Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/184

 152 BABYLONIA. Part I. stoj.s or not is by no means clear. Taken altogether, the plan and probable appearance of the building when complete, may have been something like that represented in Woodcuts Nos. 46 and 47, though there are too many elements of uncertainty to make it a restoration which can altogether be depended u]ion. 46. Diagram of Elevation of Temple at Mugheyr. Scale lito ft. to 1 in. 47. Plan of Temple at Muglieyr. Scale 100 ft. to 1 in. The typical example of this class of temples is the Birs Nimroud,^ near Babylon. It is true that as it now stands every brick bears the stain]) of Nebochadnassar, by whom it was repaired, perhaps nearly rel>uilt ; Ijut there is no reason for supposing that he changed the original ]»lan, or that the sacred form of these temples had altered in the interval. It owes its more perfect preservation to the fact of the upper story having been vitrified, after erection, by some jDrocess we do not quite understand. This now forms a mass of slag, which has to a great extent protected the lower stories from atmospheric influences. In so far as it has been explored, the lower story forms a i>erfect sf|uai'(', '272 feet each way. Above this are six stories, each 42 feet less in horizontal dimensions. These are not placed concentrically on those below them, but at a distance of only twelve feet from the south- eastern edge, and consequently 30 feet from the N. W., and 21 feet I'loiii the two other sides. ' Journal T!. A. S.. vol. xviii. p. 1. el j whifli all the information here given re- .M-q.. Sir Henry IJawlinson's papf-r. from | garding the Birs is obtained.