We re-enter the Nimroud Gallery, turn immediately to the right, and pass through the ante-room (in which are warlike and other scenes from the reign of Tiglath-Pileser) into the Assyrian Saloon, a galleried hall, used also as a lectureroom, which contains sculptures from Calah of Tiglath-Pileser II's reign, and others, of a more finished art, from the palaces at Nineveh of the later kings Sennacherib and Ashurbani-pal (705-681 and 668-626 B.C.).
We proceed along the gallery, to the left. On the east wall here are reliefs representing Ashur-bani-pal lion-hunting; on the south wall, miniature hunting scenes; on the west wall, scenes after the hunt, Ashur-bani-pal pouring libations over dead lions, attendants returning, etc.; then, scenes in the assault and capture of the Israelitish town of Lachish by Sennacherib, when Hezekiah had refused further payment of the tribute exacted after the siege of Jerusalem.
The reliefs on the ground-floor, reached by a staircase from the ante-room, are of a similar character. At the south end of the hall is an example of a very early Egyptian 'Mastaba' tomb, with internal bas-reliefs. In a glass-case are the bronze bands of the gates of Tell-Balawat, recording the conquests of Shalmaneser II (860-825 B.C.).
Retracing our steps to the Nimroud Central Saloon, we next enter the Nineveh Gallery, in which are reliefs, etc., from the palace built at Nineveh by Sennacherib, and afterwards used by Ashur-bani-pal. The damage from which these have visibly suffered was wrought by fire at the destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians and Medes in 609 B.C. West Wall: 1. Cast of a relief of Esarhaddon, cut in the rock near Beirut; 3. Colossal face. Slabs (in alabaster) showing Sennacherib's wars: 20-29. Assault on a hill-town, believed to be Jerusalem. 36-43. Slabs from the walls of a long passage which led down from the palace (on one side, descending, horses and grooms; on the other, ascending, attendants with dishes). East Wall: 45-47. Conquest of Eiam by Ashur-bani-pal (668-626 B.C.); 51-56. Building of Sennacherib's palace (colossal bulls shown in 51, 52. and 55).
