THE SERPENT GODS. 129 
York, which gives us a representation of Ningishzida, but here not as an inter- 
mediary (fig. 368). The cylinder, which appears to be somewhat later than Gudea, 
is of hematite. The god stands in the form of an image resting on feet like those of 
a tripod. The garment is contracted below, like the bronze images. The face is 
in front view, and there are two protuberant ears. A serpent rises from each 
shoulder. ‘The hands are folded on the breast. Perhaps the garment might not be 
regarded as flounced, but as having something wound about it to draw it to the 
body. On one side of Ningishzida stands the nearly nude Zirbanit, and on the 
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other a deity, perhaps female, with necklace (or beard ?), holding a scimitar. A 
worshiper approaches carrying in one hand a pail and with the other lifting a 
crutch-like object, above which is a tortoise. The other emblems are the thunder- 
bolt of Adad, the vase and “libra,” a fly and a fish. ‘This cylinder is of interest 
as showing that the worship of Ningishzida continued probably a thousand years 
after Gudea. The serpents from the shoulders are perfectly clear. At the same 
time it is possible to interpret the oblique folds of the god’s garment as those of 
the serpents twined about the god; and in that case what appear to be the feet of 
a tripod under the god will be the tails of the serpents. We are reminded of the 
Cretan serpent-god. — 
9 
