298 SEAL CYLINDERS OF WESTERN ASIA. 
they suffice to show that the goddess did not have a single differentiated form, but 
might considerably vary, so that we must not refuse to recognize the same goddess 
in other nude forms. Another such case we see in fig. 923. Here, unfortunately, 
the figure of the goddess is very much worn, but sufficient details remain to make 
certain that we have the goddess with wings, skirt raised, and face in profile. 
A male figure, probably a god, lifts a serpent, and is followed by a female figure, 
probably a goddess, in a square hat. A lion and an ibex are over a guilloche, and 
under it are two small marching figures. 
We now pass to the cases in which the goddess stands nearly or quite nude, 
but does not stand on a bull or lion. Such an excellent example we have in fig. 924. 
Here the goddess wears a single loose garment which with her hand she draws back 
from one side so as to expose the navel and one entire leg. In one hand she holds 
a dove with its wings extended as if trying to escape. Facing the goddess is a god 
in a low cap with a broad band, after the style of the Gudea figures and deities; 
and half the seal is taken up with two lions facing each other, over a guilloche, 
over a griffin attacking an ibex. The dove, apparently in the hand of the goddess, 
we have seen several times already, and we can not fail to recall the goddess with 
the dove which Evans has found in Cnossus, not to speak of the later relation of 
the dove to Venus. 



SSS) || 


923 
The two same deities we have in fig. 925; but here the goddess stands on a 
platform and the garment seems to fall on each side from her shoulders. Between 
the two facing deities is the small figure of a nude goddess like Zirbanit, except 
that, as in the later seals, her head is in profile. In this large and thick cylinder we 
have room also for two small seated figures facing each other before a table or altar, 
loaded with loaves perhaps, over two small kneeling figures each under an arch, 
such as we shall see in figs. 930, 932-936. ‘There are also a crescent and a crux 
ansata, and the bird with the long neck which we call the Egyptian vulture. This 
cylinder is said to have come from the Hauran. 
Another large and fine cylinder is shown in fig. 926. Here, as in the previous 
cases, the goddess’s flounced garment covers one leg and is seen extending outside 
of the other leg. Before her stands a very short-skirted god, Adad-Teshub, with 
weapons in both hands, a long queue down his back, and walking on mountains. 
On his head is a pointed helmet. On the other side of the goddess is the other prin- 
cipal vested god in a high hat and a longer robe. We observe that both his hands 
are closed fists. Again we have two small figures facing each other before a stand, 
on which is a spouting vase from which they are filling their cups. Under them is 
a guilloche, over three marching figures. Other small objects are a dove over the 
goddess’s vase, a monkey, a bull’s head, a crux ansata, and what are perhaps two 
hands. ‘This cylinder is remarkable for giving us the three principal deities. Yet 
another interesting case we have in fig. 927. Here the goddess appears to be entirely 
nude, but in the usual attitude. On each side of her is the duplicated figure of the 
