The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1924-08-29

century after century the sand piles
up like waves of the sea and COM
pletely changes the appearance of the
country Even though it stood on
the highest hill the sands had buried
the ancient Ziggurat entirely from
view when Nabondius dug out the
tower. Again they came in the cent
turies that followed the restoration
and buried the tower deeper than it
had been buried before
In modern times this territory be-
tween the Tigris and the Euphrates
has been distinguishable by a number
of mounds with steep, sloping sides.
One of these mounds was larger by
far than any of the others. 1t was
as great sentinel in the valley.
Years ago excavations were made
on several Of the smaller of these
mounds, and ancient buildings were
found inside Then the psychologists
from the University of Pennsylvania
and the British museum decided to
dig into the largest of the mounds.
1t was in this one that the tower
of Babel of the Chaldeans was found.
1t is, by far, the highest temple ever
constructed by the ancients. The
bottom has not yet been reached, and
will not be for years. But already
$50 feet of the structure has been un-
covered. 1t is rectangular in shape,
with winding ramp by means of
which the top was reached. The
tower becomes narrow toward the top
At its present base it is 1875 feet long
and $50 feet wide Because of these
great dimensions, the psychologists
| believe that when the tower is wholly
unearthed, it will be found to be at
| least 600 feet high
There was more than one "Tower
of Babel" In fact there were many.
Whether or not the Ziggurat is the
one mentioned in the Bible is uncer-
| tain. But it is unquestionably the
largest of them all. The one object of
the Babylonians was to "build them
selves towers whose tops might reach
unto heaven" where they would be
| nearer to God. For that reason they
built them on the highest of the
| hills.
One of the most amazing things in
connection with the uncovering of
this tower is it's wonderful state of
preservation. All over the upper part
may be found places where restora-
tion work had been done by Nabon-
dius; and there are an abundance of
hieroglyphics and bas-reliefs testify
ing to the work done by the last king
of Babylon. In the debris has also
been found clay cones. On these
cones were recorded the many great
deeds of the king, and the history of
the site upon which the tower stands.
In addition to the ordinary bricks
used in the construction of the origi-
nal temple, highly-glazed and most
artistic bricks were used for decora-
tive purposes. 1t was on these that
the union label stamp" was discov-
cred.
Each of these bricks contains the
imprint of Urengur, who was king
of Ur when the tower was built.
Alongside the name of the king is a
rectangular imprint, of almost the
exact shape Of the tower. Inside the
rectangular lines is a crude impress
sion of bird and some hieroglyphics.
The psychologists are authority for
the statement that these hieroglyph-
les are the insignia of the craftsmen
who were banded together to perform
certain parts of the work.
Of the copper reliefs of cattle
which formed a frieze along the tenn
pie side, there are at least dozen
examples; some have been crushed
and distorted by the weight of the
fallen masonry, under which they
have lain for four thousand years,
but others are practically perfect, and
all are fine museum specimens.
There is some question among arch
Biological experts in America as to
whether or not one of these statues
of FURNISHED copper with horns of
gold may not have been the "golden
image" described in the Bible. The
| eXcavators themselves, however, are
| inclined to believe that there must
have been at least one central statue,
long since disappeared, which was
either of real gold or completely
covered over with gold plate or gilt.
"That some of the metal objects
should have perished," says DR..
| Woolley, "is not, indeed, to be won-
dered at. The surprising thing is
that any should remain, and still
more surprising that things yet more
delicate should be found in almost
perfect preservation But such was
luckily the case.
"Most of the figures are those of
cattle and oxen, walking in line; the
most important panel shows a reed
built enclosure, from whose door two
heifers are coming out; on one side
of this are cows with their calves,
being MIXED by men who squat most
uncomfortably under the beasts tails,
and hold long milking jars between
| thair knnac. IN tho nthnr cido nrn