Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/29

 Recent Discoveries in Northern Syria. 13 resemblance to the objects they represent, such as is never seen on the monuments of Egypt. Note, for instance, the two conies, figured among a number of other characters to the right of the Merash Hon (Figs. 254, 255).^ Could anything be con- ceived more truthful than the action of the two timid creatures, which seem to have been surprised by a sportsman ; one has already taken to flight, whilst the other is preparing to follow its companion. We could almost imagine that the artist had chalked them down as he came upon them by the woodside. This faithful portraiture applies to the human form as well as the heads of animals ; the former is generally placed at the commencement of the inscription, with one arm raised to his mouth, as if to emphasize his words, or prepare us for what is to follow. Rough though the art may be, it is so instinct with truth and sincerity, that we are never puzzled as to the intention of the artist (Fig. 256). These inscriptions, about four inches apart, are carved within horizontal lines, also in relief, except where only two or three signs occur. Some occupy the whole division, whilst the smaller are ranged in two or more rows, so as to fill up the whole space. This arrangement, irregular in detail, produces uniformity of outline, and is more satisfactory to the eye than the haphazard disposition of Egyptian hieroglyphs. As scholars began to transcribe and collate these texts, found on so many points widely apart from each other, they naturally inquired who were the people that had traced these mysterious characters. As so often happens, when a problem of unusual interest engages the attention of the learned, persons in different parts of the globe came almost simultaneously to the same con- clusion. To Professor Sayce, however, must be assigned the merit of having perceived it plainly and clearly from the outset, and of having invested the subject with an amount of verisimilitude as to be almost equivalent to certainty.^ Archibald H. Sayce, ^ Our attention was called to a cast of this charming monument in the Trocad^ro, from which our draughtsman, through the kindness of Dr. Hamy, made the spirited drawing of the woodcuts (Figs. 254, 255). ^ On the bearing of Professor Sayce's works, see our article in the Reime dcs Deux MondeSy 15 Juillet, 1886, entitled " Une Civilisation Retrouvee. Les H^tdens, leur dcriture, et Icnr art." The Principles of Cofupar.itivc Philology^ more than any other of Professor Sayce's works, hcl|)ed to make his name known on the Continent. It has been translated into French by F>nest Jovy, with a preface by Michel Ureal, in-i2, 1884, Delagrave. It was owing to this work that he was nominated Assistant- Professor to the Orien'al Chair, illuslnilcd by Max Miillcr. Professor Sayce is the