All of southern Babylonia — Uruk (Erech), Larsa (Ellaser, 

 now Senkereh), Lagash (now Telloh) and Nippur (Niffer) — 

 was brought under its sway ; then Elam was conquered. South- 

 ern Babylonia was divided, it will be seen, into city kingdoms, 

 one of which held the hegemony over the others. Edward 

 Meyer (Geschichte des Altertums, 2nd Edition, 190'9), gives 

 the dynasty of Ur as follows : 



Ur-Engur 2304-2287 B. C. 



Dungi 228G-2229 " 



Bur-Sin 2228-2220 " 



Gimil-Sin 2219-2213 " 



Ibi-Sin 2212-2188 " 



The best known kings of Uruk (the Biblical Erech) are Sin- 

 gashid and Sin-gamil, who seem to have ruled about 2150-2110 

 B. C. • 



With these tablets is shown an interesting collection of 

 seal cylinders from Babylonia, including archaic examples in 

 shell and marble as well as those cut in hematite, steatite, agate, 

 etc., of later date. 



The exhibit referred to includes examples of early Egyptian 

 writing on stone, on papyrus, on linen and on terra cotta, show- 

 ing the early hieroglyphs, the conventionalized abridged form 

 of these known as the Hieratic writing, employed by the priests 

 in their records, and the later so-called Demotic form, employed 

 in common use, adapted to the needs of everyday life. 



HENRY R. HOWLAND, 



Superintendent. 



