Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/90

 74 A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud^a. tip-tilted shoe has been recognized on early Cypriote vases and cylinders (Fig. 286).^ If from the costume we pass on to weapons, we shall find that they were by no means all drawn on the same pattern. Perhaps the quaintest specimen is the mace from Sinjirli (Fig. 269). Then we have lances (Fig. 282), spears, two-headed axes (Fig. 279), long swords (Fig. 269), and daggers, both hanging from the waist (Fig. 283) and not unfrequently the bow (Figs. 269 and 279).^ Defensive arms were not unknown; and though the deeply indented shield has not been identified on any Hittite sculpture, we find it carefully reproduced on the Egyptian monuments (Figs. 257 and 259). In the latter, the three chief personages are protected by a long cuirass, prob- ably contrived with bronze plates fixed upon a skin ' (Fig. 279). Hittite art, far more than that of Assyria and Chaldaea, was mainly con- cerned in reproducing every detail of dress and equipment ; and rarely attempted to represent the nude. Among the bas-reliefs, which from certain characteristics and details we are justified in ascribing to native invention, there is not a single figure which is not covered. The only exception to this rule is found in the Anath or Ishtar from Carchemish. But, as was remarked at the time, it is exceedingly hard, not to say impossible, to assign -a certain date or nationality this peculiarity (Wright, The Empire, Plates XXII., XXVL). The accuracy of the observation was confirmed by another eye-witness, M. Maspero, in a letter to us. Hist, of Art. torn. ii. p. 553. Fr. Lenormant, Gaz. Arch., 1883, pp. 130, 131. ^ We reproduce one of these vases, which was published by M. Solomon Reinach, Chroniques (^Orient, torn. vi. p. 360, 3"° serie de la Revue Archeologique, 1885. For the cylinders, see De Cesnola's Salaminia, Fig. 116 and Plate XII. Fig. 2. 2 The bow is also found in a stela from Merash on which is clearly, figured a dagger with rounded hilt. Fig. 286. — Pointed Shoe. Cypriote Vase.