ISO-SWS OBSERVATIONS OF NGC-1068

We present a first analysis of 2.4-45 mu m spectra of NGC 1068 obtaine d with the Short Wavelength Spectrometer SWS on board the Infrared Spa ce Observatory ISO. The measured fine-structure Line fluxes can be fit successfully by a simple photoionization model invoking an EUV bump i n the ionizing continuum, similar to the case of the Circinus galaxy. Difference are observed between the [OIV] 26 mu m NLR line profile and optical NLR line profiles which may indicate significant extinction t o part of the NLR. We detect pure rotational transitions of molecular hydrogen that must be emitted by molecular gas spanning a wide range o f temperatures. The unusual strength of the fundamental S (0) 28 mu m rotational transition is evidence for a large (> 1.5 x 10(9) M.) gas m ass at temperatures near 100 K. Either most of the gas in the circumnu clear region of NGC 1068 is warm or previous molecular mass estimates based on CO observations were too low. Strong mid-infrared continuum f rom the circumnuclear warm dust is prominent in our spectrum. The weak PAH emission detected at the edges of the 9.7 mu m silicate absorptio n should be considered in interpretations of the silicate feature.