New-York tribune., 1902-09-07

nople.
The contents of the library. SO far as ex-
amned by Professor Hilprecht while at Nippur
and in the last year at COnstantinOple proved
to be most varied in fact, practically every
branch of literature known to the Babylonians
is represented in the library Among the IN
scriptions are hundreds of historical texts dc
tionaries 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 inscriptions
tablets which refer to the service and func-
tfonaries 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 temples were;
tablets containing grammatical sentences writ
ten by students arithmetical calculations. etc
Naturally, in the brief time at his disposal up
to the present, only he most cursOry exam
nation of the precious material could be made
by Professor Hilprecht; but, he announced
"the nethOdicaI publication of the rich and
varied contents of this unique literary library
the first of its kind far exeavated in Baby
lonia and now constituting one of the most
precious treasures of the University OF Penn
syIvania Will be taken in hand vigorously and
constitute his chief task for the next twenty
years"
When we reflect that until recent decades
our knowledge of the period prior TO Abraham
was entirely dependent upon the first eleven
cha piers OF Genesis, and that here is entire
library, which contains many thousand Vol
unes written in that early age. at least
realize that the future generations viii have
considerable know ledge of those early days,
which until recently were regarded by many
scholars Us mythical, and yet no one can even
conjecture what is contained in the larger part
of the mound which up to the present remains
untouched.
Several versions of the creation and deluge
stories older than those found in AshurbanapaFs
library have been discovered at other places.
One of these is dated about 1000 B. c. 1t would
not be surprising to find that versions of the
same accounts older than those already recOV-
cred would be found in the great Nippur library,
besides other documents which would throw ad-
ditionaI light on the early chapters of Genesis.
This is only of the important discoveries
of the recent campaign. Considerable attention
was paid to the excavation of the great temple
of Bel the foundation of which was laid De-
t1reen six thousand and seven thousand years
before Christ An ancient government palace OF
immense PROPORTIONS where the kings lived. be-
longing to the fifth millennium before CHRIST
and one Of the ancient gates and walls OF the
,ftv xere uncovered A government palace
erected about 300 h. G. completely and sys-
taDaticaIIv t.xcavated. besides numerous other
buildings of less Importance Most valuable H.
scriptions in stone belonging to the earliest
rulers of RahyIonia. by the help of which the
early history of mankind in the valley between
the Ticris and Euphrates will be reconstructed,
were. discovered. Antiquities in coins. jewelry in
gold silver and bronze in great quantities; vases
in enarneIled and plain pottery of all periods,
seals and seal cylinders. such as the BabylOnlass
tions; images of gods, playthings in terra Gotta
bass-reIiefs weights. utensils in bronze iron and
silver ETC. were found These are few of the
important things found. without mentioning the
numerous facts ascertaiued and the many gues-
tions solved through the personal study of Pro
fessar Hilprecht while In the trenches which
have important bearing upon the religious ideas
and customs of the daily life of the BabylonIans
Only a small portion of the mounds az Nippur
has thus far been completely excavated Con-
siderable. work vet remains to be done on the
ternpIe Only one side of the ancient govern
ment place has been cleared, and 9bOut one
twentieth part of the library. In view of the
fact that the Sultan and his administrative body
have manifested such generous and friendly
attitude toward the university, and especially
toward her representative, who is the scientine
director of the expedition, there Is little d0uDt
that this important work Will be continued 10
the near future, especially as Professor fiIi- mn
precht has already completed all arrangements
ard hiS nd