ASSYRIAN MONUMENTS. 199 



The origin of these movements of the hands may- 

 have been involuntary and instinctive — in short of a 

 psychological origin. The aggressor lifts his arm to 

 strike, while the defendant lifts both hands to protect 

 his head from the blow of the agressor. 



In addition to authority, the uplifted hand might 

 seem also to mean attention, in persons of high rank, and 

 is synonymous with clasping hand by hand before one, 

 in persons of a lower rank, just as in persons of the 

 lowest rank both palms are joined, when they listen and 

 receive orders. The uplifted hand might also mean 

 warning. But in those days of want of perspective, 

 the hand was always shown flat, with either the palm 

 or the back towards the spectator. 



There are other signs of distinction, such as a long 

 staff, a mace, an umbrella. Before the occupation of 

 Lucknow by the British it was as much as a man's 

 life was worth for him to open an umbrella over his 

 head- That was the king's prerogative only. One of 

 the king's palaces was surmounted by gilt umbrellas. 

 On the Assyrian monuments we frequently meet with 

 an umbrella held over the king's head, or so fixed as 

 to shade him. 



Anyhow, it would seem that, from a figure with up- 

 lifted hand, the hand alone began to be used as a 

 symbol, using, as often happens, the part for the 

 whole. 



