DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.959#0250
1872.] INTERESTING WHORLS. 187
with three, four, or five ^j-J round the central sun.* One,
from a depth of 23 feet,f shows the central sun surrounded by
six suns, through each of which a py passes ; upon another,
found at a depth of 33 feet, the central sun has 12 trees
instead of rays ;| upon a third, brought from a depth of i6£
feet, the sun has seven rays in the form of fishing-hooks,
one in the form of the figure three and two in the Shape of
the Phoenician letter Nun, then follow 12 sheaves of rays, in
each of which are four little stars; upon a fourth terra-
cotta, which I found at a depth of i6| feet, there are four
rising suns and a tree in the circle round the sun.§ I very
frequently find between the rising suns three or four rows
of three dots running towards the central sun, || which,
as already said, according to E. Burnouf, denote "royal
majesty" in the Persian cuneiform inscriptions. It is
certain that this symbol is here also intended to glorify the
Sun-god. At a depth of from 7 to 10 meters (23 to 2>3
feet) we also find round terra-cottas, upon which the entire
surface round the sun is filled with little stars, and in
addition only one ^J-j.
During the last few days we have also found, in
the strata next above the primary soil, at a depth of from
46 to 36 feet, a number of round brilliant black terra-
cottas of exquisite workmanship; most of them much natter
than those occurring in the higher strata, and resembling
a wheel; many are in the shape of large flat buttons.^]
cut we also meet with some in the form of tops and
volcanoes, which differ from those found in the higher
strata only by the fineness of the terra-cotta and by their
better workmanship. The decorations on these very
ancient articles are, however, generally much simpler than
See the Plates of Whorls, Nos. 350, 351, 352, 356, 357, 359, &c.
+ Plate XXVI., No. 362. M. Burnouf calls these " the 6 bi-monthly
sacrifices."
t Plate XXXIII., No. 402. § Plate XXXIV., No. 403.
I! Plate XXII., No. 320. IT See the Sections on Plate XXI.
with three, four, or five ^j-J round the central sun.* One,
from a depth of 23 feet,f shows the central sun surrounded by
six suns, through each of which a py passes ; upon another,
found at a depth of 33 feet, the central sun has 12 trees
instead of rays ;| upon a third, brought from a depth of i6£
feet, the sun has seven rays in the form of fishing-hooks,
one in the form of the figure three and two in the Shape of
the Phoenician letter Nun, then follow 12 sheaves of rays, in
each of which are four little stars; upon a fourth terra-
cotta, which I found at a depth of i6| feet, there are four
rising suns and a tree in the circle round the sun.§ I very
frequently find between the rising suns three or four rows
of three dots running towards the central sun, || which,
as already said, according to E. Burnouf, denote "royal
majesty" in the Persian cuneiform inscriptions. It is
certain that this symbol is here also intended to glorify the
Sun-god. At a depth of from 7 to 10 meters (23 to 2>3
feet) we also find round terra-cottas, upon which the entire
surface round the sun is filled with little stars, and in
addition only one ^J-j.
During the last few days we have also found, in
the strata next above the primary soil, at a depth of from
46 to 36 feet, a number of round brilliant black terra-
cottas of exquisite workmanship; most of them much natter
than those occurring in the higher strata, and resembling
a wheel; many are in the shape of large flat buttons.^]
cut we also meet with some in the form of tops and
volcanoes, which differ from those found in the higher
strata only by the fineness of the terra-cotta and by their
better workmanship. The decorations on these very
ancient articles are, however, generally much simpler than
See the Plates of Whorls, Nos. 350, 351, 352, 356, 357, 359, &c.
+ Plate XXVI., No. 362. M. Burnouf calls these " the 6 bi-monthly
sacrifices."
t Plate XXXIII., No. 402. § Plate XXXIV., No. 403.
I! Plate XXII., No. 320. IT See the Sections on Plate XXI.