The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-22

parative point OF view for artistic purposes
The bronze lion weights mos. 3O3-3Is) form an
interesting group and II is worthy OF note thas
when the Phpnician merchant Of Calah found
his bronze casting too light he made up tho
weight by filling it with lead. The vessels In
glass make a brave show considering their size
or the pottery little need be said. but II Is curl
Gus TO note that some OF the jars on the foor
Of the case Nos. l.8Oi-l 900 contain burns
human remains and that the cohins from Wark
are grand specimens OF the potter's art.
THE long series OF inscr ibed bowls arranged
on the lowest shelf in the case Il interesting.
and ii is TO be hoped that the magical texts
which are written upon them may some day b
deciphered. The reference In No. e3a 70 the
sixty mighty men Of Israel who stood round
the couch Of Solomon and the extract from
the priests blessing In Numbers vi, 24-2S sug-
gest that many quotations from the Bible Will
he found In them. and there Is good reason
for believing that many OF the texts date from
the time Of the captivity OF the Jews In Babylon
When the bowls were used for medical purposes
a draught OF water was brought to the sick
man. and either he or the physician. or both.
rscited the text written round the inside OF the
bowl Immediately before or after drinking.
-On each side OF the path down the room are
tdDlt tuStC lii'u az nv '"''NN NNS
small miscella neous antiquities. In table case
A are ninety-four exceedingly fine examples
OF case or envelope tablets. inscribed with
deeds recording the buying and selling Of houses
and lands: the leasing OF houses. gardens and
estates: the loan OF money on seed corn. dis
solution Of partnerships. the adoption OF chill
! dren, contracts OF marriage. &c. They all
belong to the period OF Sumula-ilu. Zabum
| and other kings OF Babylonia. about h. c. $500.
The object Of the clay case or envelope was
to prevent the possibility OF injury to the orig.
nal document and TO receive a duplicate copy
OF the deed, as we'll a. the impressions OF ths
seals of the contracting parties. In table
case B Is a remarkable series Of bun tablets.
belonging to the same period. but Inscribed
with lists OF fields or estates with measurements
and statistics ~ 20 produce, &c. The lists
formed. undoubtedly. the on which
the assessment of taxes was based during
| the reign OF Bur Sin. King Of Ur, about b. c.
1900, and they prove that the Babylonians
were good practical geometricians, and that
all the culttvable land Of southern B%abylonia
was carefully surveyed and mapped out for
revenue purposes.
In the same table-case (B) is a most valua-
bic series of letters which were written by
K%hammurabi to Sin-idlnnam, about 200 b. C..
concerning the administration OF the country
Of Babylonia. Khammurabi was certainly an
Oriental monarch Of great ability. and In many
ways he reminds US OF Ismail Pasha or Menelek-
No matter was too great or too little for his
oognizance, and he seems TO have tried to make
his influence felt in the most trifing detail OF
official life. Thus In one letter mo. 81 We
find him discussing the Telling OF trees. and
even the lengths into which the trunks are to
be cut for smelling purposes: in another mo.
$751; he orders a canal to be cleared out; IN
others he declares that the claim Of a man to
certain lands has been proved 10 his satis-
faction by reference 10 ancient deeds. ana
Sandman Is ordered TO allow him to take
possession OF them. directs an intercalary
month to be inserted In the calendar. orders
an inquiry into q case OF bribery and directs
that the money which was given as the bribs
be sent TO him at Babylon!
In table-case + are found the principal
documents referring 10 the history and chro-
nology Of Babylonia mos. l2O-i?s): magical
and incantation tablets. including a liver.
which was probably used for purposes Of augury
CNo. itse a Babylonian map Of the world INC.
i4o). which. naturally. makes Babylon TO b
the centre OF the earth: and some important
and grammatical and photographed tablets.
The last two table-cases in the room II and
j. are devoted TO the exhibition Of a number
OF astronomical tablets inscribed with observa-
tons Of the moon and planets: and OF mathe.
NAUTICAL calculations i. e. tables OF squares
and cubes: and a splendid series Of inscribed
seals. finger rings. plaques. &c, made OF agate,
chalcedony, onyx and many other kinds OF
precious stones. These last are instructive
specimens OF the skill OF the seal engraver and
gem cutter. and a. they Illustrate the art OF
the various great nations which lived in Baby
lonia and Assyria they form a suitable sup
plemsnt to the other antiquities exhibited n
the room"