1C8 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[Aug. 4, 



(.IKNT CHALDEAN STATLFI 



theory ia that all the?e statues were, in a ccrta.ii bcnse, votive, that 

 u to fav, they were placed in a temple or sacr.d place cither betoro 

 the imn'(?e of one of the deities, or of the symbols of their divmity. 

 Henco the attitude of humility was the sculptor's mode of express- 1 

 iDB his roliffious fervour, and this view is somewhat supported when 

 we recollect how frequently this is the position assumed by many 

 of the HRures exhibited by the Assyrian statuettes. 



One distinctive qualitv of tho Chaldean statues is the peculiar 

 character of tho proportions adopted by the sculptors, showing that, 

 at least in this respect, thev liad not attained to the perfect canons 

 prevalent at this pcriwl in Eforptian art. This is tho excessive 

 robustness and short or squat appearance of the figures. If, how- 

 ever, the execution is imperfect in this respect compared with that 

 of other races, it surpasses them in the tucccssful can-ing of the 

 node parts of the bo<ly and the manner in which the folds of the 

 raiment are indii-atcd, in these resfKjots heralding more nearly the 

 glories of the Greek masters than any other known prehistoric art. 

 The only clothing shown on the larger statues is tho largo fnngcd 

 shawl so often Uj be seen in Assyrian costume, but in these earlier 

 objecU the fringe is only oxprefiscd by a parallel line to show its 

 width, instead of being ornamented as in tho elaborate late Assyrian 

 work. In all cases the shawl is shown folded across tho body in a 

 similar style, so arrang(rd as to leave tho right arm and shoulder 

 nncovcred. Some of the small bronzo statuettes represent persons 

 clothed with a abort akirt, and in tho bas-relief containing tho 

 battlefield Fccne. with the detid lying on the ground; thero are 

 figorea clad in thia manner carrj-ing baskets on their heads which 

 they rapport with both hands, and, strange to gay, this is exactly tho 



attitude of tho statuettes found by M de Sarzeo, and also of some 

 which ha\o been discovered by previous o\ploier8. 



In concluKiou it may bo rointod out that excepting apparently 

 wilful injuries, these antiquiti'js are in ailniiiablo preservation, and 

 therefore we may be assured that whenever further researches are 

 made in the Mesopotamian delta, they will bo amply rewarded. 

 Scarcely a week passes but some valuable acquisition to know- 

 ledge is gathered from cuneiform inscriptions, such, for in- 

 Btanco, as I'rof. Saycc's discovery of a counterpart of ono of the 

 well-nigh unknown ancient Indian alphabets. In tho British 

 Museum are thousands of iuodited tablets, which are being 

 multiplied at a much greater pace than they can bo decyphorod and 

 published, and it is now evident that wo possess in these, and the 

 far richer treasures still buried beueath tho soil, more pnoelees 

 records of the progress of the human race than tho most ardent 

 archsoologist would have dared to hope for oven but ton years ago. 

 A Memubb ok the Society of Bihi.ical AKcnj-oLooY. 



AcciDKST FROM LioHT.siNO.— A telegram from New York, a few 

 davs since, stated that a large brick building in Texarkana, Arkan- 

 sas State. ha<l been struck by lightning, and subsequently fell ^ 

 an adjoining wooden building, used as a Iiqnor saloon complete^ 

 cmsliiiig it. The aalo«)n caught fire, and several people who were 

 in it at the time were killed. 



r Accidents of this kind aro of groat importance, and we ahonld 

 take it as a favour if any of our readers on hearing tho particn- 

 Inrs of disasters caused by lightuing would kindly send us the 

 information. — Eo.J 



