117 
NIMROUD ROOM. 
The Sculptures contained in this Room were procured by Mr. 
Layard, in Mesopotamia, chiefly from ruins now called Nimroud, a 
few miles below Mosul, on the Tigris, during the years 1846 and 1847. 
The nation is indebted to the private munificence of Sir Stratford 
Canning for the first assistance which was offered to Mr. Layard in the 
prosecution of his interesting researches. 
The sculptures in the following catalogue are described as they are 
at present placed in the Room. Numbers will be attached to them, 
and fuller descriptions given, when other large additions to the collec¬ 
tions which are expected shall have arrived. 
On entering the Room, 
In the First Compartment to the Left are— 
1. A slab containing two figures standing, between whom is the 
sacred tree. The figures are draped to the feet, and wear a horned 
cap; the right, hand of each is raised and extended towards the tree, 
the left holds a chaplet. N. W. Edifice. 
2. A slab containing two figures of Nisroch (?); the right hand raised, 
holding a fir cone, the left holding a square vessel or basket, between 
them the sacred tree. 
3. A slab on which is the same tree, between two kneeling figures. 
N. W. Edifice. 
4. A slab containing a procession of the return of the king from 
a bull hunt; he stands facing five figures, who are approaching him ; 
one of the figures has his hands crossed in the usual Oriental attitude 
of attention—two others are playing upon musical instruments. Behind 
the king is an eunuch, with the umbrella, and three warriors of 
his guard; at his feet is a dead bull. N. W. Edifice. 
In the Second Compartment are— 
1. A slab containing a battle scene. The king is in his chariot at 
full gallop. Above him is the symbol of divinity, the ferouher or 
winged figure in a circle. Before him are four warriors, three in the 
act of discharging their arrows backwards. Below him is a dead 
figure pierced by two arrows; on the plain in the distance is another 
dead body devoured by an eagle. N. W. Edifice. 
2. Is a continuation of the same scene. Two chariots are repre¬ 
sented, each containing two figures; from the centre of each chariot 
proceeds a standard, consisting in one case, of some mythical repre¬ 
sentation, and in the other of the ferouher. Before the chariots are 
three warriors, two of whom are discharging their arrows backwards. 
N. W. Edifice. 
3. A slab with the siege of a town or castle, containing three tiers of 
embattled walls, on which warriors are seen discharging arrows, and 
others on the plain without; an inclined plane, supporting a battering 
ram with its covering to protect the besiegers, rests against the outer 
wall; figures are falling from the walls, and two are recumbent at the 
base of the external one; within the walls and in the plain are two 
date palm trees. 
4. Is a slab with two warriors standing and discharging arrows. 
Before them is a lake, on the banks of which grow T three trees; a 
portion of a tower is visible on the upper edge of the lake. 
