Skip to item: of 474
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎96] (182/474)

The record is made up of 1 volume (324 pages). It was created in 1839. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

96 MEMOIR ON THE RUINS
this principle we take the present fashion of build,
ing as some example of the mode heretofore practised
in Babylon, the houses that had more than one story
must have consisted of the ground-floor or
cour, occupied by stables, magazines, and serdaubs
or cellars, sunk a little below the ground, for the
comfort of the inhabitants during the heats; above
this a gallery with the lodging rooms opening into it,
and over all the flat terrace for the people to sleep on
during the summer.
From what remains of Babylon, and even from
the most favourable account handed down to us,
there is every reason to believe that the public edi
fices which adorned it were remarkable more for
vastness of dimensions than elegance of design, and
solidity of fabric rather than beauty of execution.
The tower of Belus appears merely to have been
astonishing from its size. It was inferior in some
respects to the pyramids, and did not surpass either
them or probably the great temple of Mexico in
external appearance; and the ornaments of which
Xerxes despoiled it, convey an idea of barbaric
richness, rather than taste : all the sculptures which
are found among the ruins, though some of them are
executed with the greatest apparent care, speak a
barbarous people. Indeed with a much greater
degree of refinement than the Babylonians seem to
have been in possession of, it would be difficult to
make any thing of such unpropitious materials as
brick and bitumen. Notwithstanding the assertion

About this item

Content

Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad , by Claudius James Rich.

Publication details: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Duke-street, Stamford Street, London. Published by Duncan and Malcolm, Paternoster Row, MDCCCXXXIX [1839].

Physical description: Includes plates, illustrations, plan; octavo.

Extent and format
1 volume (324 pages)
Arrangement

The volume contains a table of contents with chapter headings with page references (pp xi-xv). Each chapter heading is followed by a detailed breakdown of the contents of that chapter. There is a list of illustrations (p xvi) with facing page references.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions: 220mm x 135mm.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎96] (182/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOL.1947.a.2083., in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024137247.0x0000b7> [accessed 23 March 2025]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024137247.0x0000b7">'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [&lrm;96] (182/474)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024137247.0x0000b7">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100023516761.0x000001/IOL.1947.a.2083._0183.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100023516761.0x000001/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image