DYES, $41

of these, are all either vegetable or mineral productions,
and, though well known in Egypt at an early period, may
at least not have been common before the Israelites quitted
that country, which would account for their not being
alluded to in the Sacred Writings.

Many of the Assyrian bas-reliefs are painted with various
colours, particularly blue and red, which were, when dis-
covered, as vivid as if just laid on, but faded on exposure
to the air. Many bricks were found at Nimroud, painted
with brilliant colours, and the ceilings were also gorgeously
painted, or inlaid with ivory and precious woods. “The
battles, sieges, triumphs, the exploits of the chase, and the
ceremonies of religion were portrayed on the walls, sculp-
tured in alabaster, or painted in gorgeous colours. These
pictures were enclosed in coloured borders or friezes of
elaborate and elegant design*.”

Blue, as we have said, is probably of vegetable origin,
for the simple plant-dyes would be used before the more
artificial preparations from metals; but the purple and
scarlet are supposed to have been animal productions, and
as such must be more particularly considered. “The pre-
eminence given at the present day to purple as a royal

* Layard’s ‘Nineveh.’