The Temple of RH rose in eight storeys of successively diminishing width, forming a terraced pyramid of about zoo metres (656 feet) at the base and of equal height, like those pyramidal structures which, serving either as tombs, like the Egyptian pyramids, or as sanctuaries or as astro nomical observatories, towered above the Assyrian palaces in whose ruins their remains are now found. We may believe that we have here the sacred number seven, corresponding to that of the planets, each stage bearing its characteristic color, while the eighth, or lowest, is but the vast terrace upon which the principal structure rests. The uppermost stage bore the temple with golden statues, together with a couch and a golden Nabopolassar of Babylon made himself independent 625 c., and Nineveh was destroyed about (.oS ED.
table for the god. A wall formed the enclosure of the temple, which is also known as the Tomb of Beim.
Babylonian among the huge mounds which mark the site of Babylon no remains of architectural value have as yet been found, we have reason to believe that the immense wall-masses of the ter raced buildings which were constructed of sun-dried brick had a covering of mosaic like that of which fragments have been found in the ruins of Warka, where the facade is partly covered with a diaper pattern formed of small wedges of baked clay pressed into a layer of asphalt, and partly with what was once a varicolored coating of plaster. In these wall-deco rations we behold a reminiscence of the rich tapestries for which Babylon was formerly famous; yet it is difficult at this time to obtain an approx imately correct restoration of the architectural monuments of Babylon except as exemplified by Assyrian or by the later Persian models.
Mills and speaks of a city wall which formed a square 120 stadia (14 miles) on each side, and was 5o royal cubits feet) wide and 200 cubits (37333 feet) high, and after examination of the Assyrian remains we have scarcely ground to doubt the correctness of the description. A hundred gates opened in this wall. A second wall, of less thickness than the first, but very little inferior to it in strength, enclosed an inner portion of the city, which was regularly laid out with streets crossing at right angles. The houses had three or four storeys. Among them were two royal palaces, the more ancient of which exceeded the newer in circuit. With it were connected those terraced hanging-gardens which rose to the height of the city wall and equalled it in breadth, and which Nebuchadnezzar built for his consort as a reminis cence of the mountains of her native Media. (See Vol. II. p. 147.)
Architectonic impression produced by the Assyrian and Babylonian palaces must have been one of great magnificence. The arrangement of the parts gave them an extraordinary appearance. The material aim and the ideal significance of such a royal palace found fullest expression. Yet purely architectonic features are almost entirely wanting; the wall-masses are not built to express any particular idea, nor is the appearance of strength aided by a division into members. Scarcely a trace of a cornice exists. The columns which supported the roof were not of substantial materials; all that remains are colossal masses of walling decorated with reliefs and painting and once crowned with an elaborate structure of wood.
The walls themselves, devoid of proper architectonic expression, might be called monumental draperies. Where the decoration stands in nearest relation to the architectonic constructive parts, and where usually an architectural language of forms must be.developed, as in the portals, this want is most conspicuous, and the fantastic decorations by no means com pensate for the lack of rational forms. The bulls which bear the arches are not architectural features; they are not the correct expression of a part of the building which fulfils a thoroughly statical purpose.
Though the architectonic features, when compared with the Egyptian, are remarkably deficient in the appearance of rational construction, the ornamentation, which was trained in the excellent school of the textile arts, is pure, noble, and full of beautiful forms. Though somewhat stiff in the representation of figures, it succeeds well in the conventionalization of plant-forms, and in the arrangement as well as in the combination of geometrical patterns with severely conventional plant-like ornament it reaches its climax. As a proof of this we represent that often-recurring niotrj; the so-called "tree of life" (pi. 3, jig. 13).
The Fall of prosperity was also short. First it became subject to the Medes, and then, about the middle of the sixth century B. c., the Persians issued from their monntain-fastnesses and over whelmed alike Mede and Babylonian. Cyrus took Babylon about 536 c., Darius razed the walls, and Xerxes destroyed the Temple of Bel, which Alexander the Great failed to rebuild. Both city and neighborhood fell into decay, and Babylon, like the great Nineveh before it, soon passed from the memory of man. But the Medes, and after them the Persians, adopted the ancient culture And expressed it in their monuments.