How Many Miles to Babylon?

Frozen in Mid-Step - How Did He Get Into Such an Awkward Position?

This stark black and white image from the late 19th century is dominated by a runner holding a candlestick who is apparently frozen in time. The strange shape of his shadow points to a cartouche-like line drawing in the lower right corner. Other than the runner and his shadow, this is the only marking on the vast white lower portion of the image. A long, low and flat wall with rough sketches of a line of figures and an elaborate gate is seen at the top of the image, perhaps acknowledging both the line of children in the old game and the walls, although reportedly much higher, surrounding ancient Babylon and pierced regularly with magnificent bronze gates. Beyond the wall, the top third of the illustration is solid black except for three palm trees rising above the wall on the left of the picture.