CUNEIFORM CHARACTERS. 
419 
are with their points downwards, or towards the right, either in 
perpendicular, horizontal, or sloping positions. The rectangles 
have always one direction, their opening being constantly turned 
towards the right. These simple characteristics mark how an 
inscription ought to be held, showing that it follows a horizon¬ 
tal, and not a perpendicular line. Indeed, the strokes so fre¬ 
quently drawn between the rows of characters sufficiently show 
this rule: though there are exceptions, in compliance with 
any peculiar form in the tablet of the inscription ; for instance, 
round the windows at Persepolis, and on small cylinders, where 
the letters appear in an upright column. According to Dr. 
Grotefund, there exist three kinds of these letters or characters ; 
all of which are to be seen at Persepolis, and Mourg-aub 
(Pasargadas), on every distinct piece of sculpture where an in¬ 
scription is found, and then it is always repeated thrice, each re¬ 
petition being in one of the three different species of character, 
though all of the same genus. The positions of the inscriptions 
are usually one under the other, or side by side, and commonly 
corresponding word for word. This style of inscribing the same 
words or matter, in three different characters or languages, appears 
to have been very general over the East: we find it on the anti¬ 
quities of Egypt, and we have it adopted by the Romans on 
the scroll which Pontius Pilate placed over the cross of our 
Saviour. 
The three species of cuneiform character are distinguished by 
the greater or less multiplying of the two fundamental forms, 
and also their positions. The first species, or alphabet, contains 
the greatest mingling of the fundamental forms and positions ; 
the second shows more horizontal wedges, and fewer angles 
than the first, and is distinguished from the third by possessing 
8 h 2 
