The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-08
EXCAVATIONS IN BABYLONIA
william r. Curtis Writes Interest
ingIy on the subject.


William E. Curtis. writing of the exca-
vations in Babylonia to the Chicago
Times Record, says:
Those who have followed the former
course of the excavations may remember
that their result had been to uncover an
eastern wing. which seems to have been
mainly reserved for state and religious
functions. business and storage. a great
central court. and beyond it 10 the east
part of what seemed to be the royal resi-
Dental quarter. At the close of last sea-
sens work staircase had come 20 light
here leading down by q triple fight to a
hall Will. double tiers of colonades. and
beyond it a larger columnar hall or Me
garon. On the upper level north of these
ran a corridor beneath which another
corresponding passage Of lofty dimen-
sions has now been cleared out, originally
lit by large window opening on the
light well Of the larger hail. The clear
ance of this was marked by the discov-
cry Of a very extensive deposit of in
scribed clay tablets-the largest. indeed,
yet MISUNDERSTANDING about 100 per-
feet documents dealing with palace ac-
counts The decimal system is here
much in evidence. and 9. large proportion
OF the tablets deal with per centages.
With these We're several large clay i'm
pressions of what must certainly have
been q royal signet ring. exhibiting a
goddess and her attendants of which a
counterfeit matrix was found last year
in another part Of the buildings proof
that fraudulent procedure was not IN
known even in the household of Minos-
The spacious chamber bordering this
corridor. which from the signs cut on its
walls 1 have called the Hall eff the
Double Axes" was found 10 have a
double portico al its further end facing
both south and east. IN its south wall
had been already visible last year a door
way leading 10 q finely paved passage,
with a dogs leg turn, as L TO insure
the privacy of come important room be-
yond. Here has now been uncovered
quite original chamber Ranked on two
SIDES by "A high stylobate, which also
serves as a base for seats between the
original pillars. Of which light was OBJ
tanned on the one side frcm a portico. on
tie other form an area with back wall
stepping back above. on the west side
OF the room an opening in bslustrade
gives access 10 Il small bath chamber
above the gypsum lining slabs. of which
a fine painted frieze Of spirsls and ro-
settles were stin partly elinging to the
walls. Remains Of painted terracotta
bath were found near. OF the wall paint
ings that originally adorned the room
itself and the portico beyond vary in
teresting remains were also found.
though in fallen condition. Quite an
aquarium OF fish has here come 10 light
very enthusiastically rendered. inelud-
Ing parts OF two large dolphins and many
smaller Try. some OF them complete.
This discovery supplies the counterpart
N the 6ne frcsco showing flying Ssh
found by the Bgftish school In the nrehis-
toric settiement # Melos-a work which
must now be dcdniteiS assigned 10 an
artist of the Knossian school. Here. TOO.
as those different tones Of blue had 10 be
mainly reserved for the fish themselves.
the sea water itself was indicated By
azure vreaths and coils Of dotted spray
On a white ground The expeGient Is
most artistic. bat could anything be less
classical
The upper part OF an elegant lady IN a
yellow jacket and lishf chenise intro
duces Us TO different class Of subject
Her fying tresses and outst7etched arm
snggest violent action. and this Is stil
uore perccpd5le IN the subject Of another
tresco fragment showing more nude re-
male figure in the act Of springing from |
above and seszine the norns Of a gano2lns I
euH Remains o. 3 series Of scenes eS- !
lioitins female tored0rs we're already /
found towards the close Of last seasons l
ak and it has now been possible &c re- I
constitute a complete panel Of one % 1
these fresco designs The whole is a tosr 1
&c force OF ancient circus shows A Ny 4
cenian cowboy is seen turning a somsr- /