The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-06-13

cate the site have lacked the evidence obtained
by mr.. Kodewey In his extensive researches
Only the site lie left. Time and and the
elements assailed the tower, For twenty CEN
turtles II crumbled 1t was quarry OF building
materials for man. Practically Babylonia was
left unexplored until the last quarter of the nine
teenth century Before that the work OF destruc-
ton had been completed. In the last century
modern towns and villages In the vicinity carted
OF or noated down the Euphrates the last bricks
OF the foundation of the Tower OF Babel. The
foundation was over $50 feet square, a huge.
bulky mass. Hillah. modern Arab town, four
miles south OF 1t, was built with the bricks OF
the ancient city. Thus persisted the pride of
Babylon
The temple OF Esagila, the most important
eabylo.ian sanctuary brought to light, was part
of the Tower OF Babel Its ruins were uncovered
BY the German archaeologists after digging
hole forty feet deep that was as broad as the
mouth OF a volcano The two walls In the CEN
ter OF the picture mark the entrance TO the pas
sage a quarter OF mile long, which connected
the steep pyramid OF Etomenanki, known In the
Bible as the Tower of Babel with this temple
Because OF the depth OF the debris caused by
the action of the centuries which have yelled
the earth here the entire foundation OF the
Tower OF Babel has not yet been excavated. but
| tunnels at the floor level have been bored into
the sides until the temple walls were properly
sstab lished and then the whole edihce was meas
! ured
This Is the oldest and most momentous ruin
| ON account OF its connection with the Tower OF
| Babel and the bricks which once represented
massive masonry are now SO brittle that one
| can crush them between the fingers,
| In the picture showing the ruins OF Babylon
| the man on the left stands upon the remains OF
| the brick pavement which part of the long
| street named after Daniel who, no doubt, him
| self traversed its length many times, In the
ruins on the right in the hollow, there Is the
gate named after the goddess Ishtar. This Is the
/ most prominent and best preserved ruin In
i pabylon. Its walls are adorned with reliefs OF
bulls the holy animal OF Nebo, and dragons,
the holy animal OF the god Marduk. 1t was
through this gate that the professional road OF
the god OF Marduk led. and passing II and turn
ing 10 the right 1t led on to Nebuchadnezzars
throne hall.
The excavations have brought to light many
curious specimens of the work Of the ancient
neople OF Babylon. The largest piece of sculp-
| ture vet unearthed is that of huge lion chis-
eled out OF an enormous block OF granite brought
| down the Euphrates raft from Mesopotama.
II shows lion standing over a PROSTATE man,
The work is crude and probably is product Of
! the very earliest art OF Babylon. The sculptor
ypifies the superiority OF the lions strength over
q | mans Some collins OF the middle class were
5 also found They were of burned clay and like
= hathtubs In shape. Some OF them were very
short because OF the custom OF the Assyrians and
z Febylonians OF burying ther dead in sitting
position with the head between the knees