104 



THEOPHILUS G. PINCHES^ LL.D., M.R.A.S., O^J 



and is interesting as giving a glimpse into Elamite domestic life. 

 The style is probably late, the figures being more thick-set than 

 in tlie case of the stele of Naram-Sin and the bronze relief 

 showing marching soldiers. The thick-set type appears in 

 Babylonia about 1200 B.C. The marching soldiers, however, are 

 attributed by Father Scheil to the reign of Sutruk-Nahunta, 

 about 1116 B.C., so that it would seem doubtful whether the 

 date can be decided from the type of the figures. 



Eeligious subjects also occur, a good example being the small 

 relief wliich has already been thrown on the screen with the 

 proto-Elamite line-inscriptions. This shows the remains of an 

 enormous lion's head, open-jawed, with one forepaw. Kneeling 

 on one knee, and facing the animal, is a deity in a horned hat, 

 holding with both hands a large cone, apparently brought as an 

 offering. Figures similar to this, cast in bronze, in the round, 

 have been found in Babylonia, and are sometimes called " the 

 god with the firestick." They come from Tel-loh, the ancient 

 Lagas, and bear an inscription of the renowned viceroy of that 

 city, Gudea. 



It is needless to say, that all these and many other objects of 

 great importance, found at Susa, the ancient capital of Elam, 

 prove the power of that kingdom in ancient times, and show 

 that such a campaign as Chedorlaomer, in the fourteenth 

 chapter of Genesis, is represented as making about 2000 years 

 B.C., is not only possible, but highly probable. With many 

 vicissitudes, she maintained her power until the time of 

 Tepti-Humban, the Teumman of the inscriptions of the 

 Assyrian King Assur bani-apli (about 650 B.C.), " the great and 

 noble Asnapper," who intent on absolute supremacy in the 

 East, attacked Elam in three great expeditions, and reduced the 

 country, as he records, to a pitiable state. Having lost her 

 political imiportance, though not her courage and energy, as still 

 later accounts show, she ceased to attract the historian and 

 traveller, wlio therefore, to all appearance, passed her over in 

 favour of Nineveh, the capital of the power which had crushed 

 her, and Babylon, the capital of Babylonia, her old ally and foe^ 

 by turns. It is only during the reign of the Kharacenian King 

 Hyspasines that the cry of " the enemy, the Elamite," is once 

 again heard in Babylonia, though this was probably only for a 

 short time. Notwithstanding all the wonderful finds that have 

 been made, much more material is required to complete our 

 records, and not among the least interesting would be those 

 referring to the latest period, but documents of every kind will^ 

 it is needless to say, be welcomed. 



