File:The five great monarchies of the ancient eastern world; or, The history, geography, and antiquites of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, and Persia (1862) (14803781323).jpg

Identifier: fivegreatmonarch011862rawl (find matches)
Title: The five great monarchies of the ancient eastern world; or, The history, geography, and antiquites of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, and Persia
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Rawlinson, George, 1812-1902
Subjects: Mauritius Export Development and Investment Authority History, Ancient
Publisher: London, J. Murray
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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ntry.* Thepurity and fineness of the material thus employed isvery remarkable, as well as its strength, of whichadvantage was taken to make the cylinders hollow,and thus at once to render them cheaper and moreportable. The terra-cotta of the cylinders and tabletsis sometimes unglazed ; sometimes the natural surfacehas been covered with a vitreous sihcious glaze orwhite coating.^ The colour varies, being sometimesa bright polished brown, sometimes a pale yellow,sometimes pink, and sometimes a very dark tint,nearly black.* The most usual colour however forcylinders is pale yellow, and for tablets light red orpink. There is no doubt that in both these cases thecharacters were impressed separately by the hand, asmall metal style or rod being used for the purpose. Terra-cotta vessels, glazed and unglazed, were incommon use among the Assyrians, for drinking and Birch, p. 109.Layard, 1. s. c.Supra, p. 329-333. ■■ Birch, Ancient Pottery, vol, i.p. 113. Ibid. p. 115. Chap. VI. POTTERY. 479
Text Appearing After Image:
Assyrian v;ises, amphorae, &c. (after Birch). other domestic purposes. They comprised vases,lamps, jugs, amjohorae, saucers, jars, &c. The materialof the vessels is fine, though gene-rally rather yellow in tone. Theshapes present no great novelty,being for the most part such asare found both in the old Chal-dsean tombs,^ and in ordinaryRoman sepulchres.^ Among themost elegant are the funereal (?)urns discovered by M. Botta atKhorsabad, which are egg-shaped,with a small opening at top, ashort and very scanty pedestal,and two raised rings, one ratherdelicately chased, by way of orna-ment. Another graceful form isthat of the large jars uncovered ^—i-f--Kho.sabad. at Nimrud (see next page), of which Mr. Lavard

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