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

558 EXPLORATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS
them by the different quality and the smaller size of their
bricks and by the direction of their walls. 1 Arsacide coins,
commonly found in the upper layers (p. 327), are wholly
absent from these lower rooms.
It will have become apparent from our brief sketch of
the post-Babylonian history of Nippur that the only building
remains deserving our special attention in this connection
are those of the Parthian period. They occur
practically on all the prominent mounds of the ancient
city, and many years more of methodical excavation are
therefore required in the upper strata of Nuffar before we
shall be able to understand the topography of this last
important settlement in the least adequately. All that we
can do at present is
to illustrate the general character of the
larger buildings of this period by the example of the two
Parthian palaces already excavated. Their plan and disposition
were ascertained chiefly through the labors of the
fourth expedition.
The more imposing of the two structures occupies the
central part of the temple area. A glance at the plan opposite
this page will convince us that the Parthian fortress,
like the Babylonian temple beneath it, consisted of two
courts. They did not communicate with one another, except
perhaps by means of a large staircase, the remains of
which seem to have perished. The southeast court not being
explored yet, we confine ourselves to setting forth the principal
features of the great palace grouped around the remodelled
ziggurrat. The huge building comprised an area
no doubt intended to be rectangular. The entire space was
surrounded by a double wall of colossal proportions. It
varied considerably in thickness, and was about 560 feet
long on its southeast side. The north corner of this vast
enclosure has not yet been determined, while its west corner
was found to be washed away by the action of rain water
1
Indicated by the number I in cut on opposite page.