FIG. 107.—Plan of the northern bastions, north-east of the Kasr.
AH Ancient wall of the Principal Citadel.
K Canal.
MH Wall of the Principal Citadel in the north.
MN Wall of the Northern Citadel.
ÖH Eastern wing of wall of Principal Citadel.
ÖN Eastern wing of wall of Northern Citadel.
PS Procession Street.
T Ascent by steps or ramps.
]
We have, on the contrary, followed the wall that turns to the east up to
the end (Fig. 107). It has a length of about 250 metres, guarded by
towers placed closely together, and a door in each mesopyrgion. It
represents therefore a site admirably adapted for sorties. The gateway
embrasures lie exclusively on the north. At the east the wall turns to
the south and joins with one leading from the Procession Street that has
not yet been examined in detail. All these eastern walls have been
destroyed from the point where they were cut through by the Persian
advanced wall down to a great depth, so that it is only with difficulty
that a few brick courses could be found above water-level. Above the
ruins there lies silt which was evidently formed by water passing over
it at some time. On this and immediately below the present level there
are remains of later houses either of mud brick or of burnt brick. A
little above the ruins, in the line of the northern wall, there was an
anthropoid clay coffin (see Fig. 200), the face represented with an
Egyptian beard. I believe that the Euphrates, as in Persian times it
worked its channel eastwards, thus placing the Kasr on the right bank,
first ruined these eastern walls and then formed a muddy peninsula with
their ruins, while the actual river flowed still farther east. This is,
however, not yet proved.
The position of the double walls that flanked the Procession Street is
described in the inscription on a great cylinder that we found on the
eastern slope of the Amran hill. It had been used there for some
technical purpose, and is much worn. The part that refers to our site
runs thus: “At that time I bethought myself to strengthen the stronghold
of Babylon. 360 ells of the land the sides (_or_ of the sides) of
Nimitti-Bel, the šalḫû of Babylon, I built as a protection from the
banks of the Euphrates to the left threshold of the Ištar Gate two
mighty walls of asphalt and burnt brick for a dûru like a mountain.
Between them I erected a terrace of burnt brick, and upon it a great
castle (?) as a dwelling-place of my kingdom. Of asphalt and burnt brick
I built high, joined (it) with the palace, which (lay) within the city,
and caused the dwelling of my lordship to be glorious. Besides, from the
right threshold of the Ištar Gate to the lower turru of Nimitti-Bel in
the east 360 ells broadside, (measured) from Nimitti-Bel, for
protection, a mighty dûru of asphalt and burnt brick I built mountain
high. The stronghold I strengthened with skill. The city of Babylon I
protected” (trans. by Weissbach).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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