2oS FLORA OF ASSYRIAN MONUMENTS. 



raised hands, two joined palms, one lowered hand, the 

 hand with three fingers up, that with the index finger 

 only displayed, and so forth — all breeding other symbols, 

 and varying as they multiplied. 



The 'tree of life,' the 'key of life,' the 'tree of know- 

 ledge ' or of temptation, the ' tree of liberty,' (all sacred 

 trees), the trees planted by noted persons, as records 

 of certain events, seem to have had a common origin. 

 The original model became transformed into the others 

 by passing through the fancy-generators of poetical 

 brains. 



