31.03.2015 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

30 EXPLORATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS<br />

by pilasters and buttresses, built of f<strong>in</strong>e burnt brick (still<br />

perfectly clean and sharp), laid <strong>in</strong> lime-cement of such tenacity,<br />

that those whose bus<strong>in</strong>ess it is to f<strong>in</strong>d bricks have<br />

given up work<strong>in</strong>g on account of <strong>the</strong> extreme difficulty of<br />

extract<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m whole." Here stood, as we now know, <strong>the</strong><br />

palace of Nebuchadrezzar, <strong>in</strong> which Alexander <strong>the</strong> Great<br />

died after his famous campaign aga<strong>in</strong>st India.<br />

Separated from <strong>the</strong> previous mound by a valley of five<br />

hundred and fifty yards <strong>in</strong> length, " covered with tussocks<br />

of rank grass, <strong>the</strong>re rises to <strong>the</strong> south ano<strong>the</strong>r grand mass<br />

of ru<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> most elevated part of which is only fifty or<br />

sixty feet above <strong>the</strong> pla<strong>in</strong>. From <strong>the</strong> small dome <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

centre dedicated to <strong>the</strong> memory of a spurious son of 'All,<br />

named 'Omran ('Amran), it is called by <strong>the</strong> Arabs, Tell<br />

'Omran ibn 'All. It has been likewise considerably dug<br />

<strong>in</strong>to by peasants <strong>in</strong> search of bricks and antiquities.<br />

The most sou<strong>the</strong>rn po<strong>in</strong>t is connected with <strong>the</strong> large embankment<br />

here traceable and with a flourish<strong>in</strong>g village, near<br />

which <strong>the</strong> luxurious date groves of Hilla commence. Both<br />

are called Qumquma (Sachau), now generally pronounced<br />

Jumjuma (regarded by Rich as orig<strong>in</strong>al, mean<strong>in</strong>g "skull")<br />

or Jimjime. Here term<strong>in</strong>ate <strong>the</strong> ru<strong>in</strong>s of ancient Babylon.<br />

It was to be expected that Rich, <strong>in</strong> connection with his<br />

topographical work on <strong>the</strong> ru<strong>in</strong>s of Babylon, would also<br />

exam<strong>in</strong>e " <strong>the</strong> most <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g and remarkable of all <strong>the</strong><br />

Babylonian rema<strong>in</strong>s," viz.> Birs (Nimrud), of which he likewise<br />

left us an accurate description, <strong>in</strong> several details soon<br />

afterwards supplemented by that of Buck<strong>in</strong>gham. Like<br />

his successor he recognized <strong>the</strong> general character of <strong>the</strong><br />

ru<strong>in</strong>s as a stage tower, doubtless <strong>in</strong>fluenced by his endeavor<br />

to identify it<br />

with <strong>the</strong> Tower of Belus, and by <strong>the</strong> deep and<br />

one hundred<br />

last<strong>in</strong>g impression which this gigantic ru<strong>in</strong>, still<br />

and fifty-three feet high, 1 made upon him at his first visit. I<br />

1<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Felix Jones's survey of 1855, this is <strong>the</strong> exact vertical distance<br />

of Birs (Nimrud) from <strong>the</strong> water level of <strong>the</strong> pla<strong>in</strong> to <strong>the</strong> highest po<strong>in</strong>t of

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!