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

562 EXPLORATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS
enclosure
must have been cut through the core of the ziggurrat
to the water level, and the great care manifested in
enlarging and strengthening the Babylonian
stage-tower by
four irregular buttresses, projecting like so many gigantic
wings from the centres of the four sides, indicated sufficiently
what strategic importance the Parthian rulers attached
to this part of their palace. The peculiar cruciform
shape of the massive building was originally suggested by
the ancient entrance or causeway of the tower (on its
southeast
side). The first buttress-like additions to the ziggurrat
accordingly were not much wider than the latter. As
they were built of the same kind of bricks which characterizes
the remains of the earlier castle, 1 they must belong
to the Seleucidan period. Under the Parthian rulers these
arms, like the rest of the structure, were broadened considerably.
2
At the same time the ruined stages were trimmed
and overbuilt with large crude bricks, thus making an immense
platform rising no less than twenty-five to thirty feet
above the rest of the fortress. A second stage rose like a
huge watch-tower from the centre of the first. To judge
from the height of Bint el-Amir as we first
saw it, this cannot
have been lower than twenty feet. Both stages were naturally
surrounded by a parapet to afford the besieged garrison
sufficient protection against the weapons ot its enemies.
In times of peace this elevated gallery, with its
over the endless plains, must have
superb view
been a favorite place of
rest for the residents of the palace, where they enjoyed a
fresh breeze and doubtless spent their nights during the
hottest months of the year.
The fortified palace with which we have occupied ourselves
cannot be considered as typical for the architecture
of the Parthian period ; for the size and general plan of
1
Marked / in the cut, p. 559.
2
They were from 45
court from the Babvlonian tower.
to 63 feet wide, and projected 30 to 50 feet into the