NIMROUD SIDE-GALLERY. 
153 
upon them from above ; others, with instruments resembling square- 
headed spears, or mounted celts, are making a breach below, and others 
again mining or cutting out the walls. Behind the battlements appear 
women tearing their hair; wounded and dead bodies are falling over. 
On the right the city is attacked by a battering-ram, worked from 
within a machine such as already described, but with no wheels visible. 
From the nearest turret or bastion (the upper part of which is lost) 
the besieged are lowering chains, or grappling irons, to catch the ram* 
and draw it upwards; two of the assailants, however, with hooks thrown 
over the engine, are keeping it down by their weight. The besieged,, 
again, are hurling firebrands on the machine, to ignite it.; but the 
Assyrians, through pipes carried in the tower of their machine, are 
playing water on the flames. Within this tower are two warriors assail¬ 
ing the besieged with arrows and stones. On the side of the battering 
machine is a carved representation of a ferouher shooting at the enemy. 
Behind it, archers standing, or kneeling, are discharging arrows towards, 
the city. A war-chariot, and two footsoldiers, are waiting, further to 
the right; and above are two eagles, one attacking a fallen body. 
16 a. Fragment of a male figure, with remains of colour on the 
hair and eyes, apparently engaged in a sacrificial rite; in his right 
hand is a flower, and on his head a garland, or band of rosettes. 
16 b. A battle-scene, in which an Assyrian warrior in his chariot 
is pursuing some fugitive horsemen, and discharging at them an arrow. 
One of the enemy turns, and extends his hand for quarter; another 
shoots, after the manner of the Parthians. A w T ounded man has fallen 
under one of the horses; another lies dead in the distance. A river, 
or stream, appears beneath the fugitives; in it is seen a fish. This- 
slab is much dilapidated from the action of w T ater. 
17. The last slab from Chamber B. A wfinged male figure, richly 
attired, is bringing offerings for sacrifice; on his right arm is a fallow 
deer, in his left hand a branch with five flowers. A similar subject 
was represented on the slab originally adjoining this on the left side, 
the two figures standing back to back; and a portion of the wing of 
the companion figure appears on this slab. 
Immediately on the other side of the North door are bas-reliefs from 
other chambers of the North- West Edifice. 
18. Winged male figure, in fringed and embroidered robes, with 
an ibex on his left arm, and in his right hand an ear of wheat. 
19. Two foreigners, paying tribute to some personage represented 
on a lost slab. Both these figures have shoes with high pointed toes, 
and one wears a cap not very unlike the Phrygian. The foremost i& 
raising his two hands in an attitude symbolical of deference or pacifi¬ 
cation ; the other has on his head and shoulders a monkey, retained 
by a noose, and is leading another monkey, similarly secured. Re¬ 
mains of black and white paint may be observed in their eyes. 
20. The king, Sardanapalus, or Ashurakhbal, standing with a staff 
or sceptre in his right hand, and his left resting on his sword; his 
robes are richly fringed, and their embroidery is represented by very 
delicate incised lines ; on his eyes and his sandals are remains of colour. 
Next follow six slabs from a chamber marked G in Mr. Layard’s 
Plan of the North-West Palace, which, from their superior dimensions, 
elaborate execution, and almost perfect preservation, may be reckoned 
