ASSYRIAN MONUMENTS. 187 



that would be a guarantee against forgery. The central 

 group, which told some sort of story, mythical or other- 

 wise, might be like that of others, but the accessory 

 figures and symbols, and comicalities, would stamp it 

 as unique. 



These would appear to be small things to dwell upon, 

 but I think they are points which will account for many 

 of the curious features of these interesting relics. 



In order that we may penetrate more intimately 

 into the thoughts and actions of those ancient people, 

 and more especially of their artists, we shall have to 

 pass, sketchily, in review, some of these cylinders. 



In these seals, owing to the difficult nature of the 

 engraver's work, we may get some hints of the trans- 

 formations the sacred tree and other symbols have 

 undergone — changes so great that, were it not for 

 some intermediate types, they would be as difficult to 

 recognize as once were the tri-digitate hand and foot 

 of the horse. 



Some sort of classification of cylinders would seem 

 needed. For instance, they would be at once divisible 

 into those with cuneiform inscriptions and those with- 

 out them. 



Mr, St. Chad Boscawen has informed me that when 

 there occurs an inscription it refers to the owner's 

 name, his fathei^s name, and the name of his patron 

 god. 



