ASSUR AND NINEVEH. 171 
Bringer of the produce of the wooded heights.” The gate of 
Sin, whose name forms the first element of Sennacherib’s own 
name, was called “ Nannar (=Sin) the protector of the crown 
of my dominion,” the moon god being “lord of the crown” in 
Assyro- Babylonian mythology. What would correspond with 
the “water gate” was called “Ea, the director of my water- 
springs ” ; and the (Quay- gate was named “ The Bringer-in of the . 
tribute of the peoples.” Interesting, also, is the name of the 
gate Pakidat kalama, “The guardian of everything,” which was 
the gate of the tribute-palace or armoury—possibly a kind of 
museum wherein were placed all that the Assyrian king 
regarded as curious or precious in the way of tribute, gifts, and 
trophies. The identification of the fifteen Ninevite gates will 
add much to the interest attaching to the site of that ancient 
city. 
Following on this, Sennacherib described what he did in the 
way of constructing the outer wall named Bad-iig-erim-hulhula 
in the old Sumerian language, which he interprets as meaning 
“that which terrifies the enemy.” This wall was constructed with 
foundations of enormous depth—as far down, in fact,as “ the waters 
of the underground courses,” at which point blocks of stone were 
placed as a foundation, and it was then carried up to the height 
fixed upon for the coping with further massive blocks. The object 
of the wall’s great depth was to frustrate attempts at under- 
mining in case the city should be besieged—a vain precaution, 
if the accounts of the taking of Nineveh be true, for it is said 
that some part of the wall was undermined by one of the rivers 
flowing near, and fell down; and that it was through the breach 
thus formed that the allied forces of the Medes, “Babylonians, 
and others, entered. “ I made its work skilfully,” the king then 
says, as if satistied with what he had done. 
He then returns to the city itself, the area of which he 
enlarged, broadening its open spaces, and making it bright “ like 
the day” —an improvement which Oriental cities often need. 
Above and below the city he then constructed plantations, and 
placed therein the vegetation of the mountains and the countries 
around—all the sweet-smelling herbs of the land of Heth 
(Palestine and Pheenicia), and certain plants called murri, 
among which, more than in their native places, fruitfulness 
increased. ‘These and other plants he set therein, and planted 
them for his subjects—probably the higher, rather than the 
lower, classes of his people. A description of what he did to 
improve the water-supply for these plantations, and wherewith, 
at the same time, apparently, he watered all the people’s orchards, 
