III. 



THE CONE-FRUIT. 



Now, connected with sacred trees, is that very pro- 

 minent cone-shaped object, held in the hand of winged 

 genii, and pointed either at a sacred tree or at the 

 King's person, or at the entrance of a temple, palace, 

 or town. 



This will lead us to the study of the cone-fruit of the 

 Assyrian monuments. 



Sometimes the figures holding it have the head of a 

 man, and sometimes that of an eagle. Some spiritual 

 function appears to have been attached to these figures, 

 for they are always ivinged. 



It should be noted, in connection with this cone- 

 fruit, that, in the other hand, the genius invariably 

 holds a bucket of some sort. 



With the exception of one figure, it is always one 

 cone that is held in the hand. In that one exception 

 the hand holds a branch, consisting of two cones, and 

 three lotus-like things, decorated with a rosette, as is 

 shown in fig. 28. 



Assyriologists and antiquarians had concluded that 

 this object was meant for a fir-cone, and probably a 

 cedar-cone, as certain hymns showed that the cedar-cone 

 was held in great veneration in Assyria. Speculation 



