xii PREFACE.

And also with the passage in Ezekiel viii., describing the
chambers of imagery” at Jerusalem, in which the Jews
had imitated their neighbours, the Egyptians and Baby-
lonians :—‘ So I went in and saw, and behold every form
of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols
of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall.”

“T have already,” continues Mr. Layard, “described my
feelings, when gazing for the first time on these majestic
figures. Those of the reader would probably be the same,
particularly if caused by the reflection that, before these
wonderful forms, Ezekiel, Jonah, and others of the pro-
phets stood, and Sennacherib bowed; and that even the
patriarch Abraham may possibly have looked upon them.”
These brief extracts will suffice to show the interesting
nature of the discoveries made; and for further information
the student is referred to the valuable work from which
they are gleaned, which will amply repay an attentive
perusal.

Considering it, then, an established point, that the study