n enormous scale would be requisite for such purposes; and the
Babylonians must thus have possessed the art of running into a single
mold vast masses of metal. Probably the gates here mentioned were
solid; but occasionally, it would seem, the Babylonians had gates of a
different kind, composed of a number of perpendicular bars, united by
horizontal ones above and below [as in PLATE XIX., Fig. 2.]. They had
also, it would appear, metal gateways of a similar character.

The metal-work of personal ornaments, such as bracelets and armlets, and
again that of dagger handles, seems to have resembled the work of the
Assyrians.

Small figures in bronze were occasionally cast by the Babylonians, which
were sometimes probably used as amulets, while perhaps more generally
they wore mere ornaments of houses, furniture, and the like. Among these
may be noticed figures of dogs in a sitting posture, much resembling the
dog represented among the constellations, figures of men, grotesque
in character, and figures of monsters. An interesting specimen, which
combines a man and a monster, was found by Sir R. Ker Porter at Babylon.
[PLATE XX., Fig. 1.]

[Illustration: PLATE XX.]

The pottery of the Babylonians was of excellent quality, and is scarcely
to be distinguished from the Assyrian, which it resembles alike in form
and in material. The bricks of the best period were on the whole better
than any used in the sister country, and may compare for hardness and
fineness with the best Roman. The earthenware is of a fine terra-cotta,
generally of a light red color, and slightly baked, but occasionally of
a yellow hue, with a tinge of green. It consists of cups, jars, vases,
and other vessels. They appear to have been made upon the wheel, and
are in general unornamented. From representations upon the cylinders, it
appears that the shapes were often elegant. Long and narrow vases with
thin necks seem to have been used for water vessels; these had rounded
or pointed bases, and required therefore the support of a stand. Thin
jugs were also in use, with slight elegant handles. It is conjectured
that sometimes modelled figures may have been introduced at the sides as
handles to the vases; but neither the cylinders nor the extant remains
confirm this supposition. The only ornamentation hitherto observed
consists in a double band which seems to have been carried round some of
the vases in an incomplete spiral. The vases sometimes have two handl