The war god of Babylon, everyone had said it was just a myth. They all claimed he insulted the field of archeology with his, "self-appointed quest." Ninurta was a gorgeous solid gold creature before him.
Jonathan brushed the ancient sand delicately from the priceless relic. The ruby eyes were masterfully set in the angry face. The craftsmanship of the Nebo people had been legendary until around fifteen hundred years earlier. So much legend his peers assumed it was fiction. After all, no genuine artifact had ever been found.
According to his associates, there wasn't even a full-sized settlement. A partially exposed roof was the only evidence any buildings or life had existed there. Yet, they never took the time to look beneath. It was his destiny to excavate Nebo. His purpose alone.
He gazed deep within the recesses of the red jewels, his emerald eyes gleamed with insatiable greed for the power within. The statue's eyes appeared to go on forever, he couldn't stop himself from looking deeper into the gems. It was magnificent. He looked down into the soul of an ancient civilization long forgotten. All his labor had paid off.
The excavation had been more than he could bare at times. The constant scalding winds and vicious sandstorms set in for hours. He could only pray he found something substantial to make the effort worthwhile. He had already lost creditability with several institutions, they saw his ambition and drive as frivolous and, "wasteful." He would show them all what morons they were.
The metal bunker provided some protection from the elements. The buildings were left from World War II, he'd purchased and moved them to Nebo. His peers even had the locals laughing at him, initially.
They were safe from the winds and the driving sand, but even the shelter couldn't stop the dry heat. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand, he had the amazing piece in his palm. His goal in life had been fulfilled. Now he could show those smug bastards who knew their history.
Egypt was the most popular excavation country. The cities and surrounding areas of Giza and Alexandria were usually bustling with all forms of searching. The Valley of the Kings had attracted archeologists and anthropologists since its discovery. Nebo was deemed a, "poor city." It's residents were mostly farmers and merchants, there were no palaces or elaborate tombs.
Although it sat near Tell-el-Obeid, Nebo was virtually unheard of. The most extravagant construction its citizens ever created was the Temple of Ninurta. That was where they stored the sacred fruits of their artful and intricate workmanship. While the columns had fallen and the barely exposed roof lay within the dunes, he had found what he searched for. For a millennium it had been ignored and neglected, until he followed his instincts.
The protective sand had blanketed the artifacts for thousands of years and preserved the most delicate of detail. Their excavation had produced flint sickles for harvesting along with basalt mortars and pestles for grinding. All of them carried traces of their original substances. Acacia stools had been uncovered, alabaster vessels for storing perfume, even some petrified leather bags. From the soil examinations around the exposed city, he proved the main crops were wheat and cumin.
They were a simple people with contented lives. The early signs of a trash pit was discovered on the left side of the city. There were several stone foundations of what might've been homes for the more elite citizens near the temple. He had found his treasure. His mission for so many years finally proved fruitful. The temple was gorgeous, although it still lay half-buried, it was magnificent. He assumed it was destroyed during the raid, however it was merely toppled and buried during a major sandstorm.
The Unknown War had crippled the city of Nebo. The enemy was believed to be soldiers from the Roman Empire. There was suspicion that the Egyptians had desired the land, however Nebo was constructed after Egypt had developed into a city. Would they have waited so long before claiming the land?
It was written two hundred years later that priests had carried the valuable items into the temple and hid them. They placed their precious crafts far from the oncoming marauders´ greedy eyes . Before all was known about the city's sacrosanct treasures, the priests were slain. An action which forever silenced any formal or documented mention of the Statue of Ninurta.
Rome seemed to be the starting point for all lore regarding Nebo. He polished the beautiful piece with a soft rag. He lovingly spoke to it, "Well, my friend. I've been searching for you for a long, long time. Even when your existence was doubted by science, I knew you were real." He smiled and his chest swelled with pride.
His lust for the worshipped piece of had taken him through four countries and thirty years. He had endured most of the Middle East. He tolerated the hostile forces and elements to find the object of his obsession. According to myth whosoever possessed the relic could rule the world. What better way to achieve power? He laughed at the thought. It was purely folklore, much like the "curse" surrounding the tombs of Egypt.
Howard Carter's team did die rapidly and painfully, however the "curse" was merely a lethal mold which had lived on the walls and corridors in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Of course, there is always the possibility the mold was "planted," by Egyptian priests.
He hadn't pursued the statue for a myth, he was a man of logic. The piece itself was worth more than a lifetime as an archeologist. The Museum of London had already stated they would provide him with a few million pounds for any artifacts of the Nebo civilization. Their estimates came from the lack of facts and relics from the area. That number would quadruple with the statue. He found the city, the temple, and the proverbial "golden calf." The fine detail was unbelievable.
The items which were hidden by the priests were not inventoried. There were untold riches waiting for any person who located them. They were not as rich as Egypt, but they did boast minor treasures. Things which would be priceless in today's world. The Statue of Ninurta was the most sought-after, it was the only known item hidden.
