Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/129

Rh tends they were thought unique until the discoveries made at Nimrood. This identity of character may be useful in deciding the age to which we are to attribute the building of Khorsabad, a subject which has hitherto puzzled all who have examined the remains found there; and if it can be established, as I believe it can beyond any reasonable doubt, that Nimrood is the ancient Larissa, then Khorsabad must at least have existed two thousand five hundred years ago, as the former appears to have been a flourishing city at the time of Xenophon's celebrated retreat four centuries prior to the Christian era.

"From the immense quantity of bricks which lie scattered in the vicinity of the mound, I think it probable that the ancient city was built in the plain, and that the mound covers what may have been the acropolis or temple, or some other public building or buildings similar to those of Khorsabad, the original uses of which have not yet been determined. However this may be, the indications of extensive ruins concealed under the mound are numerous and sufficiently obvious to convince the most inexperienced observer, and I hope that an attempt will soon be made to rescue this ancient city from the oblivion in which it has so long lain.

"Rich, I believe, was the first who identified Nimrood with Larissa, but, if I remember rightly, he simply mentions his conviction on this point without adducing any proof. After examining the locality with some care, and comparing it with Xenophon's description of Larissa, I fully coincide with the conclusion of Rich: Nimrood occupies the position which exactly corresponds with that of Larissa. According to the Grecian historian, his troops did not cross the Zabatus (Zab river) until late in the day, for it was 'after the soldiers had dined,' from which it is plain that the army could not have proceeded very far on their journey this side of the river: in fact, it is clearly stated that they did not travel all that day more than twenty-five stadia, or three English miles. The day following they remained in the same place, and the day after, 'having crossed a valley formed by a torrent,' they reached Larissa on the river Tigris, having had another skirmish with the Persians during their march. This torrent must have been the Bumudas (the modern Khazir), as no other stream exists hereabouts, if we except the