edge of the
first story to the terrace of the second, forming one single
staircase, perhaps of the same width as this second story,
leading from the base to the summit of the building.

[Illustration: 134.jpg THE TEMPLE OF NANNAR AT URU, APPROXIMATELY
RESTORED.]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin. The restoration differs from that
proposed by Perrot-Chipiez. I have made it by working out
the description taken down on the spot by Taylor.

The central mass of crude brick has preserved its casing of red tiles,
cemented with bitumen, almost intact up to the top; it is
strengthened by buttresses--nine on the longer and six on the shorter
sides--projecting about a foot, which relieve its rather bare surface.
The second story rises to the height of only 20 feet above, the first,
and when intact could not have been more than 26 to 30 feet high.* Many
bricks bearing the stamp of Dungi are found among the materials used in
the latest restoration, which took place about the VIth century before
our era; they have a smooth surface, are broken here and there by
air-holes, and their very simplicity seems to bear witness to the fact
that Nabonidos confined himself to the task of merely restoring things
to the state in which the earlier kings of Uru had left them.**

[Illustration: 135.jpg THE TEMPLE OF URU IN ITS PRESENT STATE, ACCORDING
TO TAYLOR]

Facsimile, by Faucher-Gudin, of the drawing published by
Taylor.

* At the present time 14 feet high, plus 5 feet of rubbish,
119 feet long, 75 feet wide (Loftus, _Travels and Researches
in Olialdsea and Susiana_, p. 129).

** The cylinders of Nabonidos describing the restoration of
the temple were found at the four angles of the second story
by Taylor.

Till within the last century, traces of a third story to this temple
might have been distinguished; unlike the lower ones, it was not of
solid brickwork, but contained at least one chamber: this was the Holy
of Holies, the sanctuary of Nannar. The external walls were covered with
pale blue enamelled tiles, having a polished surface. The interior
was panelled with cedar or cypress--rare woods procured as articles
of commerce from the peoples of the North and West; this woodwork was
inlaid in parts with thin leaves of gold, alternating with panels of
mosaics composed of small pieces of white marble, alabaster, onyx, and
agate, cut and polished.

[Illustration: 136.jpg