Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/209

 General Characteristics of Pterian Monuments. 191 upon these, and evince greater freedom and accuracy in their elaboration. If the animals introduced as accessories in the central bas-relief are conventionalized into mere heraldic emblems (Plate VIII. E), and carelessly sketched in, the lions that decorate the throne, the heads about the city gate, are modelled with a vigorous hand, albeit in somewhat bulky proportions (Figs. 297, 298, 303), and decidedly superior to the Eyuk exemplar (Fig. 341). This difference is even more marked in the treatment of the human form ; which is almost arbitrary at lasili-Kaia, where the figures ring no change in their attitudes. But whilst we feel that the art is still in swaddling clothes, we are conscious that it has out- stepped the rude Eyuk stage, the contemplation of which is apt to call up a smile ; whereas, in the former locality, some personages (Figs. 320 and 321) are already invested with elements of beauty. Such instances lead to the inference that Eyuk is older in date : whether this should be counted by years or centuries it is hard to say ; but the presumption is that a wide space divides the two monuments. This our conjecture is based upon the superiority of the Boghaz-Keui sculptures ; but more particularly upon the fact that Egyptian interference, still in full swing at Eyuk, had yielded the palm to Assyria at Boghaz-Keui. Not to weary the reader with vain repetitions in regard to the fortunes which attended the existence of the Hittites as a nation, we refer him to a former chapter on the subject, and will confine ourselves to the statement that their acquaintance with Egypt, whether as invaders, friends, or vanquished, was of a nature to arouse in their breasts the utmost admiration of which their mind was capable ; i.e. when brought face to face with the architectural splendour which everywhere met their gaze. Some reflex of the impressions they thus received were embodied — so far as the resources at their command would allow — in the monuments of Cappadocia and Syria. Agreeably with this theory, the Eyuk palace,- with its sphinxes and lion avenue, would be coeval with the Ramessides. On the other hand, the terraces at Boghaz-Keui, in front of the palace (Fig. 294), the mitred bulls and the like (Figs. 314, 321), recall Nimroud and Khorsabad. The ascendency of Assyria began to be felt beyond the two great streams about the ninth century a.c, i.e. on the formation of the second empire. In this lapse of time, extending over 340 years, to the advent of Cyrus (560), should be placed the lasili-Kaia sculptures. It is