. The illustrations are of
marked excellence and the text such as
to arouse the enthusiasm of all interested
IN archaeological subjects. The completed
work VIII be monument to American en-
terprtSe and an important contribution to
the literature of archaeology. AS book
of travel and adventure it is very interest
ing. New York: G. 2. Putnam Sons.