Graham's Magazine, Vol. XLI, No. 6, December 1852Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XLI, No. 6, December 1852
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
“As I had expected, the report of the discovery of the gigantic head,
carried by the terrified Arab to Mosul, had thrown the town into
commotion. He had scarcely checked his speed before reaching the bridge.
Entering breathless into the bazars, he announced to every one he met
that Nimrod had appeared. The news soon got to the ears of the cadi,
who, anxious for a fresh opportunity to annoy me, called the mufti and
the elema together, to consult upon this unexpected occurrence. Their
deliberations ended in a procession to the governor, and a formal
protest, on the part of the Musulmans of the town, against proceedings
so directly contrary to the laws of the Koran. The cadi had no distinct
idea whether the bones of the mighty hunter had been uncovered, or only
his image; nor did Ismail Pasha very clearly remember whether Nimrod was
a true-believing prophet or an infidel. I consequently received a
somewhat unintelligible message from his excellency, to the effect that
the remains should be treated with respect, and be by no means further
disturbed, and that he wished the excavations to be stopped at once, and
desired to confer with me on the subject.
“I called upon him accordingly, and had some difficulty in making him
understand the nature of my discovery. As he requested me to discontinue
my operations until the sensation in the town had somewhat subsided, I
returned to Nimroud and dismissed the workmen, retaining only two men to
dig leisurely along the walls without giving cause for further
interference. I ascertained by the end of March the existence of a
second pair of winged human-headed lions,[4] differing from those
previously discovered in form, the human shape being continued to the
waist and furnished with arms. In one hand each figure carried a goat or
stag, and in the other, which hung down by the side, a branch with three
flowers. They formed a northern entrance into the chamber of which the
lions previously described were the southern portal. I completely
uncovered the latter, and found them to be entire. They were about
twelve feet in height, and the same number in length. The body and limbs
were admirably portrayed; the muscles and bones, although strongly
developed to display the strength of the animal, showed at the same time
a correct knowledge of its anatomy and form. Expanded wings sprung from
the shoulder and spread over the back; a knotted girdle, ending in
tassels, encircled the loins. These sculptures, forming an entrance,
were partly in full and partly in relief. The head and fore-part, facing
the chamber, were in full; but only one side of the rest of the slab was
sculptured, the back being placed against the wall of sun-dried bricks.
That the spectator might have both a perfect front and side view of the
figures, they were furnished with five legs; two were carved on the end
of the slab to face the chamber, and three on the side. The relief of
the body and three limbs was high and bold, and the slab was covered, in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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