200 FLORA OF THE 



Then the hand may have become degraded into a 

 pentadent — the three fingers open being the synonym 

 of a trident. In fig. g^a, c, d, /i, and /, we notice various 

 forms of pentadents suited for holding in the hand. 

 In ^ of the same figure, we have a sceptre tipped by 

 a hand, supported by a pair of horns, and in r and k 

 we have, possibly, a degradation of the same emblem.^ 

 The different forms of sceptres may have belonged to 

 different periods of the Assyrian history, and may have 

 been adopted by different rulers, but we see them all 

 mixed up on the cylinders. The modification may also 

 have been intentional on the part of the engraver, in 

 order to produce a seal different from all others. 



As there were modifications of the hand, used as 

 sceptres, so there were modifications or degradations of 

 the tree and horns, used for the same purpose, and 

 so we find the ' ankh ' or the 'key of life' held in 

 the hand, so also we get sceptres tipped with a globe 

 surmounted by a cross, which seems to be only the 

 ' key of life ' with the handle. 



As I have already stated, it was not my intention 

 to treat of cylinders in a systematic way, and to 

 presume to disentangle the maze of Greek myths and 

 to show their evolution from those of Babylonia. I 

 have only touched upon scj)ie of the features of the 



' The degradation of emblems, especially on cylinders, may have been a 

 necessity of the artist in engraving a hard stone with imperfect tools. It is 

 important to impress the reader with this, so I have repeated it. 



