The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 4: Babylon: The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations.Rawlinson, George
History
The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 4: Babylon: The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations.
there is still, such an amount of difference as renders it tolerably
easy to distinguish between the productions of the two nations. The eye
is larger, and not so decidedly almond-shaped; the nose is shorter, and
its depression is still more marked; while the general expression of the
countenance is altogether more commonplace.
These differences may be probably referred to the influence which
was exercised upon the physical form of the race by the primitive
or Proto-Chaldaean element, an influence which appears to have
been considerable. This element, as has been already observed, was
predominantly Cushite; and there is reason to believe that the Cushite
race was connected not very remotely with the negro. In Susiana, where
the Cushite blood was maintained in tolerable purity--Elymseans and
Kissians existing side by side, instead of blending together--there was,
if we may trust the Assyrian remains, a very decided prevalency of a
negro type of countenance, as the accompanying specimens, carefully
copied from the sculptures, will render evident. [PLATE IX., Fig. 6.]
The head was covered with short crisp curls; the eye was large, the nose
and mouth nearly in the same line, the lips thick. Such a physiognomy
as the Babylonian appears to have been would naturally arise from an
intermixture of a race like the Assyrian with one resembling that which
the later sculptures represent as the main race inhabiting Susiana.
Herodotus remarks that the Babylonians wore their hair long; and this
remark is confirmed to some extent by the native remains. These in
general represent the hair as forming a single stiff and heavy curl at
the back of the head (No. 3). Sometimes, however, they make it take the
shape of long flowing locks, which depend over the back (No. 1), or
over the back and shoulders (No. 4), reaching nearly to the waist.
Occasionally, in lieu of these commoner types, wo have one which closely
resembles the Assyrian, the hair forming a round mass behind the head
(No. 2), on which we can sometimes trace indications of a slight wave.
[PLATE X., Fig. 1.] The national fashion, that to which Herodotus
alludes, seems to be represented by the three commoner modes. Where
the round mass is worn, we have probably an Assyrian fashion, which the
Babylonians aped during the time of that people’s pre-eminence.
[Illustration: PLATE X.]
Besides their flowing hair, the Babylonians are represented frequently
with a large beard. This is generally longer than the Assyrian,
descending nearly to the waist. Sometimes it curls crisply upon the
face, but below the chin depends over the breast in long, straight
locks. At other times it droops perpendicularly from the cheeks and the
under lip.15 Frequently, however, the beard is shaven off, and the whole
face is smooth and hairless.
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