Part 1 (1/2)

Discoveries a the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon

by Austen H Layard

PREFACE

Since the publication of ress has beenthe cuneifor and iiven to the public For these additions to our knowledge we are lish scholars, Col

Rawlinson and the Rev Dr Hincks Inuse of the results of their researches, I have not omitted to own the sources from which my information has been derived I trust, also, that I have in no instance availed myself of the labors of other writers, or of the help of friends, without due acknowledgn to every one his proper share in the discoveries recorded in these pages

I ast whom I may mention my friends, M Botta and M de Saulcy, have contributed to the successful deciphering of the assyrian inscriptions Unfortunately I have been unable to consult the published results of their investigations If, therefore, I should have overlooked in any instance their clairet for an error arising fronorance, and not from any unworthy national prejudice

Doubts appear to be still entertained by ress actuallyThese doubts may have been confirmed by too hasty theories and conclusions, which, on subsequent investigation, their authors have been the first to withdraw

But the unbiased inquirer can scarcely now reject the evidence which can be brought forward to confireneral accuracy of the interpretations of the inscriptions Had they rested upon a single word, or an isolated paragraph, their soundness ht reasonably have been questioned; when, however, several independent investigators have arrived at the same results, and have not only detected numerous naraphical series, but have found them mentioned in proper connection with events recorded by sacred and profane writers, scarcely any stronger evidence could be desired The reader, I would fain hope, will come to this conclusion when I treat of the contents of the various records discovered in the assyrian palaces

To Mr Thomas Ellis, who has added so much to the value of my work by his translations of inscriptions on Babylonian bowls, now for the first tiacity, deciphered; to those who have assisted me in my labors, and especially to my friend and companion, Mr Hormuzd Rassam, to the Rev Dr Hincks, to the Rev S C Malan, who has kindly allowed usson, Mr Scharf, and to Mr

Hawkins, Mr Birch, Mr Vaux, and the other officers of the British Museuments

London, January, 1853

NINEVEH AND BABYLON

CHAPTER I

THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM RESUME EXCAVATIONS AT NINEVEH--DEPARTURE FROM CONSTANTINOPLE--DESCRIPTION OF OUR PARTY--ROADS FROM TREBIZOND TO ERZEROOM--DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY--ARMENIAN CHURCHES--ERZEROOM--REshi+D PASHA--THE DUDJOOK TRIBES--SHAHAN BEY--TURKISH REFORM--JOURNEY THROUGH ARMENIA--AN ARMENIAN BISHOP--THE LAKES OF SHAILU AND naziK

After a fewthe year 1848, to recruit a constitution worn by long exposure to the extremes of an Eastern climate, I received orders to proceed to my post at Her Majesty's Embassy in Turkey The Trustees of the British Museum did not, at that time, contemplate further excavations on the site of ancient Nineveh Ill health and li before the public, previous to my return from the East, the results of my first researches, with the illustrations of the monuments and copies of the inscriptions recovered from the ruins of assyria They were not published until some time after my departure, and did not consequently receive that careful superintendence and revision necessary to works of this nature It was at Constantinople that I first learnt the general interest felt in England in the discoveries, and that they had been universally received as fresh illustrations of Scripture and prophecy, as well as of ancient history sacred and profane

And let enerous spirit of English criticiss of the laborer when his object is worthy of praise, and that object is sought with sincerity and singleness of purpose The gratitude, which I deeply felt for encouragement rarely equalled, could be best shown by cheerfully consenting, without hesitation, to the request ed by public opinion, to undertake the superintendence of a second expedition into assyria Being asked to furnish a plan of operations, I stated what appeared toand important results, and to enable us to obtain the e, and arts, not only of assyria, but of its sister kingdoeneral to admit of performance or warrant adoption I was merely directed to return to the site of Nineveh, and to continue the researches coeland

The assistance of a competent artist was most desirable, to portray with fidelity those monuments which injury and decay had rendered unfit for removal Mr F Cooper was selected by the Trustees of the British Museum to accompany the expedition in this capacity Mr Hormuzd Rassam, already well known to many of my readers for the share he had taken in land with hilish physician on a visit to the East, was induced to form one of our party One Abd-el-Messiah, a Catholic Syrian of Mardin, an active and trustworthy servant during my former residence in assyria, was fortunately at this tiain entered ha, a cawass, and an Armenian named Serkis The faithful Bairakdar, who had so well served lish commission for the settlement of the boundaries between Turkey and Persia; with the understanding, however, that he was to meet me at Mosul, in case I should return Cawal Yusuf, the head of the Preachers of the Yezidis, with four chiefs of the districts in the neighbourhood of Diarbekir, who had been for some months in Constantinople, completed my party

In consequence of the severe and unjust treat them to serve in the Turkish army, Hussein Bey and Sheikh Nasr, the chiefs of the whole co that I was at Constantinople, sent a deputation to the Sultan Through Sir Stratford Canning's friendly interference, a firal ieust (1849), and on that day we left the Bosphorus by an English steamer bound for Trebizond The size ofa caravan journey absolutely necessary, I determined to avoid the usual tracks, and to cross eastern Armenia and Kurdistan, both on account of the novelty of part of the country in a geographical point of view, and its political interest as having only recently been brought under the iovernment