MOON GOD’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1931, Page 3

MOON GOD’S COURT

RELICS DISCOVERED LONDON. January (>. Princess Beishalt-e-Namiar, liigli Priestess of tin* .Moon God, kept solemn state in a palace at I r, known as the cloister of Xabonidos, son of Belshazzar, and last, of the kings of the Babylonians—and 'an Eng sh prole soi has unearthed it after thousands of years. Dr. Leonard Woolley, head of tlie party of archaeologists, who are excavating the site of the ancient city of Ur, writes in "the Times” an account of the latest discoveries.

“We Lave now unearthed the hugest, building yet chip: nt Gr,” lie sav , •‘lt is 100 yards .square. .More than 70 chambers are grouped about the spacious hall with solid walls. The whole structure is enclosed with a defensive wall, pierced with a monumental gateway. The stanins impressed on the burnt brick pavement identify ‘the building as the 'Coister’ which King Xabonidos, in the sixth century Ii.CJ.. built as a residence for It is daughter, whom In' made High Priestess of the .Moon God.

“The palace is a smalW replica ot King Nohuchadne/.zar’s nuge palace at Babylon. The main gate faced the Moon God’s temple, which we hire alrerdv excavated.”

The discoveries;,included, under the doorway, hriekhoxes containing emblems of the powers which protected the houses. Among them is the god Papsugal, a squat ugly fierce figure, girt with a copper baldric (sash) and hranishing a copper spear. Little mud dogs, in sets of five and painted in different colours are now cracked and crumbling, but sti’! keep guard, although the palace is destroyed to the level <tf the floor.