. Nineveh and Babylon : a narrative of a second expedition to Assyria during the years 1849, 1850, & 1851. ations had, however, been abandonedbefore any attempt could be made to ascertain the fact. Onmy return, a tunnel, nearly 100 feet in length, was opened atright angles to the winged bull, but without coming uponany other remains but a pavement of square limestone slabs,which continued as far as the excavation was carried. On uncovering the bull which was still partly buried in therubbish, it was found that adjoining it were other sculptures,and that it formed part of an exterior facade. Th
. Nineveh and Babylon : a narrative of a second expedition to Assyria during the years 1849, 1850, & 1851. ations had, however, been abandonedbefore any attempt could be made to ascertain the fact. Onmy return, a tunnel, nearly 100 feet in length, was opened atright angles to the winged bull, but without coming uponany other remains but a pavement of square limestone slabs,which continued as far as the excavation was carried. On uncovering the bull which was still partly buried in therubbish, it was found that adjoining it were other sculptures,and that it formed part of an exterior facade. The upperhalf of the next slab had been destroyed, upon the lower waspart of the figure of the Assyrian Hercules strangling thelion, similar to that discovered between the bulls in the pro-pylaea of Khorsabad, and now in the Louvre. The hinderpart of the lion was still preserved. The legs, feet, anddrapery of the god were in the boldest relief, and designedwith great truth and vigour. Beyond this figure, in the san>eline, was a second bull. Then came a wide portal, guarded * Plan I. Chamber II, p. 42 NINEVEH AND BABYLON. [Chap. II. by a pair of winged bulls, twenty feet long, and probably,when entire, more than twenty feet high, and two giganticwinged figures in low relief.* Flanking them were two smallerfigures, one above the other. Beyond this entrance the fa9adewas continued by a group similar to that on the opposite side,by a smaller entrance into the palace, and by a wall of sculp-tured slabs; then all traces of building and sculpture ceasednear the edge of a water-worn ravine. Thus, part of the facade of the south-east side of the palace,forming apparently the grand entrance to the edifice, hadbeen discovered. Ten colossal bulls, with six human figuresof gigantic proportions, altogether i8o feet in length, werehere grouped Although the bas-reliefs to the rightof the entrance had apparently been purposely destroyedwith a sharp instrument, enough remained to
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