EGYPTIAN AND ASSYRIAN ANTIQUITIES. 59 



belong to the reign of Darius, B.C. 521-485 ; some 

 are dated in the reigns of Nabonidus, B.C. 555-5.S8, 

 and Cambyses, B.C. 529-521. One tablet in this 

 collection is inscribed with a letter from the Judges, 

 probably of Sippar, to a certain man called Nidinti, 

 with reference to a complaint made by Shuba 

 about one of their legal decisions. 



6. White limestone cylinder seal of Shamshi-Adad, the 



son of Shalmaneser II., and grandson of Ashur- 

 nasir-pal, King of Assyria from B.C. 825-8] 2. 



7. Persian lapis-lazuli seal of Adad-Nirari, the son of 



Shamshi-Adad, King of Assyria, from B.C. 812-783. 



8. Limestone slab, sculptured with the figures of two bow- 



men ; it was one of the series which lined a corridor 

 in a palace of one of the later kings of Assyria. 

 About B.C. 050. 



9. Limestone slab sculptured with the figure of the 



eagle-headed deity, who performed a very important 

 ceremony in connexion with the fertilizing of the 

 palm tree in Babylonia. It was brought from a 

 side gallery in the palace of Ashur-nasir-pal 

 (B.C. 885-860) at Nimrud. 



10. Limestone slab sculptured with the head of King 



Ashur-nasir-pal ; it was cut from one of the large 

 slabs which lined the hall of this king's palace at 

 Nimrud. 



11. Lapis-lazuli cone, on which are cut figures of the 



crescent moon, a man-headed bull, and a scorpion- 

 man. About B.C. 650. The figure of the scorpion- 

 man is of interest, as it rarely occurs. According 

 to the Ninth Tablet of the Gilgarnesh Series, the 

 " Gate of the Mountains of Mashu," i.e., the Sunset, 

 was guarded by two scorpion-men, at the sight of 

 whom men died. 



12. A carefully cut lapis-lazuli seal, whereon are figures 



of gods, and of a man and animals in conflict. An 

 unusually good specimen in lapis-lazuli. 



13. An archaic soft limestone cylinder seal, with figures 



of gods, animals, &c. in relief. About B.C. 3750. 



14. A group of seventeen cylinder seals in white stone, or 



shell limestone, whereon are cut figures of animals, 

 gods, &c. of an unusual character. Some of these 

 are valuable for purposes of comparison with the 

 cylinder seals of the Archaic Period from Egypt. 

 B.C. 8800-3500. 



15. Carneiian bugle bead inscribed with the name of 



Dungi, King of Babylonia. B.C. 2400. 



