A History of Sumer and Akkad. L. W. King
head of a lion from the corner of a basin in Ningirsu's temple 70
23. Upper part of a female statuette of diorite, of the period of Gudea or a little later 71
24. Limestone head of a female statuette belonging to the best period of Sumerian art 72
25. One of a series of copper female foundation-figures with supporting rings 74
26–27. Heads of a bull and goat, cast in copper and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, lapis-lazuli, etc. 75
28. Stamped terra-cotta figure of a bearded god, wearing a horned headdress 75
29. Scheme of decoration from a libation-vase of Gudea, made of dark green steatite and originally inlaid with shell 76
30. Convex panel of shell from the side of a cup, engraved with a scene representing a lion attacking a bull 79
31–33. Fragments of shell engraved with animal forms, which illustrate the growth of a naturalistic treatment in Sumerian design 80
34–37. Panels of mother-of-pearl engraved with Sumerian designs, which were employed for inlaying the handles of daggers 82
38. Archaic plaque from Tello, engraved in low relief with a scene of adoration 94
39. Figure of Lupad, a high official of the city of Umma 96
40. Statue of Esar, King of Adah 97
41. Emblems of Lagash and of the god Ningirsu 98
42. Mace-head dedicated to Ningirsu by Mesilim, King of Kish 99
43. Early Sumerian figure of a woman, showing the Sumerian dress and the method of doing the hair 112
44. Plaque of Ur-Ninâ, King of Lagash 113
45. Portion of a plaque of Ur-Ninâ, sculptured with representations of his sons and the high officials of his court 114
46. Part of the Stele of the Vultures representing Ningirsu clubbing the enemies of Lagash in his net 131
47. Part of the Stele of the Vultures sculptured with a sacrificial scene which took place at the burial of the dead after battle 140
48. Part of the Stele of the Vultures representing Eannatum deciding the fate of prisoners taken in battle 141
49–51. Details from the engravings upon Entemena's silver vase 167
52–53. Seal-impression of Lugal-anda, patesi of Lagash, with reconstruction of the cylinder-seal 173
54–55. A second seal-impression of Lugal-anda, with reconstruction of the cylinder 175
56. White marble vase engraved with the name and title of Urumush, King of Kish 204
57. Alabaster statue of Manishtusu, King of Kish 214
58. Copper head of a colossal votive lance engraved with the name and title of an early king of Kish 229
59. Stele of Narâm-Sin, King of Akkad, from Pir Hussein 244
60. Portion of a Stele of Victory of a king of Akkad, sculptured in relief with battle-scenes; from Tello 248
61. Other face of Fig. 60 249
62–63. Copper figures of bulls surmounting cones, which were employed as votive offerings in the reigns of Gudea and Dungi 256
64–65. Tablets with architect's rule and stilus from the statues B and F of Gudea 265
66. Figure of a god seated upon a throne, who may probably be identified with Ningirsu 268
67. Mace-head of breccia from a mountain near the "Upper Sea" or Mediterranean, dedicated to Ningirsu by Gudea 271
68. Designs on painted potsherds of the Neolithic period (Culture I.) from the North Kurgan at Anau 355
69. Designs on painted potsherds of the Aeneolithic period (Culture II.) from the North Kurgan at Anau 356
MAPS AND PLANS
I. Plan of Tello, after De Sarzec 19
II. Plan of Jôkha, after Andrae 22
III. Plan of Fâra, after Andrae and Noeldeke 25
IV. Plan of Abû Hatab, after Andrae and Noeldeke 29
V. Plan of Warka, after Loftus 33
VI. Plan of Muḳayyar, after Taylor 34
VII. Plan of Abû Shahrain, after Taylor 36
VIII. Early Babylonian plan of the temple of Enlil at Nippur and its enclosure; cf. Fisher, "Excavations at Nippur" I., pl. 1 87
IX. Plan of the Inner City at Nippur, after Fisher, "Excavations at Nippur," I., p. 10 88
X. Plan of the store-house of Ur-Ninâ, at Tello, after De Sarzec 92
XI. Plan of early building at Tello, after De Sarzec 93
XII. Map of Babylonia, showing the sites of early cities. Inset: Map of Sumer and Akkad in the earliest historical period 380
A HISTORY OF SUMER AND AKKAD
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY: THE LANDS OF SUMER AND AKKAD
The study of origins may undoubtedly be regarded as the most striking characteristic of recent archaeological research. There is a peculiar fascination in tracking any highly developed civilization to its source, and in watching its growth from the rude and tentative efforts of a primitive people to the more elaborate achievements of a later day. And it is owing to recent excavation that we are now in a position to elucidate the early history of the three principal civilizations of the ancient world. The origins of Greek civilization may now be traced beyond the Mycenean epoch, through the different stages of Aegean culture back into the Neolithic age. In Egypt, excavations have not only yielded remains of the early dynastic kings who lived before the pyramid-builders, but they have revealed the existence of Neolithic Egyptians dating from a period long anterior to the earliest written records that have been recovered. Finally, excavations in Babylonia have enabled us to trace the civilization of Assyria and Babylon back to an earlier and more primitive race, which in the remote past occupied the lower plains of the Tigris and Euphrates; while the