Myths and legends of Babylonia & Assyria . tions were once more com-menced at Nimrud. Rassams labours were quicklycrowned by success, for he came upon a large hallin a fine state of preservation. The serious workof excavation was not without its humorous side,for if they chanced to unearth a carven monsterwith the body of a bull and the head of a beardedman, the native labourers threw down their toolsand ran. The Turkish Governor, too, hearing froma native source that Nimrod had been found, senta message to the effect that his remains should betreated with respect and be no further disturbed.
Myths and legends of Babylonia & Assyria . tions were once more com-menced at Nimrud. Rassams labours were quicklycrowned by success, for he came upon a large hallin a fine state of preservation. The serious workof excavation was not without its humorous side,for if they chanced to unearth a carven monsterwith the body of a bull and the head of a beardedman, the native labourers threw down their toolsand ran. The Turkish Governor, too, hearing froma native source that Nimrod had been found, senta message to the effect that his remains should betreated with respect and be no further disturbed. Layard had now unearthed many valuable sculp-tures, and he resolved to attempt their dispatchto England. Rawlinson sent a small steamer, theNitocris, to Nimrud, but it was found impossible toship the massive pieces on this frail craft, and eventhe smaller sculptures had perforce to be floateddown the Tigris on rafts. Layards health was bythis time in no very robust state, but a two monthsmountain holiday in Kurdistan refreshed him, and342. The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser II Photo II. A. Manscll and Co. / SIR HENRY LA YARD once more he recommenced his labours at Nimrfid,heartened by the news that the British Governmenthad awarded a grant for the continuation of hisresearches. The grant, however, was distressinglysmall, and its inadequacy compelled him to limithis excavations in the most unsatisfactory this, the new operations were rich in results,especially those in the building known as the south-west palace. This palace, he ascertained frombricks unearthed, had been built by Esar-haddon,King of Assyria. Sculptures glorifying King Assur-nazir-pal (885-860 ) were also discovered atthe north-west palace, some of them of a mostspirited character, representing the King in battle,crossing a river full of turtles and fishes, or leadinghis army. It was in the central building, however, that oneof his most important discoveries awaited was the obelisk of Shalm
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectcults, booksubjectleg
