m thence that they
obtained their lapis-lazuli, and the hills from which it was extracted
were popularly supposed to consist almost entirely of one compact mass
of this precious mineral. Their highest peak, now known as the Demavend,
was then called Bikni,* a name which had come to be applied to the whole
district.

* The country of Bikni is probably Rhagian Media and Mount
Bikni, the modern Demavend.

To the Assyrians it stood as the utmost boundary mark of the known
world, beyond which their imagination pictured little more than a
confused mist of almost fabulous regions and peoples. Assur-dainani
caught a distant glimpse of the snow-capped pyramid of Demavend, but
approached no nearer than its lower slopes, whence he retraced his steps
after having levied tribute from their inhabitants. The fame of this
exploit spread far and wide in a marvellously short space of time, and
chiefs who till then had vacillated in their decision now crowded the
path of the victor, eager to pay him homage on his return: even the King
of Illipi thought it wise to avoid the risk of invasion, and hastened of
his own accord to meet the conqueror. Here, again, Tiglath-pileser
had merely to show himself in order to re-establish the supremacy of
Assyria: the races of the plain, for many years familiar with defeat,
made no pretence of serious resistance, but bowed their necks beneath a
fresh yoke almost without protest.

[Illustration: 218.jpg PRINCIPAL PAK OF MOUNT BIKNI (DEMAVEND)]

Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph by M. de Morgan.

Having thus secured his rear from attack for some years at any rate,
Tiglath-pileser no longer hesitated to try conclusions with Urartu. The
struggle in which he now deliberately engaged could not fail to be a
decisive one; for Urartu, buoyed up and borne on the wave of some fifty
years of prosperity, had almost succeeded in reaching first rank
among the Asiatic powers: one more victory over Nineveh, and it would
become--for how long none might say--undisputed mistress of the whole of
Asia. Assyria, on the other hand, had reached a. point where its whole
future hung upon a single issue of defeat or victory. The prestige with
which the brilliant campaigns of Assur-nazir-pal and Shalmaneser III.
had invested its name, if somewhat diminished, had still survived its
recent reverses, and the terror inspired by its arms was so great even
among races who had witnessed them from a distance, that the