Fig. 183.—Swords, lance-head, and knives in bronze.
Fig. 184.—Bronze arrow-heads; prehistoric flint knife and saws.
Fig. 185.—Chain of onyx beads from a grave in Merkes.
Babylonian weapons are comparatively rare even in the graves. We have recovered only a few short swords, knives, and flat lance-heads in bronze (Fig. [183]). The arrow-heads alone are very numerous, and they of course occur far more frequently in the walls of the fortifications than in peaceful Merkes. They are 3–edged bolts cast in bronze, which were fixed to a shaft and are often barbed; the edges are sharply ground. The 2–edged, leaf-shaped bolts that were inserted by a tenon into the shaft belong to a later Parthian (?) period (Fig. 184). There are no clear traces of slings, unless we accept as evidence of them the smooth pebbles that are found in groups, and which are certainly well adapted for such use. In a room of a house at Senkereh large numbers of these were found placed together, and were obviously selected pebbles of the right size and shape. Of the great stone projectiles for the later balistae, we have already spoken (p. [50]). A common weapon was the short mace with a stone knob. It is still in general use among the Arabs to-day under the name of hattre, and is frequently represented on reliefs and seal cylinders. The same club with an asphalt head is called mugwar by the Arabs. The form of the head varies, and is sometimes globular, pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or the like; in some cases they bear the inscription of their whilom owner. Thus we have the mace head of Melishiḫu with the inscription, “... to the great ... ra-an, his lord, has Melishiḫu, the son of Kurigalzu given (it).” Another mace head that resembles a knot of wood bears the inscription, “mace head (ḫi-in-gi) of diorite (šu-u) belonging to Uluburariaš, son of Burnaburariaš the king, the king of the sea land. Whosoever removes this name, and inserts his name, may Anu, Bel, Ea, Marduk and Belit remove his name!” (trans. by Weissbach).
Fig. 186.—Grave deposits of gold, glass, and shell, from Merkes.
Fig. 187.—Leg-bones, each with five anklets, from Merkes.