Loe SEAL CYLINDERS OF WESTERN ASIA. 
notable is the perhaps unique modesty of the goddess, who wears a short apron. 
It is quite unusual also that Ramman carries two wands. In fig. 426 the god hold- 
ing a weapon towards the inscription (““Shamash, Aa’”’) may be Marduk, and there 
are a goddess and worshiper the other side of the inscription. This is one of the 
cases in which the head of the nude goddess has degenerated into a vertical line and 
two locks, and the navel is drawn. This is of a somewhat late period. The column 
with a large triangular head behind Marduk appears to be the symbol of that god. 
In fig. 427 it is perhaps Marduk who carries the serpent scimitar, while the Baby- 
lonian Ramman is easily recognized, and there is a worshiper, beside two small 
nude figures, one reversed. In fig. 428 we again have Ramman and Shala, and the 
navel and breasts of the nude goddess are both distinctly marked. Over the dog 
is the caduceus, and there are other emblems. Fig. 429 gives us a not unusual 
case in which the goddess is diminutive beside the other deities. ‘This cylinder 
seems to be of a somewhat early period in the Middle Empire, and we notice that 
the head is only suggested, as in fig. 426. The other gods are Shamash and Aa, 
with worshipers. 

Occasionally in later cylinders the goddess appears in profile. Such a case 
we find in fig. 430. - There appears to be a second goddess, like Aa or Shala, and 
perhaps two female worshipers, unless one repeats the flounced goddess. ‘There 
are other emblems. 
The naked goddess appears occasionally in the later period with her hands at 
her side, as in fig. 431. She is not found in the Assyrian nor in the Persian art, 
which avoid nudity, but a corresponding naked goddess is prominent in the Syro- 
Hittite regions, as is shown in Chapter L. To this period, also, we may refer fig. 
432, where she stands on a stool and wears an enormous necklace. The numerous 
terra-cotta and alabaster figures of the naked goddess (fig. 433) generally belong 
to a late Babylonian period, but spread all over the Mediterranean coast and 
islands. She is not an original Babylonian deity, but was imported from the West 
with Marduk, Ramman-Martu, and Adad. 
