a) foot, but through similarity of form, there have been confused with it three other signs, as follows.1 b) KIŠ (ki). GIR, sandal, foot. Even the inscriptions of the archaic period show interchange of usage, a process heightened by time and growing complexity of the language. This interchange accounts for some of the parallelism between the groups above and this. 5) SEP A (Rec. 283, supl. 480) kurzu, "Fußfessel” (H. W. B. p. 355). This is the same sign, without ZA, as in cases 2, 3 of the AZ group. 6) P 8) P GIR (Rec. 224, 226, supl. 224),2 šepu, foot; kibšu, step; gašru, powerful. Without syllabic value it equals tallaktu, padânu, urhu. The pictograph represents a sandal with thongs. The expression GIR or GIR NITAH = šakkanakku and the association with emuku suggests that this form of sandal was one of the insignia of power. ? NÊ (?), namru, bright, nûru, light. The pictograph represents a lamp in the form of a bird, such as appears on the seal-cylinders and kudurrus as the emblem of the fire-god GibilNusku. Its presence here is accounted for by the confusion between NÊ , fire. ? = NÊ and NE. NÊ (?), GUNNI (?) (Cf. Br. 9703) kinunu, brazier. For pictograph see Rec. 176 and the discussion under ID below. Col. IV, Cases 1, 2. The case sign is DAR, SI, SU, UGUN 1 For fuller discussion of this group, see E. S. Ogden, The Origin of the Gunu-Signs in Babylonian, Leipzig, 1911. 2 See also Langdon, op. cit. p. 272. 3 Ward, Seal Cylinders of Western Asia (Washington, 1910). (Hinke 267 and Clay; Marushu, 28).1 Two signs, SI-GUNU and TARRU, have coalesced under this sign.2 A, DAR (Rec, 34) tarru, bird, or SI, SU (Rec. 48) 2) = ? ? The sign seems to be composed of AŠ + ŠA + GA. For a possible connection compare Akalu (Br. 3486) and II. Rawlinson 37, 45 e, f, where this is equated with libbi. Cases 3, 4. The case sign is SUM, SU, RIG (Hinke 172), kilutu, burning. šassûru, uterus (or foetus?); arkâtu, back, behind; baltu fullness, pudendum feminae; mašâdu, to press. The pictograph equals SAL + SU (Rec. 190), the latter in the sense of mašku, skin; širu,zumru, body; ruddu, to increase; erêbu, to enter. SU (Rec. 330) šassûru, uterus. 3) = , SUM (Rec. 59), dahâdu, be plentiful. The pictograph represents two crossed palm branches. Case 5. The case sign is broken, but in C. T. V, 81-7-27, 49 and 50 and J. A. O.S. Vol. 32, the sign at the left of this case is equated with, DU, be plentiful. List of Signs Found on Tablets of the Cassite and Neo-Babylonian Periods. 2 See E. S. Ogden, Origin of the Gunu-Signs in Babylonian, p. 26 ff. 4) 5) 6) Col. I. Cases 4-6. The case sign is ŠAL, SAL, MURUBT (Hinke 167), zinništu, woman; urû, pudendum feminae; rapâšu, to extend. ? (broken). , SAL, Rec. 327) zinništu, woman. MURUB (Rec. 231), hizbu, fullness; pû, mouth; urû, pudendum feminae (Br. 10962—4). For the pictograph, cf. Prince, M. S. L. p. 217. Cases 7, 8. The case sign is SAL + KU NIN (Hinke 170) beltu, lady, mistress. 7) DE = , NIN (Rec. 335) beltu, lady. Col. II. Cases 2, 3. The case sign is GE, KIT, SAḤ, LIL (Hinke 136) kîtu, structure (?) (Prince, M. S. L. p. 131); lilu, storm-demon; šaru, zakikku, wind. ETTE, LÊL, (Rec. 415), kisallu, a spacious place. Ê. LIL. 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) (?) E. LIL (?) Cf. LAL (Br. 6249, M. 3799),1 bit irșiti; bît şêri; bît zakiki. Cases 4-7. The case sign is BAR, DAG (Br. 5528) BAR =parru, net; šuparruru, to spread out, DAG = rapâdu, to spread out; nakâru and nagâšu, to destroy. = ? BAR (?) (M. 3869) šubtu, dwelling.2 BAR, (Rec. 426) parru, net; šuparruru, to spread out. = √, DAK (?), I, NA, ȘI, ZA (Rec. 322) abnu, stone or jewel. The sign was originally NI + UD="shining light", "full of light". The present pictograph is analogous, NI + ZA, "full of brightness", or a "shining stone". EE, GUG, GUK (Rec. 463), kukku (?). Cases 8. The case sign is Ê (Hinke 133) kibû, to speak; 8) YEY iku, canal. =, Ê (Rec. 109), kibû, to speak; iku, canal. Cases 9, 10. The case sign is Ê (Hinke 252), bitu, house. 1 Meissner, Seltene Assyrische Ideogramme (Leipzig, 1909). 2 Langdon, op. cit. p. 263. 9) YEY 10) 11) WÊ (Rec. 423) bitu, house. LAL = bît irșiti; bît şêri (Br. 6249, M. 3799). Case 11. The case sign is KU, DUR (Hinke 258). = YET, UDU (Rec. 456, Clay, Murashu, 219) immeru, lamb. Col. III, Cases 3-5. The case sign is ID, I, A, (Hinke 146). The original pictograph represents a forearm and hand. The meanings overlap those of DA = idu, hand or side, and of ZAG idu, side, and it is evident that the three signs were more or less exchanged. 3) E = AZ, NÊ or =], GIBIL (Rec. 82—5), burning torch. For a possible channel of connection compare GIBIL (Br. 9702) kilûtu, torch; (sign name KI-IZAKKU) and A AZAG (Br. 6592) asakku, sickness? demon? It is possible that this is an allusion to the torch burned at the exorcism of demons of sickness. 4) AID (Rec. 115) idu, hand; êmuķu, power. = It requires very little conventionalizing to reduce. the pictograph of a hand and forearm to this character, which differs in outline from the Cassite sign to the right only by the grouping of the socalled gunu wedges. = ZAG (Rec. 176) idu, pâtu, hand, side; êmuku, power. Also ašru, êšrêtu, shrine. The pictograph represents an hour-glass shaped altar such as appears on the seals.1 In support of this compare ZAG-AN (usug) êšrêtu (Br. 6499); (LU) U. SUG, GA, and (LU) U. SAG, GA usukku, temple devotee.2 Three Babylonian Tablets, Prince Collection, Columbia University. By Rev. FREDERICK A. VANDERburgh, Ph. D., Columbia University, New York City. Three light dull-red baked clay-tablets, each five and a quarter centimeters long by three and a half in breadth and two in thickness; corners and edges rounded. Nr. 1. Memoranda for the month of Simânu of food consumed by messengers going to Anšân, Sabum and Šimaš; also of those returning from Susa, Huhunuri and Adamdun. The temple in which the memoranda were made and the approximate date can only be conjectured. Perhaps the capital city at this time was Ur. The obverse contains eleven lines and the reverse nine. The signs are all legible. Obverse BAR zid ud-min-kam sà-uru Ten (a) of meal for two days in the city, ia ka zid kaskal-šu five ka of meal on the journey, i-me-ta šukkal for Imeta the messenger, an-šú-an-ki-šù gin-ni on going to Anšân. 5 BAR zid ud-min-kam šà-uru Ten (a) of meal for two days in the city, ia ka zid kaskal-šù five ka of meal on the journey, lù-na-ba-a gîn-gìš for Lunala the weigh-master, |