with which they varied these means of torture, and dwell with
complacency on the recital of their cruelties. "I constructed a pillar
at the gate of the city," is the boast of one of them; "I then flayed
the chief men, and covered the post with their skins; I suspended their
dead bodies from this same pillar, I impaled others on the summit of the
pillar, and I ranged others on stakes around the pillar."

Two or three executions of this kind usually sufficed to demoralise the
enemy. The remaining inhabitants assembled: terrified by the majesty of
Assur, and as it were blinded by the brightness of his countenance, they
sunk down at the knees of the victor and embraced his feet.*

* These are the very expressions used in the Assyrian texts:
"The terror of my strength overthrew them, they feared the
combat, and they embraced my feet;" and again: "The
brightness of Assur, my lord, overturned them." This latter
image is explained by the presence over the king of the
winged figure of Assur directing the battle.

[Illustration: 203.jpg TORTURES INFLICTED ON PRISONERS]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from one of the bas-reliefs of the
bronze gates of Balawat; on the right the town is seen in
flames, and on the walls on either side hangs a row of
heads, one above another.

The peace secured at the price of their freedom left them merely with
their lives and such of their goods as could not be removed from the
soil. The scribes thereupon surrounded the spoil seized by the soldiery
and drew up a detailed inventory of the prisoners and their property:
everything worth carrying away to Assyria was promptly registered, and
despatched to the capital.

[Illustration: 204.jpg A CONVOY OF PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES AFTER THE
TAKING OF A TOWN]

Drawn by Faucher Gudin, from Layard.

The contents of the royal palace led the way; it comprised the silver,
gold, and copper of the vanquished prince, his caldrons, dishes and
cups of brass, the women of his harem, the maidens of his household,
his furniture and stuffs, horses and chariots, together with his men
and women servants. The enemy's gods, like his kings, were despoiled
of their possessions, and poor and rich suffered alike. The choicest of
their troops were incorporated into the Assyrian regiments, and helped
to fill the gaps which war had made in the ranks;* the peasantry and
townsfolk were sold as slaves, or were despatched with thei