Assyrian idols were in stone, baked clay, or metal.  Some images of Nebo and of Ishtar have been obtained from the ruins.  Those of Nebo are standing figures, of a larger size than the human, though not greatly exceeding it.  They have been much injured by time, and it is difficult to pronounce decidedly on their original workmanship:  but, judging by what appears, it would seem to have been of a ruder and coarser character than that of the slabs or of the royal statues.  The Nebo images are heavy, formal, inexpressive, and not over well-proportioned; but they are not wanting in a certain quiet dignity which impresses the beholder.  They are unfortunately disfigured, like so many of the lions and bulls, by several lines of cuneiform writing inscribed round their bodies; but this artistic defect is pardoned by the antiquarian, who learns from the inscribed lines the fact that the statues represent Nebo, and the time and circumstances of their dedication.

Clay idols are very frequent.  They are generally in a good material, and are of various sizes, yet never approaching to the full stature of humanity.  Generally they are mere statuettes, less than a foot in height.  Specimens have been selected for representation in the preceding volume, from which a general idea of their character is obtainable.  They are, like the stone idols, formal and inexpressive in style, while they are even ruder and coarser than those figures in workmanship.  We must regard them as intended chiefly for private use among the mass of the population, while we must view the stone idols as the objects of public worship in the shrines and temples.

Idols in metal have not hitherto appeared among the objects recovered from the Assyrian cities.  We may conclude, however, from the passage of Nahum prefixed to this chapter, as well as from general probability, that they were known and used by the Assyrians, who seem to have even admitted them—­no less than stone statues—­into their temples.  The ordinary metal used was no doubt bronze; but in Assyria, as in Babylonia, silver, and perhaps in some few instances gold, may have been employed for idols, in cases where they were intended as proofs to the world at large of the wealth and magnificence of a monarch.

The Assyrians worshipped their gods chiefly with sacrifices and offerings, Tiglath-Pileser I., relates that he offered sacrifice to Anu and Vul on completing the repairs of their temple.  Asshur-izir-pal says that he sacrificed to the gods after embarking on the Mediterranean.  Vul-lush IV, sacrificed to Bel-Merodach, Nebo, and Nergal, in their respective high seats at Babylon, Borsippa, and Cutha.  Sennacherib offered sacrifices to Hoa on the sea-shore after an expedition in the Persian Gulf.  Esarhaddon “slew great and costly sacrifices” at Nineveh upon completing his great palace in that capital.  Sacrifice was clearly regarded as a duty by the kings generally, and was the ordinary mode by which they propitiated the favor of the national deities.