72 
DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES. 
[ground 
sculptured under Ashurbanipal, and represent the victories of 
that monarcli over the Elamites, or inhabitants of Susiana. 
The first three slabs (Nos. 45-47) represent the battle, a scene of in- 
extricable confusion, occurring near a river, probably the Eulteus. The 
Assyrians, who are all well armed against an enemy comparatively de- 
fenceless, appear throughout not merely victorious, but even exempt 
from individual injury. The remaining three slabs exhibit the recep- 
tion of the vanquished by Ashurbanipal and his officers, the submission 
of the Elamite chiefs, and the tortures inflicted on many of the 
prisoners. On slab No. 50 is seen a city at the confluence of two 
rivers, perhaps Shushan, or Susa, between the Eulseus and Shahpur ; 
it presents a curious general view of an Asiatic town. 
The remaining bas-reliefs in this room all belong to the 
period of Sennacherib. 
The next six (Nos. 51-56) formed originally part of a series illus- 
trating the architectural works of that king, including, probably, the 
construction of the very edifice from which the slabs were obtained. 
On Nos. 51 and 52 is seen the conveyance of a colossal human-headed 
bull, lying sideways on a sledge, which is propelled, over wooden 
rollers, partly by ropes in front, partly by a lever behind. On one side 
is a lofty mound, which labourers are erecting with stones or earth, and 
which is perhaps designed for the platform of the future palace. The 
workmen are guarded by soldiers, and superintended by Sennacherib 
himself, in a chariot drawn by two men. A similar mound is repre- 
sented on Slab No. 53, with an adjoining stone-quarry or clay-pit, where 
the materials of construction are prepared. On No. 54 is a portion of 
a group moving some weighty object ; on No. 55 another colossal bull, 
represented as before; and on No. 56 the monarch, in his chariot, 
directing some operation sculptured on a lost portion of the series. 
The background of the slabs exhibits men carrying axes, saws, ropes, 
and other implements ; and along the top are representations of the 
natural scenery of the country, Avater filled with fish, anglers floating 
on inflated skins, boats, banks lined with trees, and a jungle of reeds, 
in which are deer, and a wild sow with her young. 
Nos. 57-59, Across the middle of these slabs a broad river is 
represented as passing. On its further bank, nearly insulated by a 
smaller stream, is a city, besieged by the army of Sennacherib, whilst 
on the right is seen a long procession of captives, with cattle and other 
spoil. On the nearer bank appears the king in a chariot, amidst 
olficers and attendants, with a large collection of trophies and booty. 
No. GO. A human figure, with a lion's head, of uncertain meaning. 
In the centre of the room is an obelisk of white calcareous stone, 
discovered at Kouyunjik by Mr. Eassam, but originally executed for 
Sardanapalus the Great, an Assyrian king who reigned about two cen- 
turies before Sennacherib, and whose principal monuments are to be 
seen in the Nimroud collection, . It is covered with small bas-reliefs., 
representing the various exploits of the monarch. 
