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The excavations at Babylon

Chapter 52: L THE CENTRAL MOUND OF HOMERA
By Robert Koldewey
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Archaeology & AnthropologyHistory - Ancient

About This Book

The work provides a detailed, chronological account of large-scale archaeological excavations at an ancient Mesopotamian city, outlining areas opened, trenching strategies, and the sequence of field campaigns. It describes uncovered architectural elements such as monumental gates, thick defensive walls, temples, palaces, processional streets, and a stone bridge, with particular attention to enamelled bricks and relief decoration. Stratigraphic observations and house-plan exposures are used to reconstruct phases of occupation and urban development. The volume includes measured plans, illustrations, and photographs, accompanied by epigraphic readings and interpretive commentary that relate finds to building history. Practical notes on excavation methodology, conservation, and logistical challenges complete the account.

L
THE CENTRAL MOUND OF HOMERA

The central group of Homera (w 21 on plan, Fig. 249), which consists below of exactly the same débris as that we have just described at the northern mound, differs greatly from the latter in that at a height of 7.5 metres above zero a platform is constructed, and that not by merely levelling down a mound that already existed, but by actually piling up materials to the requisite height and levelling them. Upon this platform at the present time there is a layer of earth, from 2 to 3 metres high, with some fragments of brick and a few potsherds; no walls are to be seen in it. It appears, therefore, that this top layer comes from quite late and very inferior dwellings, for which the platform itself was not constructed. The materials of which the level of this platform consists are very much reddened, as though they had been burnt. Indications of a great conflagration are to be found in blocks of mud brick smelted together by a fierce fire, and bearing clear imprints of palm and other wood. In many places the prints show the sharp edges of good carpenter’s work. All this is remarkable, and we should like to find the explanation of it.

This may perhaps be found in the report given by Diodorus (xvii. 115[5]) of the funeral pyre Alexander the Great caused to be erected to solemnise the funeral ceremonies of Hephaestion. In order to form a platform for this magnificently decorated wooden construction, he had part of the city wall of Babylon demolished, and used the brick materials thus obtained. The platform has perished very considerably on all sides, and the level surface that still survives is undoubtedly only a small part of the original, so that it is useless to endeavour to recover the traces of the construction in detail.

The place lies exactly opposite the Citadel, and was divided from it in the time of Alexander by the Euphrates. The magnificent pyre, which is said to have cost 12,000 talents, when seen from the Acropolis must have stood out in a most impressive manner against the eastern horizon.