Besides this interesting monument, there are very few remains of art which can be ascribed to Shalmaneser’s time with any confidence.  The sculptures found on the site of his palace belonged to a later monarch, who restored and embellished it.  His own bas-reliefs were torn from their places by Esarhaddon, and by him defaced and used as materials in the construction of a new palace.  We are thus left almost without materials for judging of the progress made by art during Shalmaneser’s reign.  Architecture, it may be conjectured, was modified to a certain extent, precious woods being employed more frequently and more largely than before; a fact of which we seem to have an indication in the frequent expeditions made by Shalmaneser into Syria, for the single purpose of cutting timber in its forests.  Sculpture, to judge from the obelisk, made no advance.  The same formality, the same heaviness of outline, the same rigid adherence to the profile in all representations both of man and beast, characterize the reliefs of both reigns equally, so far as we have any means of judging.

Shalmaneser seems to have held his court ordinarily at Calah, where he built his palace and set up his obelisk; but sometimes he would reside for a time at Nineveh or at Asshur.  He does not appear to have built any important edifice at either of these two cities, but at the latter he left a monument which possesses some interest.  This is the stone statue, now in a mutilated condition, representing a king seated, which was found by Mr. Layard at Kileh-Sherghat, and of which some notice has already been taken.  Its proportions are better than those of the small statue of the monarch’s father, standing in his sacrificial dress, which was found at Nimrud; and it is superior to that work of art, in being of the size of life; but either its execution was originally very rude, or it must have suffered grievously by exposure, for it is now wholly rough and unpolished.

The later years of Shahuaneser appear to have been troubled by a dangerous rebellion.  The infirmities of age were probably creeping upon him.  He had ceased to go out with his armies; and had handed over a portion of his authority to the favorite general who was entrusted with the command of his forces year after year.  The favor thus shown may have provoked jealousy and even alarm.  It may have been thought that the legitimate successor was imperilled by the exaltation of a subject whose position would enable him to in gratiate himself with the troops, and who might be expected, on the death of his patron, to make an effort to place the crown on his own head.  Fears of this kind may very probably have so worked on the mind of the heir apparent as to determine him not to await his father’s demise, but rather to raise the standard of revolt during his lifetime, and to endeavor, by an unexpected coup-de-main, to anticipate and ruin his rival.  Or, possibly, Asshur-danin-pal, the eldest son of Shalmaneser, like