Hittite art was originally borrowed from Babylonia, but modified by the borrowers in a peculiar way. The borrowing took place before the rise of Assyria. The astronomical and astrological tablets belonging to the great work on the heavenly bodies which was compiled for the library of Sargon I of Accad speak from time to time of the Khattâ or Hittites, a clear proof that already at that remote epoch they had moved down from their northern home into their new quarters in Syria. Besides the art of Babylonia they also borrowed several of the Babylonian deities and religious legends. The supreme goddess of Carchemish was the Babylonian Istar or Ashtoreth, and the representation of her found on early Babylonian cylinders was carried by the Hittites to the western coasts of Asia Minor, and from thence made its way across the Ægean Sea to Greece. Even the Amazons of Greek mythology were really nothing more than the priestesses of this Hittite divinity, who wore arms in honour of the goddess. The cities which according to the Greeks were founded by the Amazons were all of Hittite origin.
We may expect to discover hereafter that the influence exercised by the Hittites upon their Syrian neighbours was almost as profound as that exercised by them upon their neighbours in Asia Minor, and through these upon the fathers of the Greeks. For the present, however, we must be content with the startling results that have already been obtained in this new field of research. A people that once played an important part in the history of the civilised world has been again revealed to us after centuries of oblivion, and a forgotten empire has been again brought to light. The first chapter has been opened of a new history, which can only be completed when more Hittite inscriptions have been discovered, and the story they contain has been deciphered. All that is now needed are explorers and excavators, who shall do for the buried cities of the Hittites what Botta and Layard have done for Nineveh or Schliemann for Mykenæ and Troy.
_Capture of Jerusalem.--Shishak.--Shalmaneser II.--Inscription describing the campaign of his sixth year.--Correction of the Biblical chronology.--The worship of Rimmon.--War against Hazael.--The black obelisk.--Rimmon-nirari.--Tiglath-Pileser II.--The fall of Arpad.--Menahem pays tribute.--Alliance of Ahaz with Assyria.--Capture of Samaria and of Damascus.--Destruction of Samaria.--Sargon, Cuthah, and Sepharvaim.--Merodach-baladan.--Invasion of Judah by Sargon.--True interpretation of Isaiah x. and xi.--Sennacherib's invasion.--His account of it.--The Biblical account.--The date.--The Lachish bas-relief.--Jewish policy in Hezekiah's reign.--Hezekiah's public works.--The will of Sennacherib.--Esar-haddon's reign.--Explanation of 2 Chron. xxxiii. 2.--Isaiah xix.--Reign of Assur-bani-pal.--Date of the fall of Assyria.--Chronological table of events described in the chapter._