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Show THE WORLD'S OLDEST CITY. It It BIsmya, In Aria, Sotfth of Ancient Babylon. ,Edgnr J. Bnnksprofcssor of tho Turkiahlangunge m tho University of Chicago, arrived, says tho Baltimore Balti-more News, was tlio guest of tho Woman's College of Baltimore, hero recently, where ho is to deliver two lectures. "Tho Oldest City in the World," about which Dr. Banks spoke, is tho ancient city of Bismya, in Asia, which lies Bomcwhnt south of Babylon. Dr. Banks was himself him-self in charge of tho excavations of this prehistoric ruin, having been sent by the University of Chicago as director of tho oriental research party. For two years the research party works in Babylon and Assyria, and for two years in Egypt, success-holy. success-holy. From his long period of residence resi-dence in these countries nnd his own personal work in the matter, Dr. Banks has a Amd of historical knowledge and graphic incidents of life in the orient. "Perhaps the most interesting 'find' in Bisr.iya, the oldest city in tho world," said Dr. Banks, "i3 a statue of David. 1 1 has been proved that this piece of sculpture belongs to the Sumarian dynasty, and i3 the most ancient statue known to be in existence." When asko.l what had become of tho statue, Dr. Banks replied that tlio Tuikish government kept a firm grip on eerything found on or in Turkish soil. The strictest sort of surveillance is exercised over foreign for-eign excavators that not a single piece of ancient ruins may be taken from the country. "The 'David,' I am sorry to say, is in the Turkish museum at Constantinople," Con-stantinople," said Dr. Banks. But, despite the stringent laws and the strict watch ocr the workers exercised exer-cised by tho government, Dr. Banks had to admit that nn excavator seldom sel-dom left tho country without having hav-ing smuggled something through. Exactly how old tho oldest city is, it would bo dillicult to say. Written Writ-ten records hae boon found in tho ruins which actuaFly date back to 4000 B. C. |
