Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-06-21
ABOUT THE FAMOUS
ARK OF NOAH
Details of Its Construction and Its In
mates

mates
The follow ing very interesting arti
Gle appeared in a recent issue of the
London Times:
Sir--Many readers of the Times,
would, | believe, be interested in a
fresh witness to the Chaldaean tradi-
tion of the deluge. The best-known
account of this tradition is contained in
the late George Smith s "Chaldaean
Gensis.' There was given the first
connected account of the Assyrian ver-
sion of the old BabylOnian myths con-
cerniDg the flood. This version had
been drawn up for the library of Ashur-
banipal, the last great King of Assyria,
and had been brought by Sir Henry
Layard from the ruins of Nineveh.
A more complete edition, consisting of
all the fragments of the story, preserv-
ed in the British Museum, has been
published by Professor Haupt.
Unfortunately, the lines which once
recorded the dimensions of the Ark
are defective, and, though Professor
Haupt considers it probable that the
length was 600 cubits, while the breadth
and height were both 120 cubits, we
have no certainty about the length.
By assuming that the measure named
in the text really denotes half cubit,
as was once held by Professor Oppert,
the conjectured length would agree
with the 800 cubits of the Biblical
narrative.
Now, one of the tablets, probably
also once in King Ashurbanipal's libra
ry at Nineveh, appears to give diff
ferent estimate of the dimensions of
NOah's ark. 1t is catalogued as
"list of animals of certain measure
ments, etc." and was recently copied
by me for my 'Assyrian Deeds and
where the cuneiform text
will appear as No. III. A closer exam
ination of the contents has made me
think they deserve to be more widely
known.
There is no distinct statement on the
tablet that the measurements refer to
the Ark, but l fail to see with what
else the figures given could be concern
ed. The first three lines read simply,
1890 cubits long, $50 cubits broad,
$50 cubits high" The whole tablet is
written in the 1deographic style, and
some of the kilograms used are not to
be found in published '1ists of signs
and kilograms. But these lines en-
ploy only such signs as are well known
from their use in the historical inscrip
lions, and l assign to them the mean
ngs which they always have il suct
exits as concern the dimensions of
But this would be very large build
ng indeed. The great Temple of Mer-
dach at Babylon, by many identified
with the Tower of Babel, was only $50
,ubits high. If we consider these di.
as those of a tower, it must
lave been nearly 1 900 feet high. Such
/ height could only be that of a
Then it would be difficult
20 account for the presence of the
lnimaIs recorded below. There were
10 animals kept in the Tower of Babel
10 far as we are told. The animals |!
whose names can be recognized are not |
uch as we have any reason to suppose |
we're kept by the Kings of Nineyeh in |
/ menagerie or geological gardens.
The mythical character of the build
ng seems evident. The next two lines
1--WE other dimensions, in precisely
imilar terms to those used in describ-
ng the terraces, or platforms, on
which the kings erected their palaces.
Interpreting the signs in the same way
IS is always done IN such cases, the
ubstructure of this strange building
vas 40 cubits across and 7SS cubits
long its side. There is no suggestion
# height.
Now the Ninevite version of the Chal-
aean tradition, above referred to, con-
emplates the Ark as a house" on a
boat OF raft. 1t may be questioned
whether in these texts, height" neces
arily means vertical height" If
lot, we may suppose of a boat 7SS
ubits in length over all and 40 Gu bits
n breadth amidships, carrying a box
haped house $50 cubits high above the
leck. 1t is possible that the roof slop-
d from a central ridge. Also the di
nensiOns given may be those of a rec
angular raft. In either case there
would be free space, ten cubits wide
long the sides, and sixty-four cubits
vide at the ends, to serve as a ''deck
If we prefer to take 66O
ubits as the height, part OF this may
ave been submerged but in any case
We should have curious shape for an
Irk, though not quite admissible for
N imaginary temple tower.
The animals named. so far as l am
.ble to recognize their ideograph1c de-
are dromedaries, camels,
lorses, mules, asses, both male and te-
male of each species, forming one
,rOup; then oxen and cows of various
orts. sheep, goats, antelopes and ga
elles, hares, with their young ones, and
# both sexes, forming second group.
The first group seem to be the animals,
nan s helpers and servants, the second
.roup are possibly those clean animals
lsed for food. 1t may be noted that
he antelope or gazelle is frequently
lepicted as associated with IShtar or
7enus, who plays such a prominent
,art of the tradition of the flood. No
4 L.