98 
ASSYRIAN ANTIQUITIES. 
[ground 
decorated with five tiers of bas-reliefs, each continued round the sides ; 
and the unsculptured surface is covered with cuneiform inscriptions^ 
which record the annals of Shalmaneser for thirty-one years, commencing 
about B.C. 860. The bas-reliefs illustrate the presentation of offerings- 
to the king by his numerous tributaries, and the inscriptions record the 
names of the donors, amongst whom are Jehu " of the house of Omri," 
the Israelitish king, and Hazael, the contemporary king of Syria. 
Against the columns are placed two tablets, with figures and inscrip- 
tions of Shalmaneser and Assur-izir-pal, found at Kurkh; on one Ahab 
is mentioned. 
The remainder of the Nimroud collection belono-s altoofether 
to the period of Assur-izir-pal, or Assur-nazir-pal, the earliest 
Assyrian monarch of whom any large monuments have been pro- 
cured, and who is believed to have reigned about B.C. 880. The 
sculptures were found by Mr. Layard partly in the ruins of an 
extensive edifice at the North-west quarter of Nimroud, and 
partly in two small adjacent temples of the same date, one of 
which was dedicated to the Assyrian " God of War." 
Beside the door into the Kouyunjik Gallery is a colossal lion, which,, 
with a companion figure, decorated the sides of a doorway in one of 
the small temples just mentioned. It is covered with inscriptions, 
and, like all the figures found in similar situations, provided with five 
legs, so as to appear perfect both from the front and the side. 
Near this stands a small statue, on its original pedestal, found in 
the same temple with the lion, and representing Assur-izir-pal. 
Of the remains of the North-west edifice the principal are two colossal 
figures, one a winged and human-headed lion, and the other a bull, not 
originally forming a pair, but taken from two different doorways. 
Though of smaller dimensions than usual, they are, both in delicacy* 
of execution and excellence of preservation, amongst the finest speci- 
mens of Assyrian art. 
The South door leads into the 
NIMEOUD GALLERY. 
This room contains a continuation of the series last de- 
scribed. The bas-reliefs on the West side were all found in one 
chamber of the North-west edifice. Those on the opposite- 
side are partly from other chambers of the same edifice, partly 
from the small adjacent temple of the "God of War.'' The 
slabs with large figures bear inscriptions running horizontally 
across the middle ; those with small figures have generally had 
inscriptions on the border above and below, though these have 
in many instances been cut off' in ancient times. The double 
