224 SEAL CYLINDERS OF WESTERN ASIA. 
a rampant bull, with a bird under each, and between their backs a tall tree derived 
from the palm. This triple tree, or rather the single, round-headed tree with 
crooked, short trunk, is characteristic, I think, of a late period coming down to 
Persian times, but here it is apparently more important than the taller palm. But 
this form of tree we shall see in figs. 1068, 1070, 1089, 1090. It perhaps represents 
the fig or pomegranate, beyond question some low-growing fruit-tree, quite other 
than a palm, pine, cedar, or oak. 




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In fig. 677 we meet another case in which a lion stands on each side of the 
conventional tree, while above are two scorpions. Here the rosette flowers at the 
foot of the tree suggest a late Persian period as in figs. 1069, 1072. In fig. 679 
Ashur is over the conventional tree with fruit like alternate acorns and pomegran- 
ates, while the winged figures, genii, stand on sphinxes. In 678 we have Ashur 
over a much conventionalized tree, a worshiper on one side and the divine figure 
with basket on the other; also a rhomb and the crescent over a plant. 
Sometimes it is solely deities that stand before the tree. Such a case is seen 
in fig. 680, probably a rather late seal, if we may judge from the stone, a blue chal- 
cedony (sapphirine) which came into use near the Persian period. Here, within close 
border lines, is a winged disk over a naturalistic palm-tree. On one side is a god, 
apparently Adad with his ax, and on the other jie 
Ishtar in her square hat and holding her ring. 
In the field are a fish, a crescent, and the seven 
stars, and behind the god stands the worshiper. 
In this case the two deities seem to lift their 
hand each toward the winged disk, rather than 
to the tree, over which the winged disk presides 
in protection. The tree is both more naturalistic 
and less important than in many of the earlier 
cases in which the figure before it holds its fruit. 
We have another case of the god before a 
sacred tree in fig. 681. Here the sacred tree is much developed with aeial 
branches, but the main trunk of the tree and the fronds at the top still preserve 
the palm pattern. There is also on the seal the figure of a running god with face 
in front view, like Gilgamesh, holding in his hand an object uncertain in the worn 
condition of the stone. Here it is not clear that the god has any relation to the tree. 
In the latter case there was no winged disk over the tree, but that is usually to 
be expected, and, indeed, is frequently developed into the head and bust of the god 
Ashur, and at times into the triple heads, one rising from each wing. An interest- 
ing case of this sort we have in fig. 682. Here the tree has, as usual, become quite 
conventional, while retaining the stem of the palm, but the fruit is more like an 

