LATEST DISCOVERIES IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Prehistoric Time--Earliest Records--Discoveries in Bible Lands--
American Explorations.
For the earliest civilization and culture we must go to that part of
the world, which according to the general belief, is the cradle of the
human race. The civilization of the Mesopotamian plain is not only the
oldest but the first where man settled in great city communities, under
an orderly government, with a developed religion, practicing
agriculture, erecting dwellings and using a syllabified writing. All
modern civilization had its source there. For 6,000 years the cuneiform
or wedge-shaped writing of the Assyrians was the literary script of
the whole civilized ancient world, from the shores of the Mediterranean
to India and even to China, for Chinese civilization, old as it is,
is based upon that which obtained in Mesopotamia. In Egypt, too, at
an early date was a high form of neolithic civilization. Six thousand
years before Christ, a white-skinned, blond-haired, blue-eyed race
dwelt there, built towns, carried on commerce, made woven linen cloth,
tanned leather, formed beautiful pottery without the wheel, cut stone
with the lathe and designed ornaments from ivory and metals. These
were succeeded by another great race which probably migrated into Egypt
from Arabia. Among them were warriors and administrators, fine
mechanics, artisans, artists and sculptors. They left us the Pyramids
and other magnificent monumental tombs and great masses of architecture
and sculptured columns. Of course, they declined and passed away, as
all things human must; but they left behind them evidences to tell of
their prestige and power.
The scientists and geologists of our day are busy unearthing the remains
of the ancient peoples of the Eastern world, who started the waves of
civilization both to the Orient and the Occident. Vast stores of
knowledge are being accumulated and almost every day sees some ancient
treasure trove brought to light. Especially in Biblical lands is the
explorer busy unearthing the relics of the mighty past and throwing
a flood of light upon incidents and scenes long covered by the dust
of centuries.
Babylon, the mightiest city of ancient times, celebrated in the Bible
and in the earliest human records as the greatest centre of sensual
splendor and sinful luxury the world has ever seen, is at last being
explored in the most thorough manner by the German Oriental Society,
of which the Kaiser is patron. Babylon rose to its greatest glory under
Nebuchadnezzar, the most famous monarch of the Babylonian Empire. At
that period it was the great centre of arts, learning and science,
astronomy and astrology being patronized by the Babylonian kings. The
city finally came to a terrible end under Belshazzar, as related in
the Bible. The palace of the impious king has been uncovered and its
great piles of masonry laid bare. The great hall, where the young
prophet Daniel read the handwriting on the wall, can now be seen. The
palace stood on elevated ground and was of majestic dimensions. A
winding chariot road led up to it. The lower part was of stone and the
upper of burned bricks. All around on the outside ran artistic
sculptures of men hunting animals. The doors were massive and of bronze
and swung inward, between colossal figures of winged bulls. From the
hall a stairway led to the throne room of the King, which was decorated
with gold and precious stones and finished in many colors. The hall
in which the infamous banquet was held was 140 feet by 40 feet. For
a ceiling it was spanned by the cedars of Lebanon which exhaled a sweet
perfume. At night a myriad lights lent brilliancy to the scene. There
were over 200 rooms all gorgeously furnished, most of them devoted to
the inmates of the king's harem. The ruins as seen to-day impress the
visitor and excite wonder and admiration.
The Germans have also uncovered the great gate of Ishtar at Babylon,
which Nebuchadnezzar erected in honor of the goddess of love and war,
the most renowned of all the mythical deities of the Babylonian
Pantheon. It is a double gateway with interior chambers, flanked by
massive towers and was erected at the end of the Sacred Road at the
northeast corner of the palace. Its most unique feature consists in
the scheme of decoration on its walls, which are covered with row upon
row of bulls and dragons represented in the brilliant enamelled bricks.
Some of these creatures are flat and others raised in relief. Those
in relief are being taken apart to be sent to Berlin, where they will
be again put together for exhibition.
The friezes on this gate of Ishtar are among the finest examples of
enamelled brickwork that have been uncovered and take their place
beside "the Lion Frieze" from Sargon's palace at Khorsabad and the
still more famous "Frieze of Arches of King Darius" in the Paris Louvre.
The German party have already established the claim of Herodotus as
to the thickness of the walls of the city. Herodotus estimated them
at two hundred royal cubits (348 feet) high and fifty royal cubits
(86-1/2 feet) thick. At places they have been found even thicker. So
wide were they that on the top a four-horse chariot could easily turn.
The hanging gardens of Babylon, said to have been built to please
Amytis the consort of Nebuchadnezzar, were classed as among the Seven
Wonders of the World. Terraces were constructed 450 feet square, of
huge stones which cost millions in that stoneless country. These were
supported by countless columns, the tallest of which were 160 feet
high. On top of the stones were layers of brick, cemented and covered
with pitch, over which was poured a layer of lead to make all absolutely
water-tight. Finally, on the top of this, earth was spread to such a
depth that the largest trees had room for their roots. The trees were
planted in rows forming squares and between them were flower gardens.
In fact, these gardens constituted an Eden in the air, which has never
since been duplicated.
New discoveries have been recently made concerning the Tower of Babel,
the construction of which, as described in the Book of Genesis, is one
of the most remarkable occurrences of the first stage of the world's
history. It has been found that the tower was square and not round,
as represented by all Bible illustrators, including Dore. The ruins
cover a space of about 50,000 square feet and are about ten miles from
the site of Babylon.
The ruins of the celebrated synagogue of Capernaum, believed to be the
very one in which the Saviour preached, have been unearthed and many
other Biblical sites around the ancient city have been identified.
Capernaum was the home of Jesus during nearly the whole of his Galilean
ministry and the scene of many of his most wonderful miracles. The
site of Capernaum is now known as Tell Hum. There are ruins scattered
about over a radius of a mile. The excavating which revealed the ruins
of the synagogue was done under supervision of a German archaeologist
named Kohl. This synagogue was composed of white limestone blocks
brought from a distance and in this respect different from the others
which were built of the local black volcanic rock. The carvings
unearthed in the ruins are very beautiful and most of them in high
relief work, representing trailing vines, stately palms, clusters of
dates, roses and acanthus. Various animal designs are also shown and
one of the famous seven-branched candlesticks which accompanied the
Ark of the Covenant.
Most of the incidents at Capernaum mentioned in the Bible were connected
with the synagogue, the ruins of which have just been uncovered. The
centurion who came to plead with Jesus about the servant was the man
who built the synagogue (Luke VII:1-10). In the synagogue, Jesus healed
the man with the unclean spirit (Mark I:21-27). In this synagogue, the
man with the withered hand received health on the Sabbath Day (Matthew
XII:10-13). Jairus, whose daughter was raised from the dead, was a
ruler of the synagogue (Luke VIII:3) and it was in this same synagogue
of Capernaum that Jesus preached the discourse on the bread of life
(John VI:26-59). The hill near Capernaum where Jesus fed the multitude
with five loaves and two fishes is also identified.
The stoning of St. Stephen and the conversion of St. Paul are two great
events of the New Testament which lend additional interest to the
explorations now being carried on at the ancient City of Damascus.
Damascus lays claim to being the most ancient city in the world and
its appearance sustains the claim. Unlike Jerusalem and many other
ancient cities, it has never been completely destroyed by a conqueror.
The Assyrian monarch, Tiglath Pileser, swept down on it, 2,700 years
ago, but he did not succeed in wiping it out. Other cities came into
being long after Damascus, they flourished, faded and passed away; but
Damascus still remains much the same as in the early time. Among the
famous places which have been identified in this ancient city is the
house of Ananias the priest and the place in the wall where Paul was
let down by a basket is pointed out. The scene of the conversion of
St. Paul is shown and also the "Street called Straight" referred to
in Acts IX:II.
Jerusalem, birthplace and cradle of Christianity, offers a vast and
interesting field to the archaeologist. One of the most remarkable of
recent discoveries relates to the building known as David's castle.
Major Conder, a British engineer in charge of the Palestine survey,
has proved that this building is actually a part of the palace of King
Herod who ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in order to encompass
the destruction of the Infant Saviour.
The tomb of Hiram is another relic discovered at the village of Hunaneh
on the road from Safed to Tyre; it recalls the days of David. Hiram
was King of Tyre in the time of David. The tomb is a limestone structure
of extraordinary massiveness Unfortunately the Mosque of Omar stands
on the site of Solomon's Temple and there is no hope of digging there.
As for the palace of Solomon, it should be easy to find the foundations,
for Jerusalem has been rebuilt several times upon the ruins of earlier
periods and vast ancient remains must be still buried there. The work
is being pushed vigorously at present and the future should bring to
light many interesting relics. At last the real site of the Crucifixion
may be found with many mementoes of the Saviour, and the Apostles.
Professor Flinders Petrie, the famous English archaeologist, has
recently explored the Sinaitic peninsula and has found many relics of
the Hebrews' passage through the country during the Exodus and also
many of a still earlier period. He found a remarkable number of altars
and tombs belonging to a very early form of religion. On the Mount
where Moses received the tables of the law is a monastery erected by
the Emperor Justinian 523 A.D. Although the conquering wave of Islam
has swept over the peninsula, leaving it bare and desolate, this
monastery still survives, the only Christian landmark, not only in
Sinai but in all Arabia. The original tables of stone on which the
Commandments were written, were placed in the Ark of the Covenant and
taken all through the Wilderness to Palestine and finally placed in
the Temple of Solomon. What became of it when the Temple was plundered
and destroyed by the Babylonians is not known.
Clay tablets have been found at Nineveh of the Creation and the Flood
as known to the Assyrians. These tablets formed part of a great epic
poem of which Nimrod, the mighty hunter, was the hero.
Explorers are now looking for the palace of Nimrod, also that of
Sennacherib, the Assyrian monarch who besieged Jerusalem. The latter
despoiled the Temple of many of its treasures and it is believed that
his palace, when found, may reveal the Tables of the Law, the Ark of
the Covenant, the Seven-branched candlestick, and many of the golden
vessels used in Israelitish worship.
Ur of the Chaldees, birthplace of Abraham, father and founder of the
Hebrew race, is a rich field for the archaeologist to plough. Some
tablets have already been discovered, but they are only a mere
suggestion as to future possibilities. It is believed by some eminent
investigators that we owe to Abraham the early part of the Book of
Genesis describing the Creation, the Tower of Babel and the Flood, and
the quest of archaeologists is to find, if not the original tablets,
at least some valuable records which may be buried in this neighborhood.
Excavators connected with the American School at Jerusalem are busy
at Samaria and they believe they have uncovered portions of the great
temple of Baal, which King Ahab erected in honor of the wicked deity
890 B.C. When the remains of this temple are fully uncovered it will
be learned just how far the Israelites forsook the worship of the true
God for that of Baal.
The Germans have begun work on the site of Jericho, once the royal
capital of Canaan, and historic chiefly from the fact that Joshua led
the Israelites up to its walls, reported to be impregnable, but which
"fell down at the blast of the trumpet." Great piles have been unearthed
here which it is thought formed a part of the original masonry. One
excavator believes he has unearthed the ruins of the house of Rahab,
the woman who sheltered Joshua's spies. Another thinks he has discovered
the site of the translation of Elijah, the Prophet, from whence he was
carried up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
Every Christian will be interested in learning what is to be found in
Nazareth where Jesus spent his boyhood. Archaeologists have located
the "Fount of the Virgin," and the rock from which the infuriated
inhabitants attempted to hurl Christ.
In the "Land of Goshen" where the Israelites in a state of servitude
worked for the oppressing Pharaoh (Rameses II), excavators have found
bricks made without straw as mentioned in Scripture, undoubtedly the
work of Hebrew slaves, also glazed bead necklaces. They are looking
for the House of Amran, the father of Moses, where the great leader
was born.
The site of Arbela, where Alexander the Great won his mightiest victory
over Darius, has been discovered. It is a series of mounds on the
Western bank of the Tigris river between Nineveh and Bagdad. All the
treasures of Darius were taken and Alexander erected a great palace.
Bronze swords, cups and pieces of sculpture have been unearthed and
it is supposed there are vast stores of other remains awaiting the
tool and patience of the excavator. The famous Sultan Saladin took up
his residence here in 1184 and doubtless many relics of his royal time
will be discovered.
The remains of the city of Pumbaditha have been identified with the
immense mound of Abnar some twenty miles from Babylon, on the banks
of the Euphrates. This was the centre of Jewish scholarship during the
Babylonian exile. One of the great schools in which the Talmud was
composed was located here. The great psalm, "By the waters of Babylon,
we sat down and wept." was also composed on this spot, and here, too,
Jeremiah and Isaiah thundered their impassioned eloquence. Broken tombs
and a few inscribed bowls have been brought to light. Probably the
original scrolls of the Talmud will be found here. Several curiously
wrought vases and ruins have been also unearthed.
Several monuments bearing inscriptions which are sorely puzzling the
archaeologists have recently been unearthed at the site of Boghaz-Keni
which was the ancient, if not original capital, of the mysterious
people called the Hittites who have been for so long a worry to Bible
students. Archaeology has now revealed the secret of this people. There
is no doubt they were of Mongolian origin, as the monuments just
discovered represent them with slant eyes and pigtails. No one as yet
has been able to read the inscriptions. They were great warriors, great
builders and influenced the fate of many of the ancient nations.
In many other places throughout these lands, deep students of Biblical
lore are pushing on the work of excavation and daily adding to our
knowledge concerning the peoples and nations in whom posterity must
ever take a vital interest.
A short time ago, Professor Doerpfeld announced to the world that he
had discovered on the island of Ithaca, off the west coast of Greece,
the ruins of the palace of Ulysses, Homer's half-mythical hero of the
_Odyssey_. The German archaeologist has traced the different rooms
of the palace and is convinced that here is the very place to which
the hero returned after his wanderings. Near it several graves were
found from which were exhumed silver amulets, curiously wrought
necklaces, bronze swords and metal ornaments bearing date 2,000 B.C.,
which is the date at which investigators lay the Siege of Troy.
If the ruins be really those of the palace of Ulysses, some interesting
things may be found to throw a light on the Homeric epic. As the
schoolboys know, when Ulysses set sail from Troy for home, adverse
winds wafted him to the coast of Africa and he beat around in the
adjacent seas and visited islands and spent a considerable time meeting
many kinds of curious and weird adventures, dallying at one time with
the lotus-eaters, at another braving the Cyclops, the one-eyed monsters,
until he arrived at Ithaca where "he bent his bow and slew the suitors
of Penelope, his harassed wife."
In North America are mounds, earthworks, burial sites, shell heaps,
buildings of stone and adobe, pictographs sculptured in rocks, stone
implements, objects made of bone, pottery and other remains which
arouse the enthusiasm of the archaeologist. As the dead were usually
buried in America, investigators try to locate the ancient cemeteries
because, besides skeletons, they usually contain implements, pottery
and ornaments which were buried with the corpses. The most
characteristic implement of early man in America was the grooved axe,
which is not found in any other country. Stone implements are plentiful
everywhere. Knives, arrow-points and perforators of chipped stone are
found in all parts of the continent. Beads and shells and pottery are
also found in almost every State.
The antiquity of man in Europe has been determined in a large measure
by archaeological remains found in caves occupied by him in different
ages, but the exploration of caves in North America has so far failed
to reveal traces of different degrees of civilization.