Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/57

 A KING OF AKKAD STORMING A FORTRESS THE EARLIEST GREAT SEMITIC WORK OF ART (ABOUT 2700 B.C.) King Naram-Sin of Akkad, one of the successors of Sargon I (38), has pursued the enemy into a mountain stronghold. His heroic figure towers above his pygmy enemies, each one of whom has fixed his eyes on the con- queror, awaiting his signal of mercy. The sculptor, with fine insight, has depicted the dramatic instant when the king lowers his weapon as the sign that he grants the conquered their lives