6io 



NATURE 



[April 26, 1888 



difficult or impossible to identify it with any known 

 vegetable production. And it would be equally difficult 

 to determine what is the plant held in the hand of the 

 sitting figure wearing the pig-tail/ though there seems to 

 be a flower with a long depending and somewhat fibrous 

 root. The two objects apparently are presented in com- 

 parison or competition, while that in the hand of the 

 standing figure has the superiority. 



On the second face a very curious scene is depicted. 

 Above a kind of altar in the centre is a trident-like object, 

 evidently identical with that already described. The 

 trident-like object is between two symbols of remarkable 

 form, capped with equilateral triangles. On these remark- 

 able symbols, which probably represent life in general, or 

 particularly human life, something more must be said 

 directly. A figure, probably that of a deity, with the head 

 of a hawk or eagle,'-' is pouring out a libation at the foot 



Fig. V. — The Tarsus seal (enlarged). 



of the altar, and thus, we may presume, is confessing the 

 superiority of the sacred objects above. On the other 

 side of the altar is, it may be supposed, another deity, 

 having above his head the winged solar disk, and in his 

 left hand a double three-forked thunderbolt, introduced 

 here, it may be supposed, as another emblem of tri-unity. 

 On the third face there is no personage wearing the 



» Prof. Sayce has rightly recognized the presence of the "pig-tail," but 

 when he says that this appendage "characterizes Hittite female figures" 

 {op. cit. p. 348), I fail to see any adequate grounds for the assertion. This, 

 I should say, is not the nnde of wearing the hair seen on the Boghaz-Keui 

 bas-relief; and I am not acquainted with other evidence which would in any 

 way justify the statement. 



; The form of this deity suggests a possible relation with the eagle-headed 

 deity on the Assyrian monuments, concerning which Assyriologists have been 

 hitherto unable to give any adequate explanation. Perhaps some fresh light 

 may be eventually derived from the "pig-tail" here appended. 



pig-tail. Both the seated and the standing figures appear 

 to be occupied with the mystery of the triangle. The 

 engraver of the seal, moreover, as though determined that 

 we should not mistake his meaning, actually represents 

 the seated figure as forming a triangle with one hand. On 

 face (4) the triangle formed by the hand is particularly 

 clear in the impression of the seal ; but there can scarcely 

 be a doubt that the intention is the same also on this face 

 (3) as well as on (2) and (5). How the triangle is sup- 

 posed to be formed by the hand I am unable to say. By com- 

 paring the two hands of the seated figure in (3) it becomes 

 evident that the goat standing on the left hand is here 

 introduced as forming a triangle by his position. But 

 still more remarkable and interesting is the personage 

 standing, if considered together with the associated 

 objects. This personage is supporting, apparently by a 

 cord, a figure similar to those spoken of in connection 

 with the second face as probably representing life in 

 general, or more particularly the principle of human life. 

 From the circular head of the figure are projecting what 

 look like ears, but the triangular cap with which the head 

 is covered on the second face is now seen above. The per- 

 sonage supporting the figure has in his left hand one rod 

 held vertically, and in the right two vertical and parallel 

 rods, thus suggesting the triangular number, three, a 

 number regarded in antiquity as especially sacred. 



The fourth face presents a single seated figure, making, 

 as said just above, a triangle with the right hand. The 

 left hand holds captive a hare as well as a bird with wings 

 extended. The intention would seem to be to set forth 

 the subjugation of the lower animals through the influence 

 of such supposed occult and mysterious powers as those 

 of the triangle. In front is an altar or table with objects 

 upon it, which, it should be observed, are three in number. 

 Above is a symbol generally identical with those spoken 

 of in connection with faces (2) and (3), but here it is 

 imperfect. 



On the last face (5) we have apparently a competition 

 between a pig-tailed figure standing or advancing and 

 another figure seated. The pig-tailed figure holds two 

 parallel rods or spears ; and it would certainly appear 

 that he is to be regarded as unequal in power to the 

 seated figure, who is making a triangle with the left hand, 

 while in the right hand is that symbol of tri-unity, the 

 trident, now of more usual form, and differing consider- 

 ably from the trident-like objects of (i) and (2). On the 

 middle point of the trident is a bird with wings expanded. 

 In this last respect the intention would seem to be some- 

 what similar to that expressed by the hare and bird held 

 captive on face (4). 



The Tarsus seal is probably less ancient than the Yuzgat 

 seal ; but there are nevertheless important points of resem- 

 blance, which may be reasonably taken as indicating a 

 relationship more or less close. On both seals are to be 

 seen the triangle and the trident, though on the Tarsus 

 seal the form of the latter has become greatly changed. 

 Both seals, also, have the winged solar disk. The wearing 

 a horn in front of the head is another mark of resem- 

 blance ; and the figures on both seals have the turned-up 

 toes of the so-called " Hittite boots." The eagle-headed 

 figure making the libation has a good deal of similarity 

 to what, as depicted on the Yuzgat seal, I regard as a 

 woman closely veiled, with some object, probably a baby, 

 suspended from her arm {supra, p. 560). Notwithstanding 

 any superficial resemblance, however, the objects de- 

 lineated are certainly very different. The explanation 

 probably is, that the respective engravers had in view a 

 common typical form, which was in each case modified 

 as the particular purpose required. A similar remark 

 may be made with respect to the table or altar on (4), and 

 the object before the king on the Yuzgat seal. 



Whether the Tarsus seal will be found of importance 

 with regard to the history of geometry, it would be diffi- 

 cult to say. This may to some extent depend on the date 



