Myths and legends of Babylonia & Assyria . in 1889, laid bare the palaceof Nebuchadrezzar and the great processional road,and subsequently conducted excavations at QalatSherqat, the site of Asshur. The American Expedition of 1889 There had been keen interest in Babylonianarchaeology in America almost from the inceptionof the series of excavations dealt with in this sketch,and this was in all likelihood due to the popularityof Biblical studies in the great republic of the Babylonian Exploration Fund was institutedon November 30, 1887. Excavatory labours werecommenced at Nippur in 1889,
Myths and legends of Babylonia & Assyria . in 1889, laid bare the palaceof Nebuchadrezzar and the great processional road,and subsequently conducted excavations at QalatSherqat, the site of Asshur. The American Expedition of 1889 There had been keen interest in Babylonianarchaeology in America almost from the inceptionof the series of excavations dealt with in this sketch,and this was in all likelihood due to the popularityof Biblical studies in the great republic of the Babylonian Exploration Fund was institutedon November 30, 1887. Excavatory labours werecommenced at Nippur in 1889, and on first beholdingthe immense mass of the mounds which concealedthe ruins of the temple-city the members of theexpedition were not a little disturbed. Even ata distance I began to realize that not twenty, notfifty years would suffice to excavate this important356 THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION OF 1889 site thoroughly, writes Professor Hilprecht.^ Theruins resembled a picturesque mountain rangerather than the last impressive remains of human. MosurV gT—riBS Plan of Nineveh (Nippur) A. Palace of Sennacherib. B, Palace of Assur-bani-pal. By permission of the Director of the British Museum. constructions. But the Americans * sat downbefore the mass with the courage of their race,resolved to probe into its innermost secrets. Atfirst they speculated as to the character of the* Explorations in Bible Lands (T. and T. Clark, 1903). 357 MYTHS OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA buildings hidden from their view. The director,Dr Peters, was rapidly exhausting his fund of$15,000 without coming upon anything of value,and recognizing the necessity for the prompt dis-covery of important objects if opinion at home wasto be placated, Hilprecht pointed out to him thedesirability of attacking an isolated mound whichin his judgment contained the residences of thepriests and the temple library. Peters agreed tothe proposal, and almost at once an important seriesof tablets was discovered. The mound seemed, in-d
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