NINEVEH AND ITS REMAINS: WITH AN ACCOUNT OF A VISIT TO THE CHALDEAN CHRISTIANS OF KURDISTAN, AND THE YEZIDIS, OR DEVIL-WORSHIPPERS; AND AN ENQUIRY INTO THE MANNERS AND ARTS OF THE ANCIENT ASSYRIANS.
Book Details + Condition: George P. Putnam (New York). First American Edition, 1849. Complete two-volume hardcover set. Brown cloth boards with embossed and gilt decoration to panels, as well as to spine. Pagination: 325pp; 373 pp. With Appendices and Index. Illustrated with plates, woodcuts, and plans - including several fold-outs. Austen Henry Layard's famous archeological excavation on the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, and other excursions. In the mid-19th century, British archeologist Layard uncovered several ancient and long-buried Assyrian cities, including the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Nineveh. In 3000 BC, Nineveh was one of the greatest cities of its time, and an important center for trade, religion and the arts. The city was covered in ornate stone carvings and reliefs, and was well defended unitl its invasion in 612 BC, at which time the citizens were either captured or killed. In these volumes, Layard describes the discovery of Assyrian sites, as well as his journeys around Asia Minor; the discovery of the vast city in the land of Nimrod; and excavating the now-famous bas-reliefs, winged lions, tombs, and large stone wall carvings. He also examines the introduction of Christianity to the region.
From the massive collection of King Lawrence Parker - academic, dissertation author, and book collector extraordinaire. Firm binding; rubbed corners and edges; wear to boards, with discoloration and fading present (mainly to the front panel of Vol II); chafed spine ends, with chipping also present; foxing to first few pages; Parker's inked info to ffep of both volumes; old inked name to top of title page (Vol I) and to Contents page (Vol II); toning and areas of age-toning to pages; torn bottom corner of p 28 to Vol I, which does not affect the text; interior is clean and free of markings.
