Jone3] PROCEEDINGS. [1890.
THEWINGED FIGURESOFTHEASSYRIANAND
OTHER ANCIENT MONUMENTS.By Edward B. Tylor, D.C.L., F.RS.Read4th March, 1890.Thefollowingobservationshavearisenout of the preparation of
one of my Gifford Lectures delivered before the University of
Aberdeen during the past winter. In examining the nature of
SpiritualBeingsas defined and represented in the religions of the
world,I was led to examine withmorecarethanheretoforethe class
of Winged Spirits,and especiallythose quasi-humanformson the
Assyrian monumentswhoseimportance in the historyof religious
art has been latelycomingintoview.*
Thatthe winged figuresof Assyria were derived from or sug
gestedby those of Egypt, maybe taken as the accepted and probable
opinion. Egyptian figures of the kind may be grouped in three
classes,viz.,the winged suns,the winged monstersof the Theban
tombs,and the winged deities withhuman bodies. TheAssyrian
monumentspresentwell-knownformsmoreor less corresponding to
thesethreeclasses. Firstly,the sun is represented as a winged plain
diskor ring, alsowithan archer sun-godstandingwithinthis circle.
Secondly,the animal-monsters havetheirgrandestrepresentativesin
the colossal wingedbullsand lions, and with theseare to be included
the winged horse,griffin,&c. Thirdly,we have the human-bodied
figures,of which, thoughtheyare familiar objects,typicalsketches
are here inserted (PlateI), from the valuable workof Perrot and
Chipiez, "Historyof Art in Chaldsa andAssyria,"andLayard's
"Monuments"in order to keep theircharacteristics clearlybefore
our minds. Someare man-headed, others (to use the ordinary
term),eagle-headed. Some are represented with four wings,some
withtwo,whichin a measure agreeswiththe mention by Berossos
the Chaldean, of the primaeval two-headed men, some with two
* See preliminary letterin Academy, June8, 1889. In following out the
subject,I have had the advantage of referringto scholars speciallyconversantwith
monumentalevidenceandchronology,amongthem ProfessorSayce,Professor
PercyGardner,and Mr. E. Wallis Budge. On botanical pointsI have beenable
to consult>lr. W. T. Thiselton Dyerand Professor Vines.
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