Page:A History of Art in Chaldæa & Assyria Vol 1.djvu/126

 io6 A HISTORY OF ART IN CHALD.KA AND ASSYRIA. conquerors reappear, armed, helmetecl, and cuirassed, as they passed before the trembling nations thirty centuries ago. They are short of stature, but vigorous and sturdy, with an exceptional muscular development. They were, no doubt, prepared for their military duties from infancy by some system of gymnastic FIG. 26. Bas-relief of Tiglath Pileser II. ; from Nimroud. British Museum. Height 44. inches. Drawn by Saint-Elme Gautier. exercises, such as have been practised by other nations of soldiers. Their noses are high and hooked, their eyes large, their features as a whole strongly Semitic (see Fig. 25). The moral character of the people is shown with no less clearness.