Pleasant Mornings at the British Museum; Or, Memorials of By-Gone Ages Historical Department (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858* Excerpt: ...and 'doleful creatures' reputed to haunt its mounds; while there is such 'violence in the land, ruler being against ruler, ' that it is extremely difficult to pursue any researches in that region. It seems almost one vast swamp; for the river has so often overflowed, and the country is so intersected with a net-work of canals, that now the ancient dams and embankments are entirely neglected, the ruin of the land seems complete. The broad walls of Babylon are no longer distinguishable, and every fresh traveller confirms the report of his predecessors, that it is the picture of dreariness and desolation--' a place for the dens of lions, and the resort of bats, owla, cormorants, ' and similar wild creatures. "The 'ravenous bird from the east, ' in the person of Cyrus, after two years' patient investment, conquered the city on which Nebuchadnezzar had prided himself. This emblem of the eagle and the ravenous bird seems singularly appropriate to this region. Tou may observe how frequently it attends the army in the sculptures; sometimes bearing a head of the slain: sometimes other portions of the body. Among the Persians, falcons were trained not only to attack game, but men; and as they invariably pounce upon the head, and aim at the eyes of their victims, it can easily be imagined what formidable auxiliaries they could be. Hawking is a constant mode of hunting the gazelle to this day in Mesopotamia, where Mr. Layard describes their training, by placing their food on the head of a stuffed gazelle, precisely as is related of the ancient Persian plans. "The conquests of part of Persia, Asia Minor, See Mr. Layard's " Second Visit." etc. by Alexander the Great, are chronicled either on the coins we will examine another day, or in the ancient Greek...