puberty, when they left it in order to continue their education as
princes and soldiers under the guidance of their father.*

* An inscription of Assur-bani-pal, gives a summary
description of the life led in the harem by heirs to the
throne, and describes generally the kind of education
received by them from their earliest childhood.

[Illustration: 409.jpg SECTION OF A BEDROOM IN THE HAREM]

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

This group of buildings was completed by a park, in which cedars of
Lebanon, pines, cypresses, gazelles, stags, wild asses and cattle, and
even lions, were acclimatised, in addition to a heterogeneous collection
of other trees and animals. Here, the king gave himself up to the
pleasures of the chase, and sometimes invited one or other of his wives
to come thither and banquet or drink with him.

After Mita's surrender, Sargon had hoped to be allowed to finish
building his city in peace; but an ill-advised movement in Kummukh
obliged him to don his harness again (708 B.C.). King Mutallu had
entered into an alliance with Argistis of Urartu, and took the field
with his army; but when details of what had taken place in Chaldaea
reached his ears, and he learnt the punishment that had been inflicted
on the people of Bit-Yakin, his courage failed him.

[Illustration: 410.jpg MAIN BOOK OF THE HAREM AT DUK-SHARRUKIN]

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

He fled without waiting for the Assyrians to appear, and so great was
his haste that he had no time to take his family and treasure with
him. Sargon annexed his kingdom, placed it under the government of
the _tartan_, and incorporated into his own the whole army of Kummukh,
including 150 chariots, 1500 horsemen, 20,000 archers, and 10,000
pikemen. In the following year (707) his vassal Dalta died, leaving two
sons, Nibi and Ishpabara, both of whom claimed possession of the fief of
Ellipi; Nibi appealed to Elam for help, and Ishpabara at once turned for
aid to Assyria. Sargon sent him a body of troops, commanded by seven
of his generals, while Shutruk-nakhunta lent his _protege_ 4500 bowmen;
Ishpabara won the day, took the city of Marubishti by storm, and
compelled his brother to take refuge in Susian territory. The affair
wras over so quickly that it caused practically no delay in the
completion of the works at the capital. The consecration of