38 SEAL CYLINDERS OF WESTERN ASIA. 
or more approaching figures. If there is a second register it may have the eagle 
of Lagash, or a procession of birds or animals, as in figs. 60, 61, 66. Such a case 
we have in fig. 89. ‘The two deities sit, as usual, back to back with a pan drawn 
(a 27 \e 
ee 
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SASS > s=i 

tree between their backs. One of them, with a fringed garment, appears to be a 
male and perhaps has a beard. Each deity holds a vase, and before each stands 
a worshiper or attendant. A gazelle occupies the middle of the design and above 
appears to be a large vase on a stand. The whole design is most 
archaic, and it is very interesting to observe that this cylinder is in 
lapis- Balik showing how early this material came into use. A yet 
simpler one is shown in fig. go, also very archaic, which shows 
simply the two deities and a single worshiper. A single deity, with 
three approaching worshipers, is shown in fig. g1. The lower regis- 
ter has the frequently repeated succession, here of three birds. ‘The extreme age 
of these cylinders and also the early period at which writing began to be used 
appear in a fragment of a lapis- -lazuli cylinder shown in fig. 92. Here the Samak 
is of the very oldest form, passing out of the pictorial stage. 
Doubtless much later, Bie yet belonging to the same type 
as fig. oI, is fig. 93. Here the illegible writing is much less 
archaic, as is also the drawing of the heads of the per- 
sonages. It is interesting to observe that the swans are 
floating on the water. This cylinder, introduced here 
for comparison, is of soft serpentine and probably comes ; ) 
from the Assyrian rather than the Babylonian territory, di dhac adhe 




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° . . ON EL 
although very early in Assyrian history. ee 
Yet another very early aragonite cylinder is shown in 93 
fig. 94, where we again seem to see a difference between the fringed skirt of one 
deity and the plain skirt of the other, indicating the difference of sex. Each of the 
worshipers appears to present a tree, or branch, to the deity, in one case resting on 

a stand. The lower register shows perhaps antelopes. Fig. 96 is from an aragonite 
cylinder, very deeply cut. In the upper portion is a small seated deity, before what 
appear to be a man and two crossed animals. The remaining portion is very peculiar. 
A human figure kicks up one leg and supports two vases. There are two scorpions. 
But still more interesting and peculiar is the lapis-lazuli cylinder shown in fig. 95. 
