154 
ASSYRIAN GALLERIES. 
West extremity of the Great Mound, dedicated to the God of War. 
Nos. 27-29 stood originally, as here, at right angles to each other. 
No. 27 being on the external wall of the building, and Nos. 28 and 29 
on the side of a doorway leading to one of the c.hambers. On the 
opposite side w^as a similar group, of which the return slab on the 
external wall (No. 32) was alone removed by Mr. Layard. 
27. Figure, apparently of a priest, richly attired, with flowers on 
his head, and in his right hand a branch with three blossoms. 
28, 29. A four-winged male figure, wearing the triple-horned cap, 
and brandishing thunderbolts, pursues at full speed a monster with the 
head and body of a lion, but with horns, wings, and the feet and tail 
of an eagle, who is represented with remarkable spirit, ramping, and 
angrily snarling. In the original position of this bas-relief, at the en¬ 
trance of the temple, it would obviously typify the extrusion of the 
Evil Spirit. At the back of the two slabs is the standard inscription 
of the monuments of Ashurakhbal, which was hidden, anciently, against 
the wall. Both slabs were found shattered, into fragments, and their 
surface dilapidated by the action of the fire, in which the building 
perished. 
29*. A restoration, painted in chiaroscuro, of the figure upon the 
slab which originally occupied the position corresponding to this: 
part of the fir-cone, the basket, and right foot, remain on the edge 
of No. 29. The subject is the same as that of No. 30, turned in the 
opposite direction. 
30. Slab found immediately adjoining the Good and Evil Spirit 
on the opposite side of the same doorway, and within the chamber. It 
represents a Fish-God, perhaps a form of Dagon ; his cap is shaped 
behind into the head of a fish, whose body descends to his waist; in 
his left hand is the mystic basket, and his right held the fir-cone, 
sculptured on the return of the slab flanking the doorway. The back 
of this bas-relief has also an inscription, running across the middle ; a 
cast of it (30*) is placed at the side. The slab itself has suffered like 
the two preceding. 
31. Winged male figure, with a garland on his head, and in his 
left hand a branch with blossoms, as if for sacrifice. From the North- 
West Edifice. 
32. A similar figure, but on a larger scale, and without wings, 
from the exterior wall of the Temple, originally the return slab on 
the opposite side of the doorway to the group already described, the 
counterpart of No. 27. 
The remaining sculptures in this room are all from the North-West 
Edifice. 
33. Winged male figure, with the head of an eagle, holding the 
fir-cone and basket, sumptuously attired in embroidered and fringed 
robes, and elaborately finished. It has been supposed to represent the 
Assyrian God, Nisroch. 
34. Similar figure, turned in the opposite direction. 
35. Female figure, with four wings, a double-horned cap, and a 
profusion of ornaments round her neck, holding in her left hand a 
necklace, probably as a sacrificial offering, On the eyes may be ob¬ 
served remains of colour. 
36. A slab belonging originally to the North-West Edifice, but 
