ASSYRIAN MONUMENTS. 179 



human figure shooting a trident from a bow. We 

 have seen that the trident is only a form of ' fleur-de- 

 lys,' which, again, is only a modification of horns. 

 Shooting a trident, then, in this case, would seem to 

 mean ' a dispensing of protection by the Deity,' the 

 horns being the symbol of protection against the evil 

 eye. 



Now comes the question : What led those people 

 to select horns in particular as a protection against 

 the evil eye ? 



There can hardly be much doubt that the ' post 

 hoc, propter hoc ' theory will help us in explaining 

 the genesis of this curious superstition. This ' post 

 hoc ' theory is very prevalent even in our own times. 

 Let us suppose a case in primitive times. 



A hunter shoots a wild goat, or antelope. It is 

 carried to his home, may be a cave ; he and his family 

 eat it ; the skin is made into clothing, etc., but what 

 about the horns? They cannot be eaten, and they 

 can be utilized only for limited purposes. What is to 

 be done with them ? The skull and horns are stuck 

 upon a pole, or on a tree near the dwelling, as a 

 trophy of a successful hunt — a matter of social im- 

 portance among primitive people, nay, among civilized 

 people also. After a little time somebody imagines 

 that this hunter is more fortunate than others — has 

 more luck. His family and himself, being better fed, 



