108 Mr. Spiller'a Analyses of a Babylonian Cylinder and Amulet. 



The Babxjlonian " Cylinder.'* 



The general form of this is cylindrical, slightly diminishing 

 in diameter towards the middle, with a hole drilled through the 

 centre lengthwise, for the purpose, no doubt, either of stringing 

 them, or supporting them on a central rod, after the manner of 

 the cotton-reels in a spinning-machine. Their external surfaces 

 are beautifully polished, and around the cylinders are very 

 finely-executed intaglio engravings of human figures or deities, 

 together with the arrow-headed characters, which, in the case of 

 the cylinder analysed, had been almost entirely erased. The gi-eat 

 hardness of the materials of the cylinders must have necessitated 

 the possession by the Assyrians of well-tempered engraving in- 

 struments. Such tools have been found, and were, in fact, in 

 the course of transmission to this country, together with nume- 

 rous other antiquities intended for the French Government, but 

 were unfortunately lost by the overturning of a barge in the 

 rapids of the river Euphrates. These gravers were of hardened 

 steel, and described as well fitted for their purpose. 



The ''cylinder" from which a portion was broken off for 

 analysis weighed 338*91 grains, measured in length 1*19 inch; 

 the diameter at either extremity was '6 inch, but lessening 

 towards the middle of the cylinder, as before stated ; the bore of 

 the longitudinal drill hole was *125 inch. This, as well as an- 

 other cylinder of very similar appearance and specific gravity, 

 was found to attract strongly the magnetic needle; in this respect, 

 and in the character of the fracture, it bore a close resemblance 

 to the native varieties of magnetic oxide of iron, but the chemical 

 analysis was required to confirm this supposition. 



The Amulet. 



The cylinders were accompanied by an amulet or charm, the 

 weight of which was 127*92 grains; it had the form of an elon- 

 gated, tolerably regular ellipsoid, measuring 1*5 inch in length 

 by 'S^ inch greatest width ; near one extremity was a transverse 

 perforation very sharply drilled. This specimen had the colour 

 and general appearance of h?ematite, and did not exert any visible 

 action on a delicately suspended magnetic needle. Its fracture 

 was minutely crystalline, and very compact. 



In elucidation of the subjoined tabulated results, it is only 

 necessary to state that the iron was estimated by a standard 

 solution of bichi'omate of potash, a process which a considei'able 

 experience in the analysis of iron ores has shown to give very 

 accurate results; the iron and manganese were separated by 

 boiling with an alkaline acetate ; the phosphoric acid by a modi- 

 fication of the method proposed by Fresenius. Besides the con- 



