250 OLD BABYLONIAN INSCRIPTIONS 



Ionian writing, the original mark carved upon its surface had to be drawn across it. 

 Instead of >- ^C ^ ">, we find, therefore, - ^XX^ y > , from which, by short- 

 ening the crossed lines, the regular form — ^> — ^> developed at a later time. The 



correctness of this explanation is assured by the otherwise inexplicable absence of an 

 ideogram for ussu, " arrow," in Assyrian. For it is impossible to conceive that a people 

 using the bow in their system of writing should have altogether excluded the arrow, 

 which played such a conspicuous role in the daily life and religious ceremonies of 

 ancient nations in general. But how is it to be explained that our ideogram does not 

 mean "arrow" at all, but signifies "name?" Just as the picture of a flying bird in 

 writing proper was used exclusively with reference to its religious significance, in order- 

 to express the abstract idea of " fate, destiny," so the arrow with the marks or symbols 

 of ownership (originally two crossing lines 1 ) carved on the shaft became the regular 

 ideogram for " personality " or " name." The same association of ideas led to exactly 

 the same symbolism and usage among the North American Indians, with whom " the 

 arrow " is the symbol of personality. 2 It becomes now very evident that the Babylo- 

 nian seal-cylinder, with its peculiar shape and use, has developed out of the hollow 3 

 shaft of an arrow marked with symbols and figures, and is but a continuation and 

 elaboration in a more artistic form of an ancient primitive idea. 



From palteographic and other considerations it is therefore certain that Urukagina 

 lived before the ancient kings of Shirpurla, while the inscriptions published in the 

 present work as Nos. 90, 91, 92, 94, 98, 99, 101, 111 are still older than Urukagina. 

 The interval between him and the following rulers of Tello who style themselves 

 " kings " cannot have been very great, however. They all show so many pala?ographic 

 features in common that they must be classified as an inseparable group. To the 



both reached the same conclusions as to the oldest form and significance of the arrow in picture writing by pursuing 

 entirely different lines of research. My arguments, corroborated by Mr. Cushing's own investigations and long resi- 

 dence among tribes which still practice many of the ancient primitive rites and customs, become therefore conclusive 

 in regard to the original form of the character mu. I quote from Mr. Cushing's letter the interesting fact that the 

 above drawn arrow with two pairs of crossing lines on its shaft is called by the Zimi a'tldua "speeder (commander) 

 of all " (namely, of all the other arrows used in their religious ceremonies). A tieatise on the ceremonial use of the 

 arrow among the Indians, by Mr. Cushing, is in press. 



1 Still used with the same significance in Europe and America by persons who cannot write, if they have to affix 

 their names to legal documents. The crossed lines on the Indian arrows have a deep religious significance, according 

 to Cushing. 



2 Cf. on this whole subject Culin, Korean Games, pp. XXIf. To Prof. Dr. Brintou and Mr. Stuart Culm I am 

 indebted for recent information on this subject. 



3 Because made of bulrushes, growing abundantly along the marshes and canals of lower Babylonia. 



