Part 1
THE EXCAVATIONS AT BABYLON
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA MELBOURNE
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO DALLAS · SAN FRANCISCO
THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TORONTO
THE EXCAVATIONS AT BABYLON
BY ROBERT KOLDEWEY
TRANSLATED BY AGNES S. JOHNS
WITH 255 ILLUSTRATIONS AND PLANS
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON 1914
COPYRIGHT
PREFACE
It is most desirable, if not absolutely necessary, that the excavation of Babylon should be completed. Up to the present time only about half the work has been accomplished, although since it began we have worked daily, both summer and winter, with from 200 to 250 workmen. This is easily comprehensible when we consider the magnitude of the undertaking. The city walls, for instance, which in other ancient towns measure 3 metres, or at the most 6 or 7 metres, in Babylon are fully 17 to 22 metres thick. On many ancient sites the mounds piled above the remains are not more than 2 or 3 to 6 metres high, while here we have to deal with 12 to 24 metres, and the vast extent of the area that was once inhabited is reflected in the grand scale of the ruins.
The gradual progress of the excavations, important and stimulating as it is for the explorers, appears of less interest to those who take little share in it or who look back on it after a lapse of years. As such an excavation never affords any guarantee of further continuance, those points must first be settled which appear to be of the highest interest in view of the results already attained. Accordingly the site of the excavations varies at different times in a manner which is rarely voluntary, and must generally be regarded as a logical development dictated by considerations of inherent necessity. Here we shall only deal with the external sequence of the principal events.
The excavations were commenced on March 26, 1899, on the east side of the Kasr to the north of the Ishtar Gate. At my first stay in Babylon, June 3–4, 1887, and again on my second visit, December 29–31, 1897, I saw a number of fragments of enamelled brick reliefs, of which I took several with me to Berlin. The peculiar beauty of these fragments and their importance for the history of art was duly recognised by His Excellency R. Schöne, who was then Director-General of the Royal Museums, and this strengthened our decision to excavate the capital of the world empire of Babylonia.
By the end of 1899 the Procession Street of Marduk was opened up as far as the north-east corner of the Principal Citadel and a cross-cut was driven through the north front of the Principal Citadel.
1900. The Temple of Ninmach was excavated, January-March; the centre of Amran, where we ascertained the site of Esagila, April-November; and the centre of the Principal Citadel, June-July. The south-east part of the Southern Citadel as far as the throne-room with the ornamental and enamelled bricks was begun in July and continued till July 1901, while the following up of the Procession Street in the plain continued till November 1902.
1901. A cross-cut over the ridge of mounds between Kasr and Sachn was effected, February-April; the south-west building of the Kasr was examined, April-May; and the excavations at Ishin aswad with the Ninib Temple carried out, July-December.
1902. The Ishtar Gate was excavated, February-November; the temple “Z,” January-February; overlapping work at Borsippa, February-April; and Fara, June 1902–March 1903.
1903. The north-east corner of the Southern Citadel with the vaulted building was explored, December 1902–January 1904.
1904. The mounds of Homera were worked through with the Greek theatre, January-April; and the inner city wall was begun in April. In the Southern Citadel the excavation was carried farther west, and the eastern portion of the palace of Nabopolassar was excavated, April 1904–February 1905.
1905. The inner city wall was partially opened up, January-March. The excavations, by order of the Turkish Government, were temporarily deferred, April 7–June 23; the two mud walls to the north of the Southern Citadel were commenced in June, and the Sargon wall with the beginning of the Arachtu wall was verified.
1906. The western boundary of the Southern Citadel with the two bastions on the north-west was excavated, and also the moat wall of Imgur-Bel, the Persian Building, and the south-west corner of the Southern Citadel, till June 1907.
1907. From the Persian Building a long exploration trench was carried through the western quarter, December 1906–March 1907; the eastern ends of the two mud walls in front of the Ninmach Temple were excavated, June-October, and a small piece of the outer wall near Babil, June-July. In October the southern quay wall of the canal south of the Kasr was followed up farther and the excavations in Merkes were begun, which with varying degrees of activity have been carried on up to the present time, May 1912.
1908. The main work lay in Merkes. It led _inter alia_ to the uncovering of the earliest strata that have yet been reached and that belong to the period of the earliest Babylonian kings. In February, as a lengthy secondary piece of work, the opening up of Sachn was begun at the Tower of Babylon and lasted till June 1911. Also in July a cut was made through the quarter to the west of Sachn, which brought to light the Arachtu wall and the Nabonidus wall at this place.
1909. The main work still lay in Merkes, where the strata of the dwellings of Nebuchadnezzar’s period were laid bare in large connected areas.
1910. In January the main work was transferred to the north-east strip of the Kasr, where the northern ends of the two walls that flank the Procession Street were brought to light, that now—May 1912—are almost finished. Here also the lengths of wall that project eastwards were opened up. As an additional piece of work the following up of the Arachtu wall from the Kasr to Amran was begun with the embankment walls of Nebuchadnezzar and Nabonidus that lay in front of it, April 1910–January 1911; this led to the discovery of the stone bridge over the Euphrates, August-November. The researches in Merkes were carried on with the opening up of more private houses and the Temple of Ishtar of Agade, November 1910–October 1911. Also, as a secondary piece of work, the outer walls of the temple of Esagila were identified, December 1910–July 1911.
1911. The main work on the north-east corner of the Kasr was continued, and the great stone wall with the inscription of Nebuchadnezzar emerged in April. The secondary work of the previous year was, as we have already said, carried farther; for example, a considerable part of the network of streets in Merkes towards the south was traced.
1912. Besides proceeding with the digging at the north-east corner of the Kasr and at Merkes, the excavation was begun of the buildings with the great surrounding wall in the west of the Southern Citadel which had been cut by the exploration trench of 1907.
The digging is carried out by the general administration of the Royal Museums in Berlin, present Director-General His Excellency W. Bode, in conjunction with the Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft, President His Excellency von Hollmann, under the patronage of H.M. the Emperor of Germany.
For many of the translations of inscriptions I am indebted to the kindness of Professor Delitzsch.
My scientific collaborators were: W. Andrae, March 26, 1899–February 1, 1903; B. Meissner, March 26, 1899–April 13, 1900; F. Weissbach, February 22, 1901–February 22, 1903; A. Nöldeke, May 8, 1902–January 11, 1908; F. Baumgarten, May 8, 1902–March 26, 1903; F. Langenegger, March 29, 1903–September 23, 1905; J. Jordan, March 29–August 3, 1903; G. Buddensieg, March 24, 1904, until now; O. Reuther, October 16, 1905, until now; F. Wetzel, December 15, 1907, until now; J. Grossmann, December 24, 1907–January 10, 1908; K. Müller, May 13, 1909–February 29, 1912.
Among the earlier explorers who have dealt with the ruins of Babylon are the following: 1811, Rich (_Narrative of a Journey to the Site of Babylon in 1811_, London, 1839); 1850, Layard (_Nineveh and Babylon_, London, 1853); 1852–1854, Oppert (_Expédition scientifique en Mésopotamie_, Paris, 1863); 1878–89, Hormuzd Rassam (_Asshur and the Land of Nimrod_, New York, 1897).
It involves no depreciation of the labours of our predecessors when we say that they are superseded in almost every detail by the results of our many years of excavations, so far as the knowledge of the city ruins are concerned, and thus it would hardly be worth while to controvert expressly their numerous errors.
Further, my view of the purpose of the various buildings has altered during the course of the excavations, especially in relation to the literary sources. This is the natural result of gradual progress in research, never working with conclusive material.
In addition to the continuous reports of the excavations in the _Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft_, the following have also been published in the _Wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft_: vol. i., Koldewey, _Die Hettitische Inschrift_, 1900; vol. ii., Koldewey, _Die Pflastersteine von Aiburschabu_, 1901; vol. iv., Weissbach, _Babylonische Miscellen_, 1903; vol. xv., Koldewey, _Die Tempel von Babylon_, 1911; all published by Messrs. J. C. Hinrichs, Leipzig.
The Babylonian inscriptions which are of importance to us will be found in the above-mentioned works, and also for the most part in the _Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek_ (E. Schrader), vol. iii. part ii. Berlin, 1890, and in the _Neubabylonische Königsinschriften_, S. Langdon, Leipzig, 1912. The latter work I only met with after the close of this present volume, so that I have not been able to make use of it.
For the convenience of the reader, an appendix is added giving the principal statements of the classical authors so far as they refer to Babylon.
ROBERT KOLDEWEY.
BABYLON, _May 16, 1912_.
For the English translation special thanks are due to Dr. GÜTERBOCK for the trouble he has taken in reading the proofs, and the courtesy he has shown in suggesting alterations in the difficult architectural terms.
The use of the term “moat wall” has been decided on for the massive brickwork of the fosse in preference to the word revetment as more accurately expressing the nature of the construction, although the expression is not used in describing modern fortifications.
AGNES S. JOHNS.
CAMBRIDGE, _April 1914_.
CONTENTS
PAGE
1. THE OUTER CITY WALLS 1
1. THE MOUND BABIL. CANALS. BRICK ROBBERS 6
1. GENERAL VIEW OF THE CITY 12
1. THE EUPHRATES AND ITS COURSE 16
1. THE KASR. THE ASCENT AND PROCESSION STREET 23
1. THE ISHTAR GATE. THE EXPANSION JOINT 31
1. THE WALL DECORATIONS OF BULLS AND DRAGONS 38
1. THE PROCESSION STREET SOUTH OF THE ISHTAR GATE 49
1. THE TEMPLE OF NINMACH. MUD WALLS LAID WITH REEDS 55
10. THE SOUTHERN CITADEL 65
11. THE EAST FRONT OF THE SOUTHERN CITADEL 68
12. THE EASTERN COURT OF THE SOUTHERN CITADEL 72
13. THE CENTRAL COURT OF THE SOUTHERN CITADEL 90
14. THE VAULTED BUILDING. HANGING GARDENS OF SEMIRAMIS 91
15. THE PRINCIPAL COURT OF THE SOUTHERN CITADEL 100
16. THE PALACE OF NABOPOLASSAR 113
17. THE FORTIFICATION WALLS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE PALACE OF NABOPOLASSAR 121
18. THE WESTERN EXTENSION 125
19. THE PERSIAN BUILDING. PERSIAN ENAMELLED BRICKS 127
20. THE WALLS OF THE FORTIFICATIONS AND QUAYS TO THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTHERN CITADEL 131
21. THE MOAT WALL OF IMGUR-BEL 132
22. THE ARACHTU WALL OF NABOPOLASSAR AND THE WALL OF SARGON THE ASSYRIAN 137
23. THE WESTERN OUTWORKS 144
24. THE THREE GREAT FORTIFICATION WALLS NORTH OF THE SOUTHERN CITADEL 145
25. THE INNER CITY WALL. NIMITTI-BEL CYLINDER 150
26. THE PRINCIPAL CITADEL. THE BASALT LION 156
27. THE FORTIFICATION WALLS OF THE PRINCIPAL CITADEL 169
28. THE NORTHERN CITADEL 174
29. RETROSPECT OF THE KASR 181
30. THE PERIBOLOS OF ETEMENANKI. THE TOWER OF BABEL 183
31. THE EUPHRATES BRIDGE 197
32. THE BRIDGE GATEWAY 199
33. THE WALL OF NABONIDUS 200
34. THE ARACHTU WALLS AT THE PERIBOLOS OF ETEMENANKI 202
35. ESAGILA, THE TEMPLE OF MARDUK 204
36. THE EASTERN ANNEX (B) OF ESAGILA 214
37. THE LATER BUILDINGS ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF AMRAN 215
38. THE OTHER PARTS OF THE HILL OF AMRAN IBN ALI 223
39. TEMPLE “Z” 223
40. EPATUTILA, THE TEMPLE OF NINIB 229
41. THE EXCAVATIONS TO THE NORTH OF THE NINIB TEMPLE 236
42. MERKES 239
43. THE SMALL OBJECTS, PRINCIPALLY FROM MERKES 244
44. THE GRAVES IN MERKES 271
45. THE TERRA-COTTA FIGURES 277
46. THE GREAT HOUSE IN MERKES 286
47. THE TEMPLE OF ISHTAR OF AGADE 296
48. THE GREEK THEATRE 300
49. THE NORTHERN MOUND OF HOMERA 308
50. THE CENTRAL MOUND OF HOMERA 310
51. RETROSPECT 311
52. APPENDIX 314
53. SMITH’S ESAGILA TABLET 327
PUBLICATIONS OF THE GERMAN ORIENTAL SOCIETY 328
INDEX 329
ILLUSTRATIONS
FIG. PAGE
1. Plan of the ruins of the city of Babylon _facing_ 1
2. Part of the outer city walls; ground-plan 3
3. Plan of the mound “Babil” 7
4. Section of a canal when newly constructed (B), and after long use (C) 8
5. View of the mound “Babil” 9
6. General view of Babylon, seen from the north-west 13
7. The Euphrates in 1911 17
8. The Euphrates, seen looking north from the Expedition House in 1907 17
9. A djird, opposite Kweiresh 20
10. Arab at work on a canal in the neighbourhood of Babylon 21
11. The hooked plough in Babylon 21
12. Doorway of the Expedition House in Kweiresh 22
13. Plan of the Kasr 23
14. Paving block of the Procession Street 25
15. Beginning of the excavations on March 26, 1899, with the pavement of the Procession Street on the east side of the Kasr 27
16. The lion of the Procession Street _Coloured plate, facing_ 28
17. Cross-section of a lion relief (B) and of an Assyrian relief (A) 29
18. Eastern end of the mud-brick wing, at the Ishtar Gate, from the north 32
19. General view of the Ishtar Gate from the north 33
20. Gold plaque from grave in the Nabopolassar Palace 34
21. Section through the Ishtar Gate 35
22. Grooved expansion joints at the Ishtar Gate 36
23. View of the Ishtar Gate from the west 37
24. The two eastern towers of the Ishtar Gate 39
25. Enamelled reliefs at the Ishtar Gate, beginning of excavations, April 1, 1902 40
26. The bull of the Ishtar Gate _Coloured plate, facing_ 43
27. A bull, not enamelled 43
28. Inscription from the Ishtar Gate 44
29. Enamelled wall length of the Ishtar Gate _Coloured plate, facing_ 45
30. The enamelled piece of wall 45
31. The sirrush of the Ishtar Gate _Coloured plate, facing_ 47
32. A sirrush, not enamelled 47
33. Leg of a sirrush and of a raptorial bird 48
34. Limestone projectiles 50
35. Canal to the south of the Kasr 51
36. View of Procession Street, east of Etemenanki 53
37. Inscription referring to Procession Street 54
38. Ground-plan and section of Ninmach Temple 56
39. Bronze ferrule of doorpost, Emach 57
40. Court in Ninmach Temple 58
41. Emach cylinder inscription of Sardanapalus 60
42. Kisu inscription of Emach 61
43. Reconstruction of Southern Citadel, from the north 66
44. Complete plan of Southern Citadel 67
45. Arched doorway in Southern Citadel 69
46. Eastern part of Southern Citadel 73
47. An alabastron 74
48. Brick stamps of Nebuchadnezzar 76
49. Stamped brick of Nebuchadnezzar, omitting father’s name 77
50. Brick stamp of Evil-Merodach 78
51. Brick stamps, Nebuchadnezzar, Neriglissar, and Nabonidus 79
52. Aramaic addition on Nebuchadnezzar brick 80
53. Aramaic addition on Nebuchadnezzar brick 81
54. Excavations in Southern Citadel, from the north 83
55. The six-lined Lebanon inscription from Southern Citadel 85
56. The eight-lined standard inscription from Southern Citadel 85
57. Inscribed bricks in situ, Southern Citadel 87
58. Base of column, Southern Citadel 89
59. Vaulted Building, from the south-west 92
60. Arches of the Vaulted Building 93
61. Abutments of arches of the Vaulted Building 94
62. Section through the Vaulted Building 95
63. The central part of the Southern Citadel 101
64. Decoration of the Throne-Room _Coloured plate, facing_ 104
65. Position marks on the enamelled bricks 105
66. Bases of late columns in court 36, Southern Citadel 109
67. Ramps between the Nebuchadnezzar and Nabopolassar Palaces 111
68. Space between the Nabopolassar Palace and Citadel wall, on the south 115
69. North wall of the Nabopolassar Palace 117
70. Statuette of Papsukal in Nabopolassar Palace 119
71. Wall of two-ridged bricks in Southern Citadel 120
72. Door in south wall of Southern Citadel 121
73. South wall of Nabopolassar Palace, from the west 122
74. Foundation of fortification wall north of the Southern Citadel 123
75. Drains between Southern Citadel wall and the mud wall 124
76. Western part of the Southern Citadel 126
77. Apadana of Xerxes in Persepolis 128
78. Inscription from the Persian building 129
79. Base of column from Persian building 129
80. Enamelled artificial block from Persian building _Coloured plate, facing_ 130
81. The north-west corner of the Southern Citadel 132
82. The moat wall of Imgur-Bel, west of the Southern Citadel 133
83. Inscribed brick from the moat wall of Imgur-Bel 134
84. Trench west of the Southern Citadel, during excavation 134
85. Trench west of the Southern Citadel, completely excavated 135
86. Inscribed brick from the Sargon wall 138
87. Section through fortification walls north of the Southern Citadel 139
88. Stamped brick of Nabopolassar’s Arachtu wall 140
89. Inscribed brick of Nabopolassar’s Arachtu wall 141
90. Chiselled brick of Nabopolassar’s Arachtu wall 142
91. View of north-west corner of the Southern Citadel, with the Arachtu walls 143
92. Space between the two mud walls 149
93. Northern end of the inner city wall, from the south-east 151
94. System of the inner city walls 152
95. Drain in the inner city wall 153
96. Nimitti-Bel foundation cylinder of Sardanapalus 154
97. Drain through inner city wall 155
98. Brickwork blocks in the Principal Citadel 157
99. Inscribed paving blocks—above, Evil-Merodach; below, Nebuchadnezzar 159