Summer
residence of
Semiramis.
Cuneiform
inscription
near Y&n.
Elwand range of mountains, including the ancient Orontes,
where distinct traces of it were observed by Major Bawlinson;
who states1 that throughout its whole extent, from the Gung
Nameh, the western base of the mountain, it still presents the
most unequivocal marks of having been artificially and most
laboriously constructed. On the summit of the mountain the
pavement is still in tolerable preservation. Having successfully
terminated the war in Armenia, and being pleased with the
salubrity of the air, as well as the fertility of that picturesque
country, Semiramis built a magnificent city on the shores of
the sea Akhthamar (Lake Van). On this city no less than
12,000 workmen, under 600 overseers or architects, were employed
;2 and, according to Armenian history, it became
henceforth the summer residence of its foundress.3 Several
ancient inscriptions have been lately discovered on the shores
of Lake Van, near the ruins of Shemiramgerd; and the
lamented Professor Schultz, who copied forty-two of these
inscriptions, deciphered the word “ Shemiram ” in several of
them, particularly in one which is written in the arrow-headed
characters. The dominion of the Assyrian queen, therefore,
over Armenia no longer rests wholly upon tradition; and,
thanks to the pains-taking Schultz,4 and the subsequent labours
of Major Eawlinson, as well as those of another remarkable
traveller, there are still clearer traces of events connected with
this as well as the later and still more interesting Achsemenian
period; which have been recorded in almost imperishable materials
at Bisutun.5
1 Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. X., part iii., p. 320.
2 Michael Chamish, History of Armenia, translated by J . Avdall, Esq.,
vol. I . pp. 23, 24. This city has lately been visited by James Brant, Esq.,
Her Brit. Majesty’s Consul at Erz-Rum: its site had been satisfactorily determined
during the previous journey of the late Professor Schultz.
3 Michael Chamish, History of Armenia, translated by J . Avdall, Esq.,
vol. I., p. 24.
4 Memoire sur le Lac de Van et ses environs, par Monsieur Fr. W . Schultz.
Journal Asiatique, vol. IX ., 1840, p. 257-322.
5 The Persian cuneiform inscriptions o f Bisutun, deciphered and translated
by Major H. C. Bawlinson, C.B. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society,
vol. X., parts i., ii., and iii.
The sculptures and Syriac inscriptions so particularly mentioned
by Diodorus1 as having been executed by order of Bisutun^he
Semiramis at this place, which is now identified with the Mount ghistan.
Baghistane of that author, are supposed by Major Bawlinson2 to
have been totally effaced by Khusrau Parviz, when he was preparing
to form the long surface, scarped by the Assyrian queen,
into the back wall of his palace. According to another
traveller, however, Mr. Masson, certain remains of these sculptures
still exist; three female heads, and some traces of Syriac
characters, having been discovered by him on his visit to
Bisutun in 1830.3
1 Lib. I I ,, cap. xii.
2 Journal of the Geog. Society, vol. IX ., p. 114.
8 From a manuscript paper in possession of the London Asiatic Society,
and some other observations by Charles Masson, E sq *B |M
, “ The scarped mountain at Bisutun, I considered to have been once
covered with the bas-reliefs or sculptures noticed particularly by Diodorus
Siculus, as well as intimated by Isidorus. I had not, and have not any Female figures
doubt upon the matter, because there are still three female faces of very ancl
singular beauty, which have been spared by a very lucky chance, when
either wantonly (if the act of Muhammedans) or designedly (if the act of
others) the chisel was employed to obliterate all traces of these sculptures.
Above the faces are also the remains of an inscription, but not in cuneiform
characters: the forms to me, looking from the plain below, were circular
and square, such as certain of the Greek letters might be, or square Samaritan,
or even Indo-Sali. These faces, as well as characters, I believe have
been unnoticed by modern travellers; still they certainly exist, and once
seen, no one could again look upon the scarped mountain without having
them in full view. The prominent feature of Cambadena is Baptana, where,
according to Isidorus, ‘ there is a statue and pillar of Semiramis.’ The
location of Baptana, at Bisutun, having been admitted, it is natural to in- inscriptions at
quire if we have at that spot any traces of the remarkable sculptures described ’
by Diodorus, and it is gratifying to be able to assert that we have. Diodorus
says, lib. I I ., cap. xii., ‘ Semiramis having completed all these works,
marched with a great army against the Medes, and having reached the foot
of a mountain called Baghistane, she there formed her camp, and traced out
in the plain a garden, &c. Mount Baghistane, which is consecrated to
Jupiter, had one of its sides, a precipitous rock 17 stadii in height, and full
o f inequalities, turned towards the garden. Semiramis caused it to be
smoothed at the bottom, and had her head, accompanied by a hundred of her
guards, sculptured on it. She added to this ah inscription in Syriac characters,’
&C. ic