New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-02
BACK FROM ANCIENT NLPPTR.
PROFESSOR HILPRECHTS DISCOVERY
WILL SHED LIGHT on THE
TINES OF ABRAHAM.

Professor II. Y. Hnprecht Of the University Of
Pennsylvania. who has been exploring the mounds
Of ancient Nippur !n Asia Minor. for eleven years
arrived here yesterday Oh the North German Lloyd
Limo steamer FRIEDRICH der Crosse. lie was II I
down the Bay by q party rom the University Q,
Pennsylvania, HEADED By his assistant, Dr. A i
Clay.
The last years labors c. Professor HADreeht At
Nlppur have been fruitful than hose O. INC
previous ten yesrs while his explorations IN PIE
Itous years were succe-sf. tie discovery OF 'Ae
library q the ancient Temple OF NippuT IS con
sidered Of d character 70 eclipse al previous o4s-
coveries Tho library tablets throw n Nght OF t17
ufe Of the people liyng ct this centre OF popu-a-
ton at the time, Il is calculated. that ADAM G'4o
Eve were living in the Garden of Eden. II Is be
lieved that this library VIII reorganize the chio-
nology Of Biblical times extending II PACK ihal'S
cons prior 70 the reckoning Of the Deluee PeII'N.
The value Of this discovery has been recognized
by European scholars. and Professor Hi!pTech' ;
Journey across the Continent was Interrupted al
many points Tor the hesfoWai Of honors. lie W
bon0red ny rne Sultan Of Turkey. entertained ny
Prince Ruprecht Of Bavaria and by the Duchess o.
Anhalt sister Of Tie King OF Denmark, maze
member II several geographical societies and had
offers OF profassorshiTs in mora than one German
university.
1.-The Importance Of this find 70 cur civilization
and the bearing II has the history Of the world
and its religion are great said Professor Hiiprecht
yesterday. The chief point to be remarked Is the
fact that have found the first Babylonan lem
Die library that has ever been discovered hitherto
we have possessed nothing more than the kno"I-
edge OF The probable contents Of such library
from copies found IN the royal library Of Ashur-
banapal N Sineveh. which was discovered sixty
years ago This royal library however. was a
compilation Of documents from all over Babyiona,
90 far as was that time known
In the library which We unearthed this year at
>S!ppur we get for first time insight into the
arrangement the libraries Of that early day. and
the ARRANGEMENT Of the rooms, etc. and. what IS
OF major Importance. knowledge OF the literature
OF the perio5. OF special Importance Is the TACT
that have rot only discovered Bahylonlan
temple library. hut that It proves 30 he the most
influential and important. well as the Oldest, In
the whole country No document discovered is
younger than 200 B. Chat Is. about the period
when the first blossom OF the Nippuran civilization
descended on Nfppur sacked the city and carried
ewsy many Of its treasures After that event Baby
tropoiis Of Northern Babyionia.
SO far; only one wing Of the library has been
have been rescued from the ruins this year, The
by inches 70 by l12 feet unfortunately for me
decipherer they We're made Of Qnbsked clay, ana
the building end by the humidity Of the ground
But we have all the fragments" ,,,,,.
asked, will these discoveries affect the interpreta-
1ions Of Biblical records
the life, the religion and the arts OF the Hebrews
h et 90ts Are bound o ha up e }n R a NP6uT
lost 10 human knowledge about the time that
gives rs clear historical setting for that impor-
fant event. Many other customs and religious no.
bsqe them Tle9 s5 We have known ali
along little Of this period. Now we will be able
10 tell what Is purely Bahylonan and what Is pure
''The records from the library at NiPpur are now
on the way from Bassora TO Copstantinople. where
they will arrive in the course of six months. The
me to speak as to the time when they may be
looked for in this country"