Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-12
DISINTERRED BABYLON
FORGOTTEN GLORIEs OF CITY
OF NEBUCHADNEZZA

VORGOITEN GLOH1ES OF I'll
OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR
(By Edmund Chandler in London
Times)
BY the Tisris and Euphrates NOR
tality 10 the most obvious thing that
meets the eyes As one rides abroad. but
the deadest of dead things il this
Assopotamian waste in Babylon.
Nineteen years ago. whom I visited
the site, the ground was barely
scratched by the professional excava-
tor tho the robbers OF bricks had been
busy quarrying there for centuries.
The excavations were begun by the
German archaeologists In March. 1889.
and from 200 to $50 workmen were en-
ployeA daily, winter and summer. un-
III the war put an end to the work.
The greater part Of the city which the
Germans have brought to light be-
period OF Nebuch adnezxar Ceo4-ssl B.
c.: but there are traces in the ruins
left by the flrst Babylonian Kings
(Cirea $500 B. C). and successive
strata revealed the streets and houses
built by succeeding dynasties Of the
and Grasco-Parthian periods. Also
there are relics that prove a prehis-
toric Babylon. but II IL impossible to
carry excavations down to that depth
owing TO the rise In the water Lowell.
Tho city walls OF Ncbuchadnezsar
are . triple rampant. Two teams OF
four horses abreast could pass each
ether on tho outer barrier. The whole
circuit. according to the evidence of
tho excavations, was 11N miles. but
Ctesias gives four times. and Hero
dotus nearly Ave times, this circum-
fegence. Tho cxcavators have followed
the line OF the Kasr Roadway. n
broad street which leads to the Ishtar
Gate made by Nebuchadnezzar as a
professional road for tho great God
Narduk. to whose tomplo Of Esasila
II leads. The walls OF tho 1shtar Gate
and arc covered with figures OF bulls
and dragons in brief relief. There Is
little else that In decorative to catch
tho uninitiAted cye At Babylon. The
silver and gold and precious stones
with which SardanRpaius flled tho
temple Of E.agila are forgotten. The
images have been removed. the double
doors OF cedarwood ovcrlaid with COM
per.
1t n hard TO tell whether one is
standing on the roof or tho floor at
Babylon. Tho roofs OF ono period be-
came the foundations OF tho next But
in a general way in spite OF tho super
imposed strata OF the hungry genera.
tions that have troddcn one another
down. the Identification of sites in
Babylon Is easier than in most buried
cities. And this Is due to the inscrip-
tions on the bricks and hagstones. For
the Kings OF Babylonia were provi-
dsntlAlly vain. They left their stamp
everywhere In no uncertain charac-
tefs. 6ardanapalua invoked curses on
Tho hsad Of whosoever should destroy
the records of his name. Him may
Marduk. tho King Of All. behold with
wrath. and destroy his name and HIS
seed in tho land Nebucha rdnezsar
caused legend TO be inscribed on
every brick. giorify!ng his works. on
me edss OF each slAb under the 1shiar
cate was an inscription which Mas
Destined to remain hidden and invis-
ible until turned over by tho curious
excavator after 20 centuries had gone
"Neouchadnezxar. King of Babylon,
son Of Nabopolassar. King OF Babylon
blocks OF shadu-stone for the process
sion OF tho great Lord Marduk. Mar
d'.k. Lord grant eternal life"
Neoucbsdnezzar. speaking IN the
nr1cks OF protective wall he built in
the Euphrates. says:-"I raised its
It's top 1 exalted like tho wooded
mounta,ns." Ha waa familiar. n
seems, with the existence Of noun.
tains. And to my mind this +. the
most wonderful thing about Babylon.
fhat these Kings. with all tho wealth
e"ey touIu command.
should have chosen to live in their
hrepit BY the Euphrates. For thous
Ande of years the greatest soverIrns
Of the earth selected for choice the
climate Of He'll.
The millions of stamped bricks and
the Thousands Of inscribed ones have
preserved the namc Of tho great King
~ andurinsly as he could have wished
But he 10 forgotten by the people of
he land. All his bricks and mernori
lis are in vain. Even the Lord Mar
lux IL ~ dead a. his Royal suppliant
md protector With neither name
,ould one conjure up the hum blest
oca1 spirit or awaken a shadow OF
everence or awe. Persia, Parthia,
3reecc. and Rome have passed since. !
nd are barely remembered.