20
Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II
In categorizing the crafts of the Early Isin Period (from about 2000 to 1600
B.C.E.), van de Mieroop (1987: 37) stated that “Tortoise shell (ba-sig 4 ) is delivered
for a throne in one text (BIN 9: no 182), probably for inlay, and as such was possibly
used by the carpenters.” However, the term “ba-sig 4 ” is not regarded as referring
unequivocally to tortoiseshell (see Section 1.4 on ancient historic accounts). Leemans
(1960: 25, footnote 4) did a comprehensive evaluation of foreign trade during the
old Babylonian period, and on encountering this term he questioned whether it refers
to tortoiseshell, explaining that there was no evidence of tortoiseshell from Ur.
A round stamp from ancient Mesopotamia, molded in clay, was apparently used
to impress an image on cakes of lactic products; it has a flat face in incuse showing
a turtle surrounded by wavy lines (symbolizing water) with a ring of three birds
alternating with three fish around the periphery (van Buren, 1939: Figure 95). The
form of this turtle is remarkably similar to the turtles shown on the reliefs in King
Sargon’s palace at Khorsabad (see below). A second, larger stamp is described as
having a scene with a plain-shelled turtle in the middle, surrounded by birds and
fish on the outer edge and “three small tortoises with carefully patterned carapaces”
in the midfield (van Buren, 1939: 104, Figure 95). In both cases, the chelonians are
aquatic, and they may be meant to represent marine species.
The reliefs on the walls of Sennacherib’s palace at Nineveh show scenes of the
King’s victorious campaigns, including the sea with various creatures, such as turtles,
crabs, and fish. Another slab is thought to depict a swiftly flowing river with a turtle
and fish (van Buren, 1939: 104; see note 3 for primary citations), which would
FIGURE 1.2 A Dilmun Period stamp seal, found in a grave at Hamad Town, Bahrain. (From
Vine, P. (ed.) 1993. Bahrain National Museum. Immel Publishing; London. p. 53. With
permission.)
1123_C01.fm Page 20 Friday, November 15, 2002 11:13 AM
Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II
In categorizing the crafts of the Early Isin Period (from about 2000 to 1600
B.C.E.), van de Mieroop (1987: 37) stated that “Tortoise shell (ba-sig 4 ) is delivered
for a throne in one text (BIN 9: no 182), probably for inlay, and as such was possibly
used by the carpenters.” However, the term “ba-sig 4 ” is not regarded as referring
unequivocally to tortoiseshell (see Section 1.4 on ancient historic accounts). Leemans
(1960: 25, footnote 4) did a comprehensive evaluation of foreign trade during the
old Babylonian period, and on encountering this term he questioned whether it refers
to tortoiseshell, explaining that there was no evidence of tortoiseshell from Ur.
A round stamp from ancient Mesopotamia, molded in clay, was apparently used
to impress an image on cakes of lactic products; it has a flat face in incuse showing
a turtle surrounded by wavy lines (symbolizing water) with a ring of three birds
alternating with three fish around the periphery (van Buren, 1939: Figure 95). The
form of this turtle is remarkably similar to the turtles shown on the reliefs in King
Sargon’s palace at Khorsabad (see below). A second, larger stamp is described as
having a scene with a plain-shelled turtle in the middle, surrounded by birds and
fish on the outer edge and “three small tortoises with carefully patterned carapaces”
in the midfield (van Buren, 1939: 104, Figure 95). In both cases, the chelonians are
aquatic, and they may be meant to represent marine species.
The reliefs on the walls of Sennacherib’s palace at Nineveh show scenes of the
King’s victorious campaigns, including the sea with various creatures, such as turtles,
crabs, and fish. Another slab is thought to depict a swiftly flowing river with a turtle
and fish (van Buren, 1939: 104; see note 3 for primary citations), which would
FIGURE 1.2 A Dilmun Period stamp seal, found in a grave at Hamad Town, Bahrain. (From
Vine, P. (ed.) 1993. Bahrain National Museum. Immel Publishing; London. p. 53. With
permission.)
1123_C01.fm Page 20 Friday, November 15, 2002 11:13 AM