9S 
ASSYRIAN ANTIQUITIES. 
[ground 
across the middle ; those with small figures have generally had 
inscriptions on the border above and below, though these have 
in man}^ instances been cut off in ancient times. The double 
row of slabs occupying the greater part of the West side is 
arranged exactly as in the original building, excepting that a 
break occurs in one place, where some slabs have been lost. 
The following are the most interesting subjects in this room, 
commencing on the left, or East side. The first eight slabs 
are from the North-west edifice : — • 
No. 19. Two persons, distinguished by their caps and pointed shoes 
as foreigners, bringing with them two monkeys, as tribute to some 
personage represented on a lost slab. 
No. 20. The king, Assur-nazir-pal, in a riolily-embroidered dress, and 
the cap distinctive of royalty, with a sword, of which the hilt is elegantly 
decorated with wrestling lions. 
Nos. 21-26. Six slabs, representing the king among his attendants, 
supernatural and human, apparently returned from battle or the chase. 
The large dimensions, elaborate execution, and almost perfect preserva- 
tion of this series, places it among the finest examples of Assyrian 
bas-relief. The figures are all sumptuously attired, their robes fringed 
and embroidered with sacred or mystical ornaments ; their sandals are 
painted in black and red, the bows of the eunuchs red, and the eyes of 
all of them black. It may be observed that the parts here indicated, 
together with the hair in some cases, and the necks, and edges of the 
mouths, of two men with lions' heads on two slabs hereafter mentioned, 
are the only objects on which colour is discernible in any of the Assyrian 
sculptures ; nor does the condition of the surface of those sculptures at 
all confirm the idea that the whole was originally covered with pigments. 
The succeeding slabs (Nos. 27-30) are from the small temple 
of the " God of War.'' Nos. 27 and 28 stood originally, as here, 
at right angles to each other, No. 27 being on the external 
wall of the building, and Nos. 28, 29, on the side of a door- 
way leading to one of the chambers. On the opposite side of 
the doorway was a similar group, of which the slab on the 
external wall (No. 32) was alone removed by Mr. Layard. 
Nos. 28, 29. A four-winged figure, with a three-forked thunderbolt 
in each hand, pursuing a monster or demon ; a composition which, from 
its repetition on each side the doorway, probably typified the extrusion 
of the Evil Spirit from the temple. Although shattered into fragments, 
and much decomposed by fire, these slabs still display considerable 
merit in design. 
No. 29*. A restoration of the slab which originally occupied the 
position corresponding to this, and the same in subject as the next. 
