A HEXAU, OR TEMPLE. 97 
passage between too high walls. As I passed 
along this avenue, an involuntary shuddering 
seized me, on reflecting how often it had been 
trodden by the feet of those who relentlessly bore 
the murdered body of the human victim an offer¬ 
ing to their cruel idols. The upper terrace within 
the area was spacious, and much better finished 
than the lower ones. It was paved with flat 
smooth stones, brought from a distance. At the 
south end was a kind of inner court, which might 
be called the sanctum sanctorum of the tempi e 9 
where the principal idol used to stand, surrounded 
by a number of images of inferior deities. 
In the centre of this inner court was the place 
where the anu was erected, which was a lofty 
frame of wicker-work, in shape something like an 
obelisk, hollow, and four or five feet square at the 
bottom. Within this the priest stood, as the organ 
of communication from the god, whenever the 
king came to inquire his will; for his principal god 
was also his oracle, and when it was to be con¬ 
sulted, the king, accompanied by two or three 
attendants, proceeded to the door of the inner 
temple, and, standing immediately before the obe¬ 
lisk, inquired respecting the declaration of war, the 
conclusion of peace, or any other affair of import¬ 
ance. The answer was given by the priest in a 
distinct and audible voice, though, like that of 
other oracles, it was frequently very ambiguous. 
On the return of the king, the answer he had 
received was publicly proclaimed, and generally 
acted upon. I have frequently asked the people, 
whether, on these occasions, there was not some 
previous agreement between the king and the 
priest. They generally answered in the negative, 
or said they did not know. 
iv. H 
