Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

vi
PREFACE
deemed it necessary to modify their former plans by asking
make the exploration of Assyria and Babylonia
the editor to
the characteristic feature of the uncompleted book, and,
above all, to incorporate with it the first full account of the
American labors at Nuffar. Thus it came about that the
opening article of this collective volume, intended to give
but a brief survey of a subject which at present stands in the
centre of general interest, has grown far beyond its original
limits.
As the results of Koldewey's methodical excavations and
topographical researches at the vast ruin fields of the ancient
metropolis on the Euphrates, belong chiefly to the twentieth
centurv and, moreover, are not yet fully accessible to other
scholars, their omission in these pages will scarcely be regarded
as a serious deficiency, since the object of the present
book was to set forth the work of the explorers of the previous
century. If, however, the public interest in the material
here submitted should warrant it, they will find their
proper treatment in a future edition.
I
In preparing the first
288 pages of my own contribution
have had the extraordinary assistance of my lamented wife
and colaborer, who, with her remarkable knowledge of the
history of Assyriology and her characteristic unselfish devotion
to the cause of science and art, promoted the work of
the Babvlonian Expedition of the University of Pennsylvania
(in charge of her husband) in many essential ways
unknown to the public. The best passages in the following
"
chapter on the " Resurrection of Assyria and Babylonia
are likewise due to her. She laid down her pen only when
the approaching angel of death wrested it from her tired hand
on March 1, 1902. The Board of Trustees of the University
of Pennsylvania has since honored the memory of