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

330 EXPLORATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS
" a cruciform shape unlike that of any other ziggurrat yet
discovered." The sanctuary continued to exist in the new
form for about three hundred to three hundred and fifty
years, until after the Seleucidan period, somewhere about
or before 150 b. c, when men ceased to make additions or
repairs, and the ancient temple of Bel fell gradually into
ruins.
It is unnecessary to disprove this fantastic theory in detail.
Peters' own excavations and our previous and later discoveries
make it entirely impossible. But while we cannot accept
his inferences, which are contrary to all the evidence produced,
we recognize that he brought to light a number of
facts and antiquities, which enable us to establish at least some
of the more general features of this latest reconstruction.
He showed that a considerable area around the ziggurrat
was enclosed by two gigantic walls protected by towers. He
ascertained their dimensions, followed their courses, and described
the extraordinary size of their bricks. He excavated
fourteen chambers on the top of one of the outer walls, and
found the entire space between the inner wall and the ziggurrat
occupied completely by similar rooms. He arrived at the
conclusion that the various constructions belonged together
and formed an organic whole. A long, narrow street, however,
which ran parallel with the southeastern line of fortifications,
divided the houses in the interior into two distinct sections.
Several of the chambers in the southern part were filled with
" great masses of water-jars piled together." They doubtless
had served as storerooms ; others were kitchens, as indicated
" by the fireplaces and other arrangements;" while in some
of the rooms " were curious closets with thin clay partitions."
The rubbish of most of the chambers yielded numerous
fragments of pottery of the Hellenistic and Roman
periods, remarkable among them a fine brown enamelled
lamp (head of Medusa), and many terra-cotta
figurines, especially
heads of women frequently wearing a peculiar high