THE SEATED GOD WITH APPROACHING FIGURES. 119 
can hardly be Ea in this cylinder, although we have found Ea indicated by the 
goat-fish with the seated god in figs. 325, 344. Yet the spouting vase seems to be 
brought into some kind of connection with the seated god in several cylinders. 
Such a case we have seen in fig. 314. 
It may be mentioned here that a small squat, or dancing, figure now and then 
appears before the god, as in figs. 324, 336 and also in fig. 346. In this case we also 
have the dog (or lion) under the frequent inscription “Shamash, Aa.” 

The presence of heads without the body is not frequent, though occasional. 
We have an interesting cylinder of this type in fig. 34.7, where, beside the approach- 
ing figure followed by the goddess, we are shown four heads in front view, with 
the horns which would seem to indicate that they represent deities or demigods 
like Gilgamesh. The importance of the monkey-like figure is indicated by the 
mounting of it on a standard before the seated god. 
With these illustrations before us, which give a pretty complete idea of the 
designs and accessories of the seated god with approaching or led figures, we are 
ready to consider the difficult question who the god is, thus represented. We must 
remember that these are not simply archaic cylinders, but they represent a type 
which maintained itself with great aoe tela in the Gudea period and much later. 
NS LAWS 
ws COUT i 
Tl UT or Ay TL tt ml Dm I 
It has become thoroughly conventionalized. We must also remember how few 
are the types of gods, and that the seated god may represent, possibly, any one of 
half a dozen or more deities. It is only when some emblem or attribute is designated 
that we can be at all positive which god is intended. Indeed any king on his throne 
would be represented, and is represented, in the same way, down into the Assyrian 
eriod. 
: The following considerations will help us to decide what god is represented: 
1. We are already informed that the seated god often is Shamash. Such we 
have him expressly designated on the bas-relief of Abu-habba and by the figure 
over the code of Hammurabi, and such we have found him to be when provided 
with rays or streams, or both. The first presumption is that the god is Shamash. 
2. In fig. 339 we have the archaic designation of Shamash on the cylinder. 
3. This conclusion is confirmed when, as in figs. 319, 320, the god carries in 
his hand the peculiarly shaped notched weapon of Shamash. There can then be no 
further doubt, as no other god carries this weapon. 

