UR OF THE CHALDEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 249, 20 October 1928, Page 13 (Supplement)

UR OF THE CHALDEES.

A BEAUTY OF 5000 YEARS AGO

feminine vanities that

NEVER CHANGE.

THE COURT OF A QUEEN.

Take up your stand in the Assyrian Basement of the British Museum and gaze for one moment at tlie wonderful new exhibits from Ur. Fire thousand years slip instantly from beneath your feet; the veil that hid the past is rent; London fades, the babble of the crowd recedes, and there before you stands Queen Shubad, her dark hair wreathed in a glittering head-dress, crowned with a golden comb, her slim form veiled beneath a beaded jfloak of carnelian, gold, and lapis lazuli There lies her gaming- 1 board, pathetic souvenir of waiting hours; there y her wardrobe-chest; here, her jewels, her silver drinking-cups. Soft music trembles on the strings of that bull-headed harp, and silver-beaded reins jangle in their rings at each movement of the two white asses harnessed to her chariot, by collars of decorated copper. ' Vast Human Sacrifices. Never before can relics so romantic, yet so gruesome and convincing, have been displayed for the public gaze as these fruits of the sixth season's work of the joint expedition organised by the British Museum and the Pennsylvania University Museum. At Ur of the Chaldees royal graves have been unearthed at the great depth of forty feet which date back to the fourth millennium B.C. The resultant discoveries prove that Sumerian civilisation reached a high standard of culture before that of Egypt and was probably the foundation of all other Near-Eastern civilisations.

The presence of model boats in the tombs shows that Sumerians believed the passage to the next world to be by water, whilst the presence of gold, lapis lazuli, and asses' skeletons (all alien to South Babylonia) indicates that the Sumerians must have had extensive commercial intercourse by land and water with fardistant regions.

striking of all is the hitherto tinsuspected fact that Sumerian royal burials were accompanied by human sacrifice on a vast scale; of that there can be no doubt, for the mouldering skeletons, the weapons, and the jewellery of the victims have now been found on the very epots where they collapsed within the tombs fifty centuries ago.

Beneath the tomb of Queen Shubad was found that of a King who as yet remains unidentified. This tomb had been plundered in remote ages, the robbers having broken through the vaulted roof. From the relics which remained, and are now on view, and from the diagrams and pictures specially drawn for the British Museum, it is not difficult to visualise the icene at the King's buriaL A Royal Retinue. Marshalled' within the outer chamber we re the pick of the army, the Court, and the harem, to minister to their royal master's wants and pleasure in the world to come. The entrance was guarded by six soldiers in copper helmets and thick felt cloaks, armed with spears. Next stood two four-wheeled carts of wood, each manned by two attendants and drawn by three oxen, the animals yoked with massive silver collars and ringed through the nostrils. At the far end, nine ladies of the harem in golden headdresses, richly clad, were grouped against the wall of the inner chamber containing the royal bier, the door of which was guarded by two rows of servants armed with daggers. In all, no fewer than- fifty-nine human beingß and six animals were packed into this outer chamber.

There they died, that they might accompany their royal master across the water 'into eternity. How they were killed, none can say, but their bodies have been found where they collapsed, the grooms at the animals' heads, the soldiers on guard, the ladies and servants nearest their lord.

Beautiful Workmanship. j , The tomb of the Queen was the scene of fimilar slaughter. Five skeletons lay at the-entrance; doubtless those of the Boldiers on guard. Beside the skulls of two asses which had drawn her chariot lay tfie bones of the grooms. Court ladies hadiallen in two rows at the far end of the Chamber, while by the royal bier two attendants had fallen at their vigil. iHSuHiul indeed, are the many of the objects laid bare within this royal cemetery. Sumerian workmanship attained a very high standard. The statue of a bearded bull, with horns and mask of gold and .beard of lapis lazuli, is particularly striking. The bearded bull had for the Sumerians a special religious significance, for the beard was the hall-mark of deity. Delicately modelled in silver is the little boat with high prow and stern provided presumably for the journey over the Sumerian Styx; in design it resembles the rowing-boats still to be seen on the Euphrates. Most wonderful of all is the beafenjgold helmet, finely chased, found hi tKe grave of Prince Mes-Kalan-Dug. Change i n Human Tastes.

As one examines the relics one realises ho\r tittle 'htMaan tastes have changed in jewels, beads, bracelet v and other trinkets were worn much as they are ito-day; goblets of gold and «ilvw, 'v«sselß of copper and stone, seem the mascots affixed to the wagon-poles might have crowned the radiator of a modern car; and the little gaming'boards and pieces seem but variations of 'our chess and dominoes.

# The; excavations at Ur> are to be continued next year. It may be that further •triking discoveries will be made. Meanwhile, nothing could give greater delight than a visit to these wondrous relics in onr national museum. —"John o' London's Weekly."