Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-10
BEFORE THE DAYS OF ABRAHAM
The Library Of the Temple of Bel Has
Been Tnearthed.

Prof Herman Y. Hilprecht the dis
tinguished curator of the Babylonian
section of the Archaeological Museum
of the University of Pennsylvania.
says the Philadelphia Public Ledger
Of the ID inst. arrived AT New York
yesterday morning IN the North Ger
man I.lovd steamer Friedrich der
Crosse. and reached this city few
hours Later He has just returned from
another years labor in his chosen
field the exploration of the ruins of
the ancient city Of Nippur during
which time he has made probably
the most important archaeological
discovery of The 18th cen
fury. His progress homeward
from the Turkish dominious has been
triumphal one. He has been honored
by the leading professors Of Germany
and England, and the European press
has teemed with notices of the great
results he has achieved in the SySte-
matte excavations he has made i'll the
deserts of Rabylonia. While in Ger
many he was pressed to accept the
hospitality Of Prince Rupprecht. The
future King of Bavaria. which he was
obliged 10 postpone on account of the
serious illness of Mrs. Hilprecht. The
Geogra phcaI Society of the University
of I.cipsic urged him TO lecture at the
earliest possible date before that
learned body on the results Of his
work and the invitations flowed in
upon him from prominent officials 10
partake of their hospitality.
Prof. Hilprecht gave a Ledger re-
porter an interesting talk descriptive
Of the work attempted and the results
attained during the II years since he
commenced the excavations at Nippur
under the auspices of the University
of Pennsylvania. and gave particu-
lar account of the great discovery OF
the library Of the Temple of Bel cor
Baal. as it is written in the Old Tesla
mentD The value Of this discovery
can hardly be overestimated. The IL
brary of clay tablets contained writ
ingIS not only in the characters used
1000 years before the Christian era,
which were the very latest tablets IN
the library. but the majority We're IN
the cuneiform characters peculiar TO
the more ancient writings. They
cover every branch of the literature
day of Abraham. and tell of civil
cation of which no word has come
down to US.
Prof Hilprecht'S party consisted OF
Prof. J. II. Haynes. whom he consid-
cred to be the backbone" of the eX-
petition to Nippur. AS Prof. Hill
precht's diplomatic duties in securing
and maintaining the favor Of the Turk
ish government required him 10 De
absent portion of the time. Prcf
Haynes took his place in the held
For this he was eminently qualified by
his experience in former years win
the earlier expeditors. He also mao
with him two architects. Mr.. Gere. an
Englishman. from Southampton. and
Clarence Fisher. graduate of tine
architectural department of the uni
Versity.
They entered upon their work under
better auspices than when they first
attempted it. Then the Bedoulns were
so hostile that they burned their camp,
and compelled them to Zee for their
lives: this time the Turkish govern
ment gave them not only what it gen.
orally gives to expeditions. necessary
protection, but much more tnaf that.
1t provided in the most liberal man
ner for Prof Hilbreehts party, giving
him orders upon the governors to pass
everything free of duties and gave
them permission To carry weapons.
The governor Of BasSOrah sent
special escort to meet him in the
desert. and he was received vith mill
tary honOrs.
Nippur is situated 20 miles south q