J*.RT. 4 ANCIENT OKIENTAL SEALS CASANOWICZ 13 



5. Worshipper before the column of Marduk, which rests upon an altar. Above, 

 star (Ishtar). The original, a cone of chalcedony, from Hillah, Meso- 

 potamia, is in the United States National Museum. (Cat. No. 207931, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



■6. God, probably Sin, the moon god, as suggested by the crescent above, seated ; 

 before him a worshipper in long robe ; below them some small animal is 

 creeping into the lap of the god. Behind the worshipper a lion on his 

 hind legs. Three lines of inscription separate the lion from the god. 

 The original of brown hematite from Hillah, Mesopotamia, is in the 

 United States National Museum. (Cat. No. 207906, U.S.N.M.) 



7. Ishtar in her character as goddess of war ("Ishtar of Arbela," in con- 



tradistinction from " Ishtar of Nineveh," as goddess of love and fertility) 

 in conical headdress, with right foot on her bird, the dove, holding in her 

 right hand the Babylonian caduceus ; " in the left, the crooked sword or 

 scimitar, common to her and Marduk. From her shoulders rise sheaves 

 of clubs. A small animal — monkey (?) — is climbing up to the goddess. 

 At her right is Raman, the storm god, in low cap and short tunic, hold- 

 ing in his left hand an ax or hammer with the right arm bent against 

 his side. On the other side is a repetition of the figure of Raman with 

 Shala, his spouse, in long flounced robe and conical headdress in the 

 attitude of adoration, with a small figure in short tunic between them. 

 Two lines of inscription separate the two scenes. The original, of por- 

 phyry, from Hillah, Mesopotamia, is in the United States National 

 Museum. (Cat. No. 207926, U.S.N.M.) 



8. Ishtar standing in a circle of rays which terminate in dots (stars). The 



original, a scaraboid of chalcedony, is owned by Frederick Stearns. 

 (Cat. No. 158362, U.S.N.M.) 



Plate 7 



1. Seated divinity in flounced robe. Before him the tree of life and two 



worshippers. Four lines of inscription. The original of hematite is owned 

 by Mrs. Talcott Williams. (Cat. No. 311264, U.S.N.M.) 



2. Seated divinity. Before him worshipper with left arm raised, right close 



to the body. Between them, below scorpion, the animal of Iskhara, or 

 goddess of the Kassite i^antheon of whom very little is known; above, 

 star; behind the god are three small animals, one above the other. The 

 original, of carnelian, from Hillah, Mesopotamia, is in the United States 

 National Museum. (Cat. No. 207918, U.S.N.M.) 

 8. The same as plate 6, No. 6. 



4. Two divinities standing. In the field, tree and crescent. The engraving is 



too much worn for detailed identification. The original is owned by Mrs. 

 Talcott Williams. (Cat. No. 311287, U.S.N.M.) 



5. In the center, Shamash, the sun god, stepping over a mountain, symbolizing 



sunrise; to his right, another god, perhaps Sin, the moon god, as sug- 

 gested by the crescent above; to his left, a worshipper. One line of 

 inscription. The original of basalt from Aintab, Syria, is owned by 

 Frederick Stearns. (Cat. No. 158437, U.S.N.M.) 



"The Babylonian caduceus consists of two serpents rising from a vertical stem, -with 

 imperfect bodies and beads thrown outward. The neck is thickened, like that of the 

 Egyptian asp (sacred uraeus). This caduceus may have been the source of the Greek 

 caduceus, carried by Hermes (Mercury), and was probably originally conceived as a 

 weapon. Compare W. H. Ward, The Seal Cylinders of Western Asia, p. 408. 



