158 SEAL CYLINDERS OF WESTERN ASIA. 
In the Middle Empire Ishtar took the same form as represented in fig. 414, 
although generally the lion or dragon was still more reduced, or rather was crushed 
under her feet. She still carries the caduceus, but modified, also the serpent scimitar, 
which is common to her and Marduk, and, most characteristic of all, from each 
shoulder rises a sheaf of clubs. Other examples appear in figs. 416, 417. It is to 
be particularly noticed that she occasionally leads the lion by a cord in its nose, 
as Adad leads the bull (Chapter xxx). Fig. 418 may here be considered, in which 
the goddess carries a scimitar in her right hand, and in her left she holds, instead 
of the caduceus, a standard, with what appears to be the eagle of Lagash, while 
the cord to hold the lion is attached to her waist. Then we have two figures of 
Eabani seizing an ibex and the inscription “Shamash, Aa,” which has no relation 
to the design. 
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JURE: 

416 417 
Here we may mention 418a, which is very peculiar, as it has on it five goddesses 
and a figure like Gilgamesh presenting a goat in sacrifice. One of the goddesses is 
in the usual form of Aa-Shala, in profile and with both hands raised. The others 
are all en face. The only one of the goddesses whose dress is not in flounces stands 
on two animals which do not look like lions. One of them holds a forked rod in 
her hand. It 1s noticeable that the breasts are drawn and far apart as in the older 
art. Who these goddesses are it is quite impossible to say, as also why Gilgamesh 
should appear as a worshiper with an offering. 
I call attention to but one other cylinder, fig. 562, in which only the head of 
the deity is preserved, but which possibly represents the seated Ishtar, this time 
not on the conventional dragon, but perhaps on a lion, or perhaps on that mytho- 
logical animal which we see on the kudurrus attached to the seat of Marduk, in 
which case it would be that god. But this is not likely, as the cylinder seems too 
old for Marduk, who was a later deity. 
In comparison with this goddess we must bring a very archaic bas-relief figured 
and discussed by Heuzey (fig. 419, see “ Découvertes,” p. 209; “Catal. Antiq. 
