Fig. 258.479 Fig. 259.480 “ An elongated head,
with a broad, receding
forehead, gently aquiline
nose, and retracted
chin, together with
the marked distance
between the nose and
month, and the long,
smooth hair, are all
characteristics of the
m o n um e n t a l Egyptian.”
Of the Semitie
Fig. 260.481 Fig. 261.482 form, foregoing
cha pte r s have
supplied many
portraits. One,
out of numerous
mummied crania,
will suffice
to illustrate its
existence in the
sepulchr e s 'of
Egypt.
Fig. 262. “ This head” (Fig. 262), says Morton, “ possesses
great interest, on account of its decided Hebrew features,
of which many examples are extant on the
monuments” of Egypt; and we have alreadyicom-
pared it with those of Assyria [sivpra, p. 116.]
“ The\ colossal head” from Nineveh
proclaimed the existence of a higher
order of Ohaldaic type upon Assyrian
sculptures. The reader will he gratified
to observe how faithfully ancient
Chaldsea’s tombs testify to the exactitude
of her ieonographic monuments; at the same time, he will perceive
how art and nature conjointly establish the precision of modern
anatomy’s deductions.
The following sketch (Figs. 263 and 264) is a faithful reduction of an Assyrian skull,
recently exhumed by Dr. B a y a r d , from one of the ancient mounds, and now deposited in
the British Museum. Its fac-simile drawing has just been most kindly sent me from England,
by Mr. J. B. Davis, F. S. A., one of the authors of the Crania Britannica (a great
work, which is shortly to be published). I have no history of the skull, beyond the facts
above stated ; but it is believed to be the representative of an ancient Assyrian. Speaking
of the drawings, Mr. Davis says in his letter to me, “ they are of the exact size of nature,
and very faithful representations of the cranium.”
It is much to be regretted that we have as yet no series of ancient skulls from Nineveh
and Babylon, as they would throw great light upon the early connection between the races
of Egypt and Assyria.
This skull is very interesting in several Fig. 263.
points of view. Its immense size confirms
history by showing that none but a high
“Caucasian” race could have achieved so much
greatness. The measurements taken from
the drawing are —
Longitudinal diameter, 7 f inches.
Transverse “ 5§ |j
Vertical | | g
It is probable that the parietal diameter is
larger than the measurement here given; because,
possessor of only front and profile views,
I think these may not express fairly the poste- Aneiéit Assyrian,
rior parts of the head. There are but two heads
in Morton’s whole Egyptian series of equal Fig. 264.
size, and these are “ Pelasgic; ” nor more
than two equally large throughout his American
series. Daniel Webster’s head measured
—longitudinal' diameter, .7¡J inches; transverse,
5 f ; vertical, 6J : and comparison will
show that the Assyrian head is but a fraction
the smaller of the two.
This Assyrian head, moreover, is remarkable
for its close resemblance to several of
Morton’s Egyptian series, classed under the
“ Pelasgic form.” It thus adds another powerful
confirmation to the fact this volume
establishes, viz., that the Egyptians, at all
monumental times, were a mixed people, and in all historical ages were much amalgamated
with Chaldaic races. Any one familiar with crania, who will compare this Assyrian head
with the beautiful Egyptian series lithographed in the Crania ¿Egyptiaca, cannot fail to be
struck with its resemblance to many of the latter, even more forcibly than anatomists will,
through our small, if accurate, wood-cuts.
To vary these illustrations, while confirming the deductions already
drawn, I borrow two admirably-preserved heads (Figs. 265 and 266)
Fro. 265.
Fig. 266.