have formed a center, around which the principal chambers
in this part of the palace were grouped. Its walls had been completely
covered with the most elaborate and highly-finished sculptures.
Unfortunately, all the bas-reliefs, as well as the gigantic monsters
at the entrances, had suffered more or less from the fire which had
destroyed the edifice; but enough of them still remained to show the
subject, and even to enable him, in many places, to restore it
entirely."

Continuing his discoveries in the mound, Layard "opened no less than
seventy-one halls and chambers, also passages, whose walls, almost
without an exception, had been paneled with slabs of sculptured
alabaster, recording the wars, the triumphs, and the great deeds of
the Assyrian king. By a rough calculation, about 9,880 feet, or
nearly two miles of bas-reliefs, with twenty-seven portals formed by
colossal winged bulls and lion sphinxes, were uncovered in that part
alone of the building explored during his researches. The cut on page
435 shows some of them. The greatest length of the excavations was
about 720 feet, the greatest breadth about 600 feet. The pavement of
the chambers was from twenty to thirty-five feet below the surface of
the mound. The measurements merely include that part of the palace
actually excavated."

[Illustration: DISCOVERED IN THE PALACE.

EXPLANATION OF CUT.

1.} Figures from the portal of the palace of Sennacherib, having
2.} the forms of winged bulls with human heads, bearing crowns.
3. King Sennacherib on his throne. A sculpture found at Nimroud,
dating from the 7th century Before Christ.
4. A king on the hunt.
5. The storming of a fortress. In the foreground are two
warriors clad in armor, helmeted and heavily armed with
swords and spears.
6.} Vases of glass and alabaster engraved with the word Sargon.
7.} From Nimroud.
8. Vessel of glazed earthenware--, found at Babel.
9. Bronze drinking cup ornamented with the head of an animal.
10. Lamp of earthenware.
11. Stuff woven in patterns of Assyrian style. From relief at
Nimroud.
12. Table formed of fragments of sculptures found at Nimroud.
13.}
14.} Swords.
15.}
16. Bent sword.
17. Double edged ax.
18. Spear.
19. Quiver filled with arrows and elaborately sculptured.
20. Bow.
21.}
22.} Daggers and knife in one case