This will appear sufficiently on a comparison of the two representations, one of which is taken from Mr.Layard's representation of Sennacherib's slab, while the other is from a sculpture on the column of Trajan.

As we have no mention of the speaking-trumpet in any ancient writer, as the shape of the object under consideration is that of a known ancient instrument of music, and as an ordinary horn would have been of great use in giving signals to workmen engaged as the laborers are upon the sculpture, it seems best to regard the object in question as such a horn--an instrument of great power, but of little compass--more suitable therefore for signal-giving than for concerts.

[PLATE CXXX., Fig.

3.] Passing now from the instruments of the Assyrians to the general features and character of their music, we may observe, in the first place, that while it is fair to suppose them acquainted with each form of the triple symphony, there is only evidence that they knew of two forms out of the three--viz, the harmony of instruments, and that of instruments and voices in combination.

Of these two they seem greatly to have preferred the concert of instruments without voices; indeed, one instance alone shows that they were not wholly ignorant of the more complex harmony.