Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-04

stantinoule, proved to be most varied;
In fact, practically every branch of lit
erature known to the Babylonians Is
represented IN the library Among the
inscriptions are hundreds OF historical
texts, dictionaries, or lists OF sumerian
words with Semitic equivalents; lists
Of birds, animals. plants and stones;
lists of words for chairs, stools and
other articles of furniture; hymns,
astronomical and neurological inscrip-
tlons, tablets which refer to the service
and functionaries of the temple-hOw
many garments the god Bel wore, how
many temples and shrines there were
at Nippur besides those dedicated to
Bel, and what the revenues of the tenn
pies were, tablets containing gram
matical sentences written by students.
arithmetical calculations, etc. Natural
ly IN the brief time at his disposal up
to the present, only the most cursory
examination OF the precious material
could be made by Prof. Hllprecht; but
as he announced. "the methOdical pub
lication of the rich and varied contents
Of this unique literary library the first
Of It's kind SO far eXcavated in Baby
lonia, and now constituting one Of the
most precious treasures of the Univer-
slty OF Pennsylvania, will be taken in
hand vigorously and constitute his
chief task for the next 30 years"
When we reflect that until recent de-
cades our knowledge Of the period prior
TO Abraham was entirely dependent up
on the first II chapters Of Genesis, and
that here Is an entire library which
contains many thousand volumes writ
ten in that early age, we can at least
realize that the future generations win
have considerable knowledge Of those
early days, which until recently We're
regarded by many scholars as mythical,
and vet no one can even conjecture
what is contained In the larger part of
the mound which up TO the present re-
mains untouched.
Several versions Of the creation and
deluge stories older than those found
I'm Ashurbanapars library have been
discovered at other places. One Of these
is dated about 1000 y. G.. IT would not
he surprising To find that versions OF
the same accounts older than those al
ready recovered would be found In the
great Nippur library. besides other doc
uments which 'Eould throw additional
Hight on the early chapters Of Genesis.
This is only one OF the important dis
coverlos ~ the recent campaign Con-
siderable attention was paid 20 the ex-
cavation N the great temple Of Bel. the
foundation Of which was laid between
5000 and 1000 years before Christ An
ancient government palace Of immense
proportions, whore the kings lived be-
longing 10 the nfth millennium before
Christ, and one Of the ancient gates
and walls OF the city were uncovered. 4 |
government palace erected about 500 b.
q. was completely and Systematically
.Xcavated, besides numerous other |
buildings OF less importance. Most val
liable inscriptions In stone belonging
TO the earliest rulers OF Babylonia, by
the help Of which the early history OF
mankind IN the valley between the IT, |
girls and Euphrates viii be reconstruct !
ed, were discovered. Antiquities in
coins iewelry in gold. silver and bronze |
IN great quantities; vases in enamelled |
and plain pottery OF an periods; seals !
and seal cylinders such az the Baby |
lonlans used in connection with their /
business transactions images % gods. !
playthings IN terra Gotta. has reliefs, |
weights, utensils IN bronze. iron and !
silver etc, were found. These are a /
few OF the important things found |
without mentioning the numerous facts 4
ascertnined and the many questions |
solved through the personal study ~ |
Prof. Hllprechi while IN the trenches
which have Important bearing upon the
religious ideas and customs Of the daily /
llfe Of the Babylon.ans.
only a small portion OF the mounds /
az Nipppr has thus FAR been completely I
eXcayatei Considerable work yet re.
mains Ia be done on the temple Only I
one side OF the ancient government
place has been cleared. and about one.
twentieth part OF the library In view
OF the fact that the sultan and his ad-
mlnistratlye body have manifested such
a generous and friendly attitude toward
the university, aud especially toward :
her representative, who Is the scientific