Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 42033-h.htm or 42033-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42033/42033-h/42033-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42033/42033-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See http://archive.org/details/assyriaitsprince00saycuoft Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Characters in small capitals were replaced as all capitals. [Illustration: MONOLITH OF SHALMANESER II. (_From the original in the British Museum._)] By-Paths of Bible Knowledge. VII. ASSYRIA ITS PRINCES, PRIESTS, AND PEOPLE. by A. H. SAYCE, M.A. Deputy Professor of Comparative Philology, Oxford, Hon. LL.D. Dublin, etc. Author of 'Fresh Light from the Ancient Monuments,' 'An Introduction to Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther,' etc. London: The Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster Row, 65, St. Paul's Churchyard, and 164, Piccadilly. 1885. CONTENTS. PAGE List of Illustations 6 Preface 7 Chronological Table of the Kings of Assyria 17 Table of Biblical Dates according to Assyrian Monuments 19 I. The Country and People 21 II. Assyrian History 27 III. Assyrian Religion 55 IV. Art, Literature, and Science 86 V. Manners and Customs; Trade and Government 122 Appendix 146 Index 153 Index of Scripture References 166 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Monolith of Shalmaneser II. (from the original in the British Museum) Frontispiece Assur-bani-pal and his Queen. (from the original in the British Museum) 49 Nergal. (from the original in the British Museum) 65 Fragment now in the British Museum showing primitive Hieroglyphics and Cuneiform Characters side by side. 93 An Assyrian Book. (from the original in the British Museum) 99 Part of an Assyrian Cylinder containing Hezekiah's Name. (from the original in the British Museum) 104 Assyrian King in his Chariot. 125 Siege of a City. 127 PREFACE.