KOUYUNJIK SIDE-GALLERY. 
145 
57—59. Three slabs from the great central hall of the palace, 
marked xix. in Mr. Layard’s plan; they represent the siege and 
capture of a city, situate on the further bank of a broad river. Round 
the back of the city (57), and nearly insulating it, flows a stream, or 
moat, whose banks are fringed with weeds. The invading army, 
having crossed this stream near its confluence with the river, occupy 
some open ground before the city. To the left is a horseman, armed 
with mail and helmet, and discharging an arrow at the w^alls; before 
him are two archers on foot, two warriors with spear and shield pre¬ 
paring for the assault, and another archer shooting from behind a 
screen held by a comrade. Next is seen the city, constructed, as 
usual, with embattled w^alis and tow'ers, but with square-headed, instead 
of arched, gates. The upper portion is mutilated, but from a remain¬ 
ing tower a wmunded man is falling: on the w’alls further on (58) 
appear two of the besieged, raising their hands in despair, or imploring 
mercy. The rot of this, and the succeeding slab, are occupied by 
a procession of prisonei's and spoil, without the city walls. The 
rear is brought up by a w’arrior on foot, with spear, shield, and crested 
helmet, apparently striking a manacled prisoner; before these is another 
such })risoner, with a driver; then a cart drawn by an ox, and contain¬ 
ing vessels and articles of furnituVe ; next, four women bearing skins and 
vestures, one of them carrying a child, and all preceded by a soldier. 
Then (59) appear some oxen, executed wath much spirit and truth ; and 
before them, another soldier, driving four male captives, w’ith wane-skins 
on their shoulders. Beyond the figures is seen a row of date-palms, in foil 
fruit. Below this scene, the river is carried across the whole in a 
broad band; it is, as usual, stocked wath fish and crabs. Along the 
bottom of the slabs is represented the nearer bank, upon w’hich the king 
and his army are returning from the contest, beside another avenue of 
palms. To the left (57) are two horses led by w'arriors in peaked 
helmets; then three eunuch warriors in similar helmets; then the king 
in a sumptuous chariot drawn by two richly-caparisoned horses; he is 
accompanied by a charioteer, and an eunuch bearing the parasol and 
fly-flapper, and is follow'ed on foot by an armed attendant w ith the mace : 
the yoke over the horses’ shoulders is surmounted by a kind of tablet, 
with a figure carved in relief, probably representing theor 
attendant deity. In front of the royal group are two attendants; 
then a file of soldiers (58) variously armed, and advancing to the spot 
w’here the spoil is collected (59). Here are seen captured spears and 
bows, couches, vases, goblets, &c. Below them is a pile of human 
heads, which two officers on the left (58) are registering, whilst on 
the right (59), a warrior is bringing in another with animated move¬ 
ments. Behind the latter a prisoner approaches, raising his hands for 
quarter, follow'ed by six others in couples, attached together by the 
wrist, and bearing on their shoulders wine-skins; amongst these is a 
soldier conducting them. 
60. The last slab is from the long gallery marked XLix. in Mr. 
Layard’s plan. It represents a figure of uncertain meaning, whether 
a mythical personage, or simply a mime or harlequin. The form is 
human, but with a lion’s head, and feathers on the neck. He is un¬ 
draped above the waist, but wears over his shoulder a sword-belt. His 
