The ancient peoples of Asia, which form a compact group from the point of view of the history and development of the arts, are also akin in the complete destruction which has overtaken their architectural monuments. As if by a providential chastisement, from the table-land of Iran to the Pillars of Hercules, at Susa, at Babylon, at Nineveh, as at Jerusalem, Tyre, Carthage, and Gades, nothing is left of those temples, palaces, and towers which threw a challenge in the face of Heaven, and which wore out so many generations of slaves in the building of them. While the Pyramids still rise opposite to the Parthenon, and our astonishment is still excited by the imposing ruins of Egypt, Greece and Rome, nothing remains of the grand monuments which were the pride of the capitals of Asia. Everywhere we have to dig into the bowels of the earth and uncover the base of crumbled walls. Everything is reduced to dust like the image with the feet of clay, and a shroud of ashes covers that world the material culture of which is to be brought to life again, as far as possible, in the following pages.

In the first English edition, M. Babelon’s work was somewhat enlarged, and occasionally revised by the translator—Mr. B.T.A. Evetts, then of the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, British Museum. In the present edition will be found a new chapter by the author on the recent finds at Susa.

A.S.G.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

[CHAPTER I.]
CHALDÆAN ART.
PAGE
§ 1. Architecture[3]
§ 2. Statues and Bas-reliefs[22]
§ 3. Minor Sculpture and the Industrial Arts[35]
§ 4. Engraved Seals[44]
[CHAPTER II.]
ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE.
§ 1. The Principles of Building[52]
§ 2. Palaces[66]
§ 3. Temples and Staged Towers[72]
§ 4. Towns and their Fortifications[79]
[CHAPTER III.]
ASSYRIAN SCULPTURE AND PAINTING.
§ 1. Statues, Stelæ, Obelisks[85]
§ 2. Bas-reliefs[91]
§ 3. Painting and Enamelling[114]
[CHAPTER IV.]
THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS IN ASSYRIA.
§ 1. Ceramics[121]
§ 2. Metals[125]
§ 3. Wood and Ivory[134]
§ 4. Leather and Textiles[138]
§ 5. Ornaments and Seals[142]
[CHAPTER V.]
PERSIAN ART.
§ 1. Civil Architecture[147]
§ 2. Sculpture[159]
§ 3. Painting and Enamelling[167]
§ 4. Religious and Sepulchral Monuments[172]
§ 5. Engraved Stones and Ornaments[180]
[CHAPTER VI.]
THE HITTITES.
§ 1. Hittite Monuments in Syria[186]
§ 2. Hittite Monuments in Cappadocia[191]
§ 3. Hittite Monuments in Asia Minor[199]
[CHAPTER VII.]
JEWISH ART.
§ 1. The Temple of Jerusalem[205]
§ 2. The Decoration and Furniture of the Temple[223]
§ 3. Civil Architecture[230]
§ 4. Tombs[233]
[CHAPTER VIII.]
THE ART OF PHŒNICIA AND CYPRUS.
§ 1. Temples[239]
§ 2. Civil Architecture[246]
§ 3. Tombs[253]
§ 4. Phœnician Sculpture[262]
§ 5. Cypriote Sculpture[269]
§ 6. Phœnician and Cypriote Pottery[277]
§ 7. Phœnician Glass[283]
§ 8. Bronzes and Ornaments[288]
§ 9. Engraved Stones[294]
[CHAPTER IX.]
ARCHÆOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AT SUSA.
§ 1. M. de Morgan’s Mission in Susiana[299]
§ 2. Chronology of the Ruins According to Recent Discoveries[303]
§ 3. The Principles of Building[313]
§ 4. Stone Sculpture[316]
§ 5. Bronze Metal-Work[326]
§ 6. Jewellery and the Industrial Arts[331]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FIGURE PAGE
[1.]Brick from Tello [5]
[2.]Plan of the palace at Tello[9]
[3.]Section of pillar[10]
[4.]Corbelled vaulting at Mugheir[14]
[5.]Socket for pivot of door from Tello[18]
[6.]Terra-cotta cone from Tello[18]
[7.]Drainage pipe at Mugheir[20]
[8.]Foundation cylinder from Khorsabad[22]
[9.]Bas-relief from Tello[23]
[10.]Bas-relief from Tello[24]
[11.]The Vulture Stela[25]
[12.]The Vulture Stela[25]
[13.]The Vulture Stela[26]
[14.]Chaldæan head[27]
[15.]Chaldæan head[27]
[16.]Chaldæan statue[28]
[17.]Chaldæan statue[29]
[18.]Foot of Chaldæan vase[31]
[19.]Bas-relief from Tello[32]
[20.]Bas-relief from Tello[32]
[21.]The “Caillou Michaux”[34]
[22.]Stela of Marduk-nadin-akhi[34]
[23.]Chaldæan statuette in bronze[35]
[24.]Chaldæan statuette[36]
[25.]Canephoros of Kudurmapuk[37]
[26.]Chaldæan statuette in bronze[38]
[27.]Chaldæan statuette in terra-cotta[40]
[28.]Chaldæan statuette in alabaster[42]
[29.]Bas-relief on the tablet of the god Samas[42]
[30.]Chaldæan head in steatite[43]
[31.]Chaldæan cylinder[45]
[32.]Chaldæan cylinder[46]
[33.]Chaldæan cylinder[46]
[34.]Cylinder of Sargani[47]
[35.]Chaldæan cylinder[48]
[36.]Tomb at Warka[51]
[37.]Masonry at Khorsabad[53]
[38.]Section of wall at Khorsabad[53]
[39.]Vaulted and domed houses[56]
[40.]Vaulted drain[57]
[41.]Vaulted drain at Khorsabad[58]
[42.]Vaulted drain at Khorsabad. Slope of the bricks[59]
[43.]Façade with pilasters[62]
[44.]Base of column[62]
[45.]Assyrian capital[63]
[46.]Capital of Sassanian period from Warka[62]
[47.]Shrine with columns[64]
[48.]Base of small column[65]
[49.]Plan of Dur-Sarrukin[67]
[50.]Plan of the palace of Sargon[68]
[51.]South-eastern façade of the palace of Sargon[69]
[52.]Birds’-eye view of the palace of Sargon[71]
[53.]The staged tower of Khorsabad[75]
[54.]Temple of the god Haldia[77]
[55.]Walls of Babylon[80]
[56.]Chaldæan plan of a fortress[81]
[57.]Assyrian plan of a fortress[82]
[58.]Siege of a fortress[83]
[59.]Plan of a gate at Khorsabad[84]
[60.]Gate of Khorsabad[84]
[61.]Statue of Assur-nasir-pal[86]
[62.]Statue in the hareem at Khorsabad[87]
[63.]Stela of Samsi-Rammanu[88]
[64.]Stela of Assurbanipal[89]
[65.]Obelisk of Shalmaneser[89]
[66.]Assur-nasir-pal sacrificing a bull[91]
[67.]Genius with the beak of an eagle[92]
[68.]Two-winged genius[92]
[69.]Four-winged genius, Khorsabad[93]
[70.]Winged and human-headed lion[94]
[71.]Front face of a winged bull[95]
[72.]Battle scene[96]
[73.]The Assyrian army in a mountainous country[97]
[74.]Siege of a fortress[98]
[75.]Navigation scene[99]
[76.]Eunuchs[101]
[77.]Assurbanipal and his queen[102]
[78.]Jewish type from a bas-relief from the palace of Sennacherib[103]
[79.]Assurbanipal in his chariot[102]
[80.]Sargon[105]
[81.]Wounded lioness[107]
[82.]Slaves carrying a lion and birds. Bas-relief[108]
[83.]Envoy bringing apes as tribute[109]
[84.]Fragment of threshold, Kouyunjik[111]
[85.]Slaves dragging a winged bull[112]
[86.]Deer-hunt. Bas-relief[113]
[87.]Painting on plaster, Nimroud[115]
[88.]Portion of an enamelled archivolt at Khorsabad[116]
[89.]Enamelled brick, Nimroud[117]
[90.]Izdubar. Terra-cotta[122]
[91.]Head of a monster. Terra-cotta[122]
[92.]Tablet with figure of boar in relief[123]
[93.]The Divine Mother. Terra-cotta[124]
[94.]Istar. Terra-cotta[124]
[95.]Gates of Balawat[126]
[96.]Fragment of metal band of Balawat gates[127]
[97.]Bronze dish, Nimroud[128]
[98.]Assyrian archers[128]
[99.]Various forms of the Assyrian helmet[128]
[100.]Bronze lion[129]
[101.]Bronze siren[129]
[102.]Bronze siren[130]
[103.]The demon of the south-west wind[130]
[104.]Bronze plaque[131]
[105.]Bronze plaque[132]
[106.]Standard in a bas-relief from Khorsabad[133]
[107.]Foot of a piece of furniture[133]
[108.]Tent serving as the royal stable[136]
[109.]Sennacherib’s throne. Bas-relief[136]
[110.]Assyrian chariot[137]
[111.]Ivory plaque[137]
[112.]Assur-nasir-pal offering a libation[139]
[113.]Richly caparisoned horse and rider[140]
[114.]Assyrian deities carried in procession[142]
[115.]Archaic Assyrian cylinder[144]
[116.]Assyrian cylinder[145]
[117.]Assyrian cylinder[145]
[118.]Assyrian cylinder[145]
[119.]Median cylinder[146]
[120.]Platform of the palace of Cyrus[149]
[121.]Basement at Persepolis[150]
[122.]Gate and windows of the palace of Darius[151]
[123.]Persepolitan capital[153]
[124.]Plan of the Apadâna of Artaxerxes[154]
[125.]Susian capital restored[155]
[126.]Base of a column[156]
[127.]Façade of the Apadâna of Artaxerxes[157]
[128.]Cyrus. Bas-relief[160]
[129.]Bas-relief at Persepolis[161]
[130.]Bas-relief at Persepolis[162]
[131.]Bas-relief from Persepolis[163]
[132.]Bas-relief at Persepolis[164]
[133.]Bas-relief at Persepolis[165]
[134.]Portico at Persepolis[166]
[135.]The lion frieze[168]
[136.]Susian archer[169]
[137.]Polychrome decoration of the palace of Artaxerxes[171]
[138.]The tower of Jur. Restoration[173]
[139.]The Gabr-i-Madar-i-Soleiman[176]
[140.]Tomb of Cambyses I.[177]
[141.]Façade of tomb at Nakhsh-i-Rustam[178]
[142.]Cylinder of Darius[181]
[143.]Persian cylinder[182]
[144.]Persian seal[182]
[145.]Seal of Artaxerxes[182]
[146.]Persian seal. Conical[182]
[147.]Persian seal[183]
[148.]De Luynes’ bas-relief[184]
[149.]The lion of Marash[186]
[150.]Stela from Birejik[187]
[151.]Fragments of sculpture from Carchemish[188]
[152.]Bas-relief at Rum-Qalah[189]
[153.]Stela at Marash[189]
[154.]The sphinx of Euyuk[192]
[155.]Rock sculptures at Iasili-Kaïa[193]
[156.]Rock sculptures at Iasili-Kaïa[194]
[157.]Rock sculptures at Iasili-Kaïa[194]
[158.]Rock sculpture at Iasili-Kaïa[195]
[159.]Rock sculpture of Iasili-Kaïa[195]
[160.]Rock sculpture of Iasili-Kaïa[196]
[161.]Tomb of Gherdek-Kaïasi[196]
[162.]Sculpture at Iasili-Kaïa[198]
[163.]Rock sculptures at Ghiaur Kalesi[199]
[164.]Rock sculpture at Ibriz[200]
[165.]Rock sculpture at Nymphio[201]
[166.]Boss of Tarkudimme[203]
[167.]Hittite cylinder[203]
[168.]Site of the Temple on Mount Moriah[206]
[169.]Plan of Herod’s restoration[211]
[170.]The Jews’ Wailing-place[213]
[171.]The western door. Present state[215]
[172.]Interior view of the Double Gate[216]
[173.]Plan of Herod’s Temple[218]
[174.]Bird’s-eye view of Herod’s Temple[219]
[175.]The Altar of Burnt-offerings[221]
[176.]Egyptian naos and cherubim[225]
[177.]Egyptian ark and naos[225]
[178.]Egyptian table of offerings[226]
[179.]Seven-branched candlestick[226]
[180.]Capital of the bronze columns[227]
[181.]The brazen sea[228]
[182.]Movable basin[229]
[183.]The tomb of Abraham at Hebron[233]
[184.]Absalom’s tomb[234]
[185.]Sepulchral chamber at Medaïn Salih[235]
[186.]The monolith of Siloam[236]
[187.]Tomb in the valley of Hinnom[237]
[188.]Shrine at Ain el-Hayât[240]
[189.]Coin of Paphos[241]
[190.]Plan of the Giganteja[244]
[191.]Roman wall at Byrsa[245]
[192.]Terra-cotta house[248]
[193.]Plan of the harbours at Carthage[250]
[194.]Jetty of Thapsus[252]
[195.]Tomb at Amrith. Plan[253]
[196.]Tomb at Amrith. Section[253]
[197.]Sepulchral chamber at Amrith[254]
[198.]Mighzal at Amrith[254]
[199.]The Burj el-Bezzâk[255]
[200.]Chamber of the Burj el-Bezzâk[255]
[201.]The Burj el-Bezzâk. Restoration[255]
[202.]Section of a tomb at Saïda[256]
[203.]Entrance of a tomb at Gebal[256]
[204.]The sarcophagus of Eshmunazar[257]
[205.]Sarcophagus in human form[258]
[206.]Tomb at Amathus[260]
[207.]Sepulchral chamber at Amathus[260]
[208.]Plan of a tomb at Carthage[261]
[209.]Phœnician slab at Amrith[263]
[210.]Cypriote statue[265]
[211.]Votive stela from Carthage[266]
[212.]Stela from Lilybæum[267]
[213.]Stela of Hadrumetum[268]
[214.]Colossal head from Athieno[270]
[215.]The colossus of Amathus[272]
[216.]The priest with the dove[273]
[217.]Bas-relief of Heracles and Eurytion[274]
[218.]Sarcophagus from Amathus[275]
[219.]Phœnician chariot in terra-cotta[277]
[220.]Pygmy in terra-cotta[278]
[221.]Pygmy in terra-cotta[278]
[222.]Terra-cotta head from sarcophagus[279]
[223.]Astarte. Phœnician terra-cotta[279]
[224.]Terra-cotta from Cyprus[280]
[225.]Cypriote terra-cotta[280]
[226.]Cypriote terra-cotta[281]
[227.]Cypriote terra-cotta[281]
[228.]Mask from Carthage[282]
[229.]Terra-cotta mask from Carthage[282]
[230.]Transparent glass vase bearing name of Sargon[285]
[231.]Phœnician glass[287]
[232.]Glass vase from Jerusalem[288]
[233.]Patera from Palestrina[289]
[234.]Dish from Dali[290]
[235.]Handle of a bronze crater[291]
[236.]Phœnician gold ornament[292]
[237.]Phœnician earrings[293]
[238.]Cylinder in the De Clercq collection[294]
[239.]Cylinder in the British Museum[295]
[240.]Scarabæoid seal[297]
[241.]Scarabæoid seal[297]
[242.]Bone cylinder, showing the earliest stage of cuneiform writing[305]
[243.]Fragment of an Elamite tablet inscribed with arithmetical calculations[306]
[244.]Cylinder showing giants, lions, and bulls, glazed pottery[307]
[245.]Brick Column. Susa[315]
[246.]Triumphal stela of Naram-Sin[318]
[247.]Fragment of bas-relief representing figure of Negrito type[323]
[248.]Stela of Hammurabi, on which his code of laws is engraved[324]
[249.]Kudurru (unfinished), Kassite period[325]
[250.]Bronze bas-relief fragment[328]
[251.]Bronze statuette. Temple of Shushinak[331]
[252.]Gold and silver statuettes[332]
[253.]Silver mask. Elamite period[333]
[254.]Head-dress. Elamite period[334]
[255.]Figure of a woman, ivory[335]

ORIENTAL ANTIQUITIES.

CHAPTER I.
CHALDÆAN ART.