The central mass of crude brick has preserved its casing of red tiles, cemented with bitumen, almost intact up to the top; it is strengthened by buttresses--nine on the longer and six on the shorter sides--projecting about a foot, which relieve its rather bare surface. The second story rises to the height of only 20 feet above, the first, and when intact could not have been more than 26 to 30 feet high.* Many bricks bearing the stamp of Dungi are found among the materials used in the latest restoration, which took place about the VIth century before our era; they have a smooth surface, are broken here and there by air-holes, and their very simplicity seems to bear witness to the fact that Nabonidos confined himself to the task of merely restoring things to the state in which the earlier kings of Uru had left them.** [Illustration: 135.jpg THE TEMPLE OF URU IN ITS PRESENT STATE, ACCORDING TO TAYLOR] Facsimile, by Faucher-Gudin, of the drawing published by Taylor. * At the present time 14 feet high, plus 5 feet of rubbish, 119 feet long, 75 feet wide (Loftus, _Travels and Researches in Olialdsea and Susiana_, p. 129). ** The cylinders of Nabonidos describing the restoration of the temple were found at the four angles of the second story by Taylor. Till within the last century, traces of a third story to this temple might have been distinguished; unlike the lower ones, it was not of solid brickwork, but contained at least one chamber: this was the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary of Nannar. The external walls were covered with pale blue enamelled tiles, having a polished surface. The interior was panelled with cedar or cypress--rare woods procured as articles of commerce from the peoples of the North and West; this woodwork was inlaid in parts with thin leaves of gold, alternating with panels of mosaics composed of small pieces of white marble, alabaster, onyx, and agate, cut and polished. [Illustration: 136.jpg FURTHER VIEW OF THE TEMPLE OF URU] In Its Present State, According To Loftus. Drawn by Bouchier, from Loftus.