In general, therefore, an excess number of ears points to enlargement, increased power, stability of the government and the like; and this is probably due in part to the association of wisdom and understanding with the ear in Babylonian[67], for as a general thing an excess of organs or of parts of the body is an unfavorable sign, because a deviation from the normal.
In the same way as in the case of the ears, we have birth-omen texts dealing with the head, lips, mouth, eyes, feet, joints, tail, genital organs, hair, horns and other parts of the body[68]. In many of these texts dealing with all kinds of peculiar formations and abnormalities in the case of one organ or one part of the body or the other, a comparison is instituted between the features or parts of one animal with those of another and the interpretation is guided by the association of ideas with the animal compared. A moment’s reflection will show the importance of this feature in extending the field of observation almost ad infinitum. A lamb born with a large head might suggest a lion, a small long head that of a dog, or a very broad face might suggest the features of a bull. From comparisons of this kind, the step would be a small one to calling a lamb with lion-like features, a lion, or a lamb with features recalling those of a dog, a dog and so on through the list, the interpretations being chosen through the ideas associated with the animal in question. A text of this kind[69], of which we have many, reads in part as follows.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion, the abandoned weapons will make an attack (again), the king will be without a rival.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion, but with a head of a ‘rain bow’ bird[70], the son will seize the throne of his father.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion, but (some of) the features are (also) human, the power of the king will conquer a powerful country.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion, but (some of) the features are those of a lamb, the young cattle will not prosper.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion, but (some of) the features are those of an ass, severe famine will occur in the country.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion, but (some of) the features are those of a dog, Nergal[71] will cause destruction.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion but (some of) the features are those of a khupipi[72], the ruler will be without a rival and will destroy the land of his enemy.
If an ewe gives birth to a lion, but with the mouth of a wild cow, the rule of the king will not prosper.