216 SEAL CYLINDERS OF WESTERN ASIA. 
The spouting vase is, in the more ancient art, not confined to the cylinders. 
Among the fragments discovered by M. de Sarzec at Tello, and edited by M. Heu- 
zey, is a beautiful bit of stone with a succession of vases (fig. 651). Even more 
beautiful is the design on a large stone basin, an apsu or “sea” for a temple, of a 
succession of maidens holding vases (fig. 653). “The design 
is very graceful, each maiden holding the neck of a vase 
with one hand, while the next maiden’s hand supports it 
underneath, just as the two figures of Gilgamesh support 
the vase in fig. 880. A figure of the goddess Aa with the 
spouting vase is to be seen in fig. 652. Her name, with 652 
that of her husband Shamash, appears in the inscription. There is a worshiper 
with a servant bearing offerings, while behind the god is an uncertain emblem. 
The further use of the spouting vase in the Babylonian art has been sufficiently 
considered in the chapter on the spouting vase of Gilgamesh (Chapter x1) and that 
on the seated god with streams (Chapter xiv), and elsewhere. But in the Assyrian 
art this design had a new development. Indeed it began in Babylonia, perhaps, 
rather than Assyria, if we may judge from fig. 654. This belongs to the general 
Kassite style, which continued into the time of the Second Empire. Between an 


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indefinite god and his consort is the man-fish above holding a vase from which 
two streams fall and cross, to meet in a vase held by a kneeling bearded figure 
below. This kneeling figure we may take to be a variant of Gilgamesh, or as the 
representative of the king, or of men, receiving the gift of water from above. As 
so frequently, the fish beside the stream certify the meaning. ‘The inscription reads: 
Dim-kira-badna 
Son of Ushag-Bel. 
May he be illustrious! may he be great! may he be victorious! 
With long days may he be blessed! 
With goodly property, food and drink! 
As a charm was this seal made. —Price. 
Fig. 655 is purely Assyrian, as indicated by the style of the inscription, which 
is not reversed on the seal itself, showing it was more an amulet than a seal. 
The inscription in three scattered lines indicates that Adad was the tutelary god. 
Under the winged disk, in the place of the usual sacred tree, is a kneeling female 
figure, with hands lifted to the wings of the disk; and on each side of her is a bearded 
and winged genius, lifting one hand and holding a pail or basket. “These figures 
with a pail may indicate the supply of water for man, just as in the same figures 
with the sacred tree they indicate that the blessings, or fortunes, of the tree are 
supplied to the owner of the seal. While one thinks of Nina, the goddess related to 
fish and water, it is very doubtful if we can identify the kneeling figure. All the 
