150 
ASSYRIAN GALLERIES. 
North-West Edifice marked B in Mr. Layard’s ground plan of this 
ruin, and formed part of the frieze. Those on the opposite side are 
partly from other chambers of the same edifice, partly irom 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 had inscriptions 
generally on the border above and below. 
The following are the slabs from Chamber B, commencing from the 
West, or right-hand side of the South door: — 
1. A human figure with four wings, and triple-horned cap, sumptu¬ 
ously attired in embroidered and fringed robes; his right hand is raised 
in the attitude of worship, and in his left is a mace. 
2. Large bas-relief, sunk within a border or framework, representing 
two kings in richly-ornamented attire, apparently engaged in sacrifice, 
and each followed by a winged triple-horned figure holding in one 
hand the fir-cone, in the other the basket, employed in religious rites: 
between the kings is a mvstic tree, and above this, a ferouher , or 
Divine image in a winged circle. In front of this bas-relief, in its 
original site, was a large slab, serving as a throne or altar. 
The four next slabs, both in the upper and lower tier, formed origin¬ 
ally, as here, a continuous series. 
3 a. Bull-hunt. The king, from his chariot, thrusts a dagger into 
the neck of a bull which had apparently pursued him, and which, like 
all those here represented, shows only one horn, rising from the middie 
of his forehead; another bull lies transfixed with arrows; behind 
follows a horseman, leading a second horse by his side. 
3 0. Return from the bull-hunt. The king stands over a prostrate 
bull, with a cup in his hand ; one of his attendants fans him with a fly- 
flapper ; another shades him with a parasol; a third figure approaches 
with his hands cla-ped, m the Oriental attitude of respect ; two others 
play, with plectra , upon stringed musical instruments. 
4 a. Lion-hunt. The king draws his bow upon a lion which has 
planted his forepaws on the royal chariot; two attendants prepare to 
despatch the animal with daggers from behind; on the ground lies a 
lion pierced with arrows. The fighting lion, a figure sculptured with 
remarkable spirit, shows a claw T at the end of his tail. 
4 6. Return from the lion hunt. A composition similar to No. 3 b, 
but in place of the parasol-bearer four archers stand behind the king. 
5 a. This slab is unconnected in subject with those to which it was 
united. A city is represented, besieged by the Assyrian king; a 
battering-ram, worked from within a machine, assaults the walls, and 
is dislodging the stones; the machine, which is constructed of wicker¬ 
work, and runs upon six wheels, is surmounted by a tower, from which 
an archer, defended by a shield-bearer, is shooting on the besieged; 
behind the machine is the king, also shooting, and attended by two 
armour-bearers and an eunuch. The besieged, in return, discharge 
their arrows upon the assailants, whilst one raises his hand for a parley. 
The battlements of the city are serrated, and the gate is crowned by a 
semicircular arch. 
5 6. This slab forms one subject with No. 6 b. The king, attended 
by his parasol-bearer, with his chariot, waiting behind, receives the 
homage of the vanquished. With two arrows in his right hand, and a 
