A History of Sumer and Akkad. L. W. King
technical skill—Confirmation from a study of the skulls—Native origin of the Egyptian system of writing and absence of Babylonian influence—Misleading character of other cultural comparisons—Problem of the bulbous mace-head and the stone cylindrical seal—Prehistoric migrations of the cylinder—Semitic elements in Egyptian civilization—Syria a link in the historic period between the Euphrates and the Nile—Relations of Elam and Sumer—Evidence of early Semitic influence in Elamite culture and proof of its persistence—Elam prior to the Semitic conquest—The Proto-Elamite script of independent development—Its disappearance paralleled by that of the Hittite hieroglyphs—Character of the earlier strata of the mounds at Susa and presence of Neolithic remains—The prehistoric pottery of Susa and Mussian—Improbability of suggested connections between the cultures of Elam and of predynastic Egypt—More convincing parallels in Asia Minor and Russian Turkestan—Relation of the prehistoric peoples of Elam to the Elamites of history—The Neolithic settlement at Nineveh and the prehistoric cultures of Western Asia—Importance of Syria in the spread of Babylonian culture westward—The extent of early Babylonian influence in Cyprus, Crete, and the area of Aegean civilization—321
I. Recent Explorations in Turkestan in their Relation to the Sumerian Problem—351
II. A Chronological List of the Kings and Rulers of Sumer and Akkad—359
INDEX—363
LIST OF PLATES
I. Stele of Narâm-Sin, representing the king and his allies in triumph over their enemie—Frontispiece
II. Doorway of a building at Tello erected by Gudea; on the left is a later building of the Seleucid Era 20
III. Outer face of a foundation-wall at Tello, built by Ur-Bau 26
IV. Limestone figure of an early Sumerian patesi, or high official 40
V. Fragment of Sumerian sculpture representing scenes of worship 52
VI. The Blau monuments 62
VII. Diorite statue of Gudea, represented as the architect of the temple of Gatumdug 66
VIII. Clay relief stamped with the figure of a Babylonian hero, and fragment of limestone sculptured in relief; both objects illustrate the symbol of the spouting vase 72
IX. Impressions of early cylinder-seals, engraved with scenes representing heroes and mythological beings in conflict with lions and bulls 76
X. South-eastern facade of a building at Tello, erected by Ur-Ninâ 90
XI. Limestone figures of early Sumerian rulers 102
XII. Plaques of Ur-Ninâ and of Dudu 111
XIII. Portion of these "Stele of the Vultures" sculptured with scenes representing Eannatum leading his troops in battle and on the march 124
XIV. The burial of the dead after battle 138
XV. Portion of a black basalt mortar bearing an inscription of Eannatum 146
XVI. Brick of Eannatum, recording his genealogy and conquests and commemorating the sinking of a well in the temple of Ningirsu 154
XVII. Marble gate-socket, bearing an inscription of Entemena 162
XVIII. Silver vase dedicated to the god Ningirsu by Entemena 168
XIX. Mace-heads and part of a diorite statuette dedicated to various deities 206
XX. Mace-head dedicated to the Sun-god by Shar-Gani-sharri, and other votive objects 218
XXI. Cruciform stone object inscribed with a votive text of an early Semitic king of Kish 224
XXII. Impressions of the cylinder-seals of Ubil-Ishtar, Khashkhamer, and Kilulla 247
XXIII. Clay cones of Galu-Babbar and other rulers 259
XXIV. Brick pillar at Tello, of the time of Gudea 263
XXV. Seated figure of Gudea 268
XXVI. Votive cones and figures 273
XXVII. Gate-socket of Gudea, recording the restoration of the temple of the goddess Ninâ 274
XXVIII. Brick of Ur-Engur, King of Ur, recording the rebuilding of the temple of Ninni in Erech 280
XXIX. Votive tablets of Dungi, King of Ur, and other rulers 288
XXX. Clay tablets of temple-accounts, drawn up in Dungi's reign 292
XXXI. Circular tablets of the reign of Bûr-Sin, King of Ur 298
XXXII. Bricks of Bûr-Sin, King of Ur, and Ishme-Dagan, King of Isin 310
XXXIII. Specimens of clay cones bearing votive inscriptions 314
XXXIV. (i and ii) The North and South Kurgans at Anau in Russian Turkestan. (iii) Terra-cotta figurines of the copper age culture from the South Kurgan at Anau 352
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT
1–2. Figures of early Sumerians engraved upon fragments of shell. Earliest period: from Tello 41
3–5. Later types of Sumerians, as exhibited by heads of male statuettes from Tello 42
6–8. Examples of sculpture of the later period, representing different racial types 44
9–11. Fragments of a circular bas-relief of the earliest period, commemorating the meeting of two chieftains and their followers 45
12. Limestone panel representing Gudea being led by Ningishzida and another deity into the presence of a seated god 47
13. Figure of the seated god on the cylinder-seal of Gudea 48
14–15. Examples of early Sumerian deities on votive tablets from Nippur 49
16. Fragment of an archaic relief from Tello, representing a god smiting a bound captive with a heavy club or mace 50
17–19. Earlier and later forms of divine headdresses 51
20. Perforated plaque engraved with a scene representing the pouring out of a libation before a goddess 68
21. Fragments of sculpture belonging to the best period of Sumerian art 69
22.