e forsaken just as
the palaces of previous dynasties had been, and it was hoped that
inscriptions concealed in this manner would run a better chance of
escaping the violence of man or the ravages of time; preserved in them,
the memory of Sargon would rise triumphant from the ruins. The gods
reigned supreme over the north-east angle of the platform, and a large
irregular block of buildings was given up to their priests; their cells
contained nothing of any particular interest, merely white walls and
black plinths, adorned here and there with frescoes embellished by
arabesques, and pictures of animals and symbolical genii. The _ziggurat_
rose to a height of some 141 feet above the esplanade. It had seven
storeys dedicated to the gods of the seven planets, each storey being
painted in the special colour of its god--the first white, the second
black, the third purple, the fourth blue, the fifth a vermilion red;
the sixth was coated with silver, and the seventh gilded. There was no
chamber in the centre of the tower, but a small gilded chapel probably
stood at its base, which was used for the worship of Assuf or of Ishtar.
The harem, or _Bit-riduti_, was at the southern corner of the enclosure,
almost in the shadow of the _ziggurat_. Sargon had probably three queens
when he founded his city, for the harem is divided into three separate
apartments, of which the two larger look out on the same quadrangle.

[Illustration: 408.jpg THE ZIGGURAT AT DUR-SHARRUKIN]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from the restoration by Thomas, in Place.

Two courses of enamelled bricks ran along the base of the facade, while
statues were placed at intervals against the wall, and the bay of the
gateway was framed by two bronze palm trees gilt: the palm being the
emblem of fruitfulness and grace, no more fitting decoration could have
been chosen for this part of the building. The arrangement was the same
in all three divisions: an ante-chamber of greater width than length;
an apartment, one half of which was open to the sky, while the other
was covered by a half-dome, and a flight of twelve steps, leading to
an alcove in which stood a high wooden couch. The queens and princesses
spent their lives in this prison-like _bit-riduti_: their time was taken
up with dress, embroidery, needlework, dancing and singing, the
monotony of this routine being relieved by endless quarrels, feuds,
and intrigues. The male children remained in the harem until the age
of