In the middle of the nineteenth century; British archeologist Austen Henry Layard uncovered parts of several ancient Assyrian cities buried beneath the earth; including the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire; Nineveh. Nineveh was one of the greatest cities of its time and was an important religious center around 3000 BC. Commerce and religion thrived in the city; which was decorated with ornate stone carvings and reliefs and boasted well-defended walls and an aqueduct. However; the city was sacked in 612 BC; and its citizens were either deported or murdered. From that time forward; the city remained unoccupied; until Layard's excavation in the mid-1800s brought its treasures back into the world.Layard; in this stunningly honest account; describes his journeys around Asia Minor; traveling by caravans to remote places with unfamiliar cultures; religious practices; and customs. He recounts discovering the vast city in the land of Nimrod; and excavating Bas-reliefs; winged lions; tombs; and large stone wall carvings; all of which were a part of the British Museum's excavation and subsequent transfer to London. Inserted throughout descriptions of Layard's encounters with tribes and fascinating historical discoveries is a look at the introduction of Christianity to the region and the culture of the people who once roamed the brick-laid streets of one of the most famous cities in religious and secular history. This new edition of Layard's classic narrative is sure to make a stunning gift for any history or archeology buff.
#963180 in Books 2012-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x 5.60 x 5.50l; .85 #File Name: 1616086319408 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. It looked like the fighting might be over soonBy old guyI thought I knew more about the Civil War than I actually did. There was the First Bull Run and Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Campaigns. I read about them in grammar school and some outside reading. It never occurred to me that Robert E. Lee didn't suddenly appear as a savior for Southern arms following the disastrous efforts of Joe Johnston; the previous commander. I also did not know that the revered Jackson was almost a no show in the early struggles outside Richmond. The Seven Days were a series of battles that resulted from Northern efforts to end the war early and without too much effort and damage to north and south; according to the author. Northern forces had driven south with the intention of taking Richmond; VA. Johnston couldn't stop them. It looked like the fighting might be over soon. The author believes that three more years of destruction might have been avoided if Lee had not taken over the Confederate forces in northern Virginia. Lee developed a plan to destroy the northern army. The big hitch was Jackson; who had brought his troops from the west; failed Lee; and many other commanders failed to follow orders. The Union soldiers were driven away from the Richmond area; but the army was saved intact. Lee restructured his forces; ran off a few generals; used a regenerated Jackson to good effect and made a war of it. The book is a little dull in spots but introduced a theory previously unknown to me. The maps would have been OK if they were larger. I debated three stars before settling on four. Clifford Dowdey provides the reader with a great mass of detail; perhaps a smidgen too much.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good Detail on the Peninsular Campaign and RichmondBy WatergiverThis is a very good summary of the earlier days of the Civil war; the ascendency of Lee and the unprepared leadership of the Union. Lincoln and Stanton pretty much ran the war from Washington at this time. While there were flashes of leadership brilliance on both sides; neither side understood how to coordinate their own forces and left the generals hanging. The Stonewall Jackson is portrayed in a very negative light and portrays him as the reason this was not a stronger victory for the South.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This is a coherent; understandable account of a long ...By David HThis is a coherent; understandable account of a long and confusing battle sequence. The author attempts psychological insights when depicting the leaders; is hard on Johnston; and presents Jackson as a stunned duck; incapacitated by fatigue. The writing; while not inspired; has the merit of clarity; for which I rate the book five stars.
