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
“On the slabs Nos. 2 and 3 was represented the king holding a bow in one
hand and two arrows in the other. He was followed by his attendant
eunuch, who carried a mace, a second bow and a quiver for his use.
Facing him was his vizir, his hands crossed before him, also followed by
an eunuch. These figures were about eight feet high; the relief very
low, and the ornaments rich and elaborately carved. The bracelets,
armlets, and weapons, were all adorned with the heads of bulls and rams;
color still remained on the hair, beard, and sandals.
“No. 1, forming a corner wall, was a slab of enormous dimensions; it had
been broken in two: the upper part was on the floor, the lower was still
standing in its place. It was only after many ineffectual attempts that
I succeeded in raising the fallen part sufficiently to ascertain the
nature of the sculpture. It was a winged figure, with a three-horned
cap, carrying the fir cone and square utensil; in other respects,
similar to those already described, except that it had two wings rising
from both sides of the back and inclosing the person. Its dimensions
were gigantic, the height being about sixteen feet and a half, but the
relief was low.
“The first slab on the other side of the entrance contained a vizir and
his attendant, similar to No. 3. The succeeding slabs were occupied by
figures, differing altogether in costume from those previously
discovered, and apparently representing people of another race; some
carrying presents or offerings, consisting of armlets, bracelets, and
ear-rings, on trays; others elevating their clinched hands, either in
token of submission, or in the attitude still peculiar to Easterns when
they dance. One figure was accompanied by two monkeys, held by ropes;
the one raising itself on its hind legs in front, the other sitting on
the shoulders of the man, and supporting itself by placing its fore-paws
on his head.[9] The dresses of all these figures are singular. They have
high boots turned up at the toes, somewhat resembling those still in use
in Turkey and Persia. Their caps, although conical, appear to have been
made up of bands, or folds of felt or linen. Their tunics vary in shape,
and in the fringes, from those of the high-capped warriors and
attendants represented in other bas-reliefs. The figure with the monkeys
wears a tunic descending to the calf of the leg. His hair is simply
fastened by a fillet. There were traces of black color all over the
face, and it is not improbable that it was painted to represent a negro:
it is, however, possible that the paint of the hair has been washed down
by water over other parts of the sculpture. These peculiarities of dress
suggest that the persons represented were captives from some distant
country, bringing tribute to the conquerors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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