DEITIES OF AGRICULTURE. Loo 
An elaborate design representing the work of plowing the ground is given in 
fig. 371. Here two oxen, or two yoke of oxen, are attached tandem to the plow. 
Their yokes are distinctly drawn. One of the plowmen holds the plow by the two 
handles; a second presses down the point of the share; while two others drive the 
oxen with a whip. The construction of the plow is fairly well shown; but that is 
better shown in a cylinder to be described later. Another cylinder, which is proba- 
bly much later (fig. 372), shows the same scene less developed. Here the man who 
holds the plow with one hand drives the oxen with the other hand. There appear 
to be eight dots* where we would expect seven in the Assyrian art, besides the moon 
and star. This raises some question whether the cylinder of the previous figure 
really belongs to the archaic period. 
A purely agricultural scene is shown in fig. 373, where we have a wattled pen 
for the cattle, one of which is represented as coming out of it on each side, while 
five others are drawn, one of them above, perhaps conceived as within it, and the 
others approaching it, two on each side. This, however, is not an old Babylonian 
B78 
seal, but belongs to a later period and a more northern locality. It is of white 
marble and is not pierced longitudinally, but has at the upper end a handle pierced 
horizontally, as in fig. 16. This shape we shall find not very infrequent in the seals 
of a Hittite period, although it is not distinctively Hittite. 
Of the cylinders of the Old Empire which represent a deity receiving a plow 
no one gives us the construction of the plow more carefully indicated than fig. 374. 
Here the seated bearded god has wheat (or barley) radiating from his shoulders, 
and he holds in his hand two more ears of wheat. Three bearded figures approach, 
of whom the second presents a plow and the third brings wheat in his hands, 
while wheat seems to grow from his garments. This cylinder is of serpentine, a 
material which is not easily corroded, although easily worn; when protected from 
wear, as in this case, it preserves admirably the work of the engraver’s tools. In 
this case the plow is excellently drawn. We see clearly the two handles connecting 
with the point in front, the strengthening cross-bar, and the beam tied to the bent 
beam-end of the point of the share. 



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