Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/371

Sculpture. 54' uncovered, recalls that of an Egyptian page. His name, " Sheba- niah," forms a line behind him (Fig. 228). On the reverse the Fig. 22S. — heal of Shebaniali, double actual size. Sapphirine carnelian. lettering which intervenes between the winged discs is more explicit, and reads thus: "Of Shebaniah, son of Uzziyyah." As will be observed here, the emblem is strictly Phoenician in character; sometimes however a bull, the popular representation of Jehovah in early days, is seen between the inscribed letters: " Of Shemâyâhù, son of Azâryâhû " (Fig. 229). * In Fig. 230, likewise described by De Vogué as of Jewish origin, the inscription : " Of Naâtha- nyâhû son of Abadiâhû," in- terposes between two wild goats. This animal, it is well known, was sacred to the great Syrian goddess, in her manifestation of Anath or Anahith (Fig. 230). 2 Another stone of equally marked pagan features represents a deity with the characteristic headdress of Hathor, kneeling on a lotus flower, 3 the subject is from the Nile Valley, but in this and the next piece, figuring a winged sphinx, hawk-headed, the workmanship betrays a Punic hand at the service of an Israelite, proved by the lettering, 1 De Vogue, Mélanges d 1 Archéologie Orientale, p. 131. 2 Ibid., p. 133. Hist, of Art, torn. iii. Fig. 451, where a goat and kid are figured upon a conoid amethyst from Saida (Sidon), now in the Louvre, with inscription, " To Ahnabad." Ledrain, who described it, places it among Jewish intaglios. 8 Ibid,, Fig. 450. Fig. 229.— Seal of She- mâyâhù. Chalcedon cone. Fig. 230. — Seal of Naâ- thanyâhû. Agate cone.