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 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

OX F O R D S T U D I E S I N A N C I E N T D O C UM E N T S

General Editors
Alison Cooley Andrew Meadows
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

OXFORD STUDIES IN ANCIENT DOCUMENTS

This innovative series offers unique perspectives on the political, cultural,

social, and economic history of the ancient world. Volumes include new edi-
tions and commentaries on ancient documents, interdisciplinary explorations
of inscriptions and papyri, and thematic volumes that explore the boundaries
of ancient documentary studies and offer new approaches to imaging, decipher-
ment, and interpretation.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

Aršāma and his World

The Bodleian Letters in Context

EDITED BY
C H R I S T O P H E R J. T U P L I N A N D J O H N M A

VO LUM E I I
BU L L A E A N D SE A L S

M . B. G A R R I S O N , W. F. M . H E N K E L M A N , D. KA P TA N

1
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

1
Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP,
United Kingdom
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.
It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship,
and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of
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© Oxford University Press 2020
The moral rights of the authors have been asserted
First Edition published in 2020
Impression: 1
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by licence or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics
rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the
address above
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Data available
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019953443
ISBN Pack: 978–0–19–886072–3
Volume 1: 978–0–19–968764–0
Volume 2: 978–0–19–886070–9
Volume 3: 978–0–19–886071–6
Printed in Great Britain by
Bell & Bain Ltd., Glasgow
Links to third party websites are provided by Oxford in good faith and
for information only. Oxford disclaims any responsibility for the materials
contained in any third party website referenced in this work.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

Contents

List of Illustrations and Plates vii

List of Charts and Tables xv
Abbreviations and Conventions xvii
List of Contributors xxi

1. Catalogue of Bullae1
Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan
2. The Seal of Prince Aršāma: From Persepolis to Oxford 46
Mark B. Garrison and Wouter F. M. Henkelman
Appendix: Elamite Texts Concerning Aršāma 1 141
Wouter F. M. Henkelman
3. The Stamp Seal 167
Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan
4. Anatolian Connections 172
Deniz Kaptan
5. Nakhtḥor in Persepolis 193
Wouter F. M. Henkelman
Appendix: Seals Associated with Satraps and Satrap-Level
Administrators224
Mark B. Garrison

Bibliography 265
Subject Index 287
Index Nominum 303
Index Locorum 310
Index Verborum 315
Objects and Artifacts 316
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

List of Illustrations and Plates

ILLUSTRATIONS

1.1 Collated line drawing of the seal of Aršāma, PFS 2899*.  2

1.2 Pell.Aram. IX (TADAE A6.13). 4
1.3 Yardeni’s autograph copy of Pell.Aram. IX (TADAE A6.13)
(Porten and Yardeni 1986: 123). 5
1.4 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I, obverse, carrying an impression of the
seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 9
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.5 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I, reverse. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 10
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.6 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 11
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.7 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 11
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.8 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I. Now
in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 12
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.9 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, obverse, carrying an impression of
the seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 13
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.10 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, reverse. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 14
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.11 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 16
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.12 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 16
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.13 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 17
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.14 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III, obverse, carrying an impression of
the seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 18
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

viii List of Illustrations and Plates

1.15 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III, reverse. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 19
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.16 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 20
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.17 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 20
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.18 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 21
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.19 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV, obverse, carrying an impression of
the stamp seal. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 22
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.20 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV, reverse. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 23
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.21 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 25
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.22 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 25
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.23 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 25
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.24 Line drawing of the stamp seal on letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 26
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.25 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V, obverse, carrying an impression of
the seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 27
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.26 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V, obverse, carrying an impression
of the seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 28
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.27 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V, reverse. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 28
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.28 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 29
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.29 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 29
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

List of Illustrations and Plates ix

1.30 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V. Now

in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 30
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.31 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VI, obverse, carrying an impression of the
seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 31
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.32 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VI, reverse. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 32
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.33 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VI, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 33
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.34 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VI, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 33
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.35 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VI.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 34
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.36 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VII, obverse, carrying an impression
of the seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 36
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.37 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VII, reverse. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 36
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.38 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VII, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 38
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.39 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VII, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 38
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.40 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VII.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 39
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
1.41 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII, obverse, carrying an impression
of the seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 40
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.42 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII, obverse, carrying an impression
of the seal of Aršāma. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 40
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.43 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII, reverse. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 41
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

x List of Illustrations and Plates

1.44 Detail of letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII, reverse, showing the string

and leather fragment (scale 3:1). Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 42
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.45 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII, upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 43
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.46 Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII, bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. 43
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
1.47 Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 44
Drawing by D. Kaptan.
2.1 Collated line drawing of the seal of Aršāma, PFS 2899*. 49
2.2 Collated line drawing of the seal of Irtašduna, PFS 0038. 60
2.3 Multiple impressions of PFS 0038 on the reverse of PF 1835. 60
2.4 Collated line drawing of the second seal of Parnakka, PFS 0016*. 68
2.5 Impression of PFS 0016* on the left edge of PF 0665. 68
2.6 Collated line drawing of the seal of Irdumartiya, PFS 0071*. 68
2.7 Impression of PFS 0071* on the reverse of PF 0665. 69
2.8 Collated line drawing of PFUTS 0336*. 70
2.9 Impression of PFUTS 0336* on the reverse of PFUT 2148-107. 70
2.10 Collated line drawing of PFS 2106*. 71
Drawing by Christina Chandler.
2.11 Impression of PFS 2106* on the left edge of NN 2337. 71
2.12 Collated line drawing of PFUTS 0230*. 72
Drawing by Christina Chandler.
2.13 Impression of PFUTS 0230* on the left edge of PFAT 0648. 72
2.14 Collated line drawing of PFS 2084*. 77
2.15 Impression of PFS 2084*on the reverse of NN 2295. 77
2.16 Collated line drawing of PFS 1612*. 77
Drawing by Christina Chandler.
2.17 Impression of PFS 1612*on the reverse of PF 2050. 78
2.18 Collated line drawing of PTS 30*. 78
2.19 Impression of PTS 30* on the left edge of PT 30 (A23294). 78
Courtesy of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
2.20 Collated line drawing of PFS 0164*. 79
2.21 Impression of PFS 0164*on the left edge of PF 0969. 79
2.22 Collated line drawing of the first seal of Ziššawiš, PFS 0083*. 79
2.23 Impression of PFS 0083*on the left edge of PF 1811. 80
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

List of Illustrations and Plates xi

2.24 Collated line drawing of PFUTS 0273*. 80

2.25 Impression of PFUTS 0273* on the obverse of PFUT 0485-201. 80
2.26 Impression of PFUTS 0273* on the obverse of PFUT 0550-201. 81
2.27 Collated line drawing of PFS 0093*. 85
2.28 Impression of PFS 0093* on the upper edge of Fort. 1642-001. 85
2.29 Impression of PFS 0093* on the reverse of PF 0692. 85
2.30 Impression of PFS 0093* on the left edge of NN 1525. 86
2.31 Collated line drawing of PFS 0051. 86
2.32 Impression of PFS 0051 on the reverse of PF 0736. 86
2.33 Collated line drawing of PTS 29. 89
2.34 Impression of PTS 29 on the label PT4 980 (A23374) from the
Treasury, Persepolis. 90
2.35 Impression of PTS 29 on the label PT4 1021 (A23383) from the
Treasury, Persepolis. 90
2.36 Collated line drawing of PFS 2454. 92
2.37 Impression of PFS 2454 on the reverse of NN 1478. 92
2.38 Collated line drawing of PTS 28. 94
2.39 Impression of PTS 28 on the label PT4 865 (A23339) from the
Treasury, Persepolis. 94
2.40 Impressions of PTS 31 on the labels PT6 147 (top), PT6 62 (middle),
and PT6 34 (bottom) from the Treasury, Persepolis. 95
Courtesy of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
2.41 Collated line drawing of PFUTS 0251. 99
2.42 Impression of PFUTS 0251 on the obverse of PFUT 0166-202. 99
2.43 Collated line drawing of PFUTS 0802. 99
2.44 Impression of PFUTS 0802 on the obverse of PFUT 0661-201. 100
2.45 Collated line drawing of PFS 2091. 100
2.46 Impression of PFS 2091 on the left edge of NN 2343. 100
2.47 Details of throne-bearers groups (15, 24, and 25) found on the
six royal rock-cut tombs at Naqš-e Rostam and Persepolis
(= Schmidt 1970: fig. 44). 106
Courtesy of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
2.48 Collated line drawing of PFS 0122. 110
2.49 Impression of PFS 0122 on the obverse of PFUT 2108-208. 110
2.50 Collated line drawing of PFUTS 0267. 111
2.51 Impression of PFUTS 0267 on the obverse of PFUT 2092-102. 111
2.52 Collated line drawing of PFATS 0208. 113
Drawing by E. R. M. Dusinberre.
2.53 Impression of PFATS 0208 on the reverse of PFAT 0176. 113
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

xii List of Illustrations and Plates

2.54 Detail of a passage from the eastern stairway of the Throne Hall,
Persepolis, showing in the upper register three horses led by attendants. 115
Courtesy of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
2.55 Collated line drawing of PTS 26. 116
2.56 Impression of PTS 26 on the left edge of PT 20 (A23242). 116
2.57 Impression of PTS 26 on the left edge of PT 26 (A23302). 117
2.58 Collated line drawing of PFUTS 0018*. 118
2.59 Impression of PFUTS 0018* on the obverse of PFUT 0419-201. 119
2.60 Collated line drawing of PFS 0082*. 119
2.61 Impression of PFS 0082* on the left edge of NN 1062. 119
2.62 Collated line drawing of PFS 3035*. 120
2.63 Impression of PFS 3035* on the obverse of PFUT 0001-101. 120
2.64 Collated line drawing of the first seal of Ašbazana, PFS 1567*. 121
2.65 Impression of PFS 1567* on the left edge of PF 1853. 121
2.66 Collated line drawing of PFS 1568*. 125
2.67 Impression of PFS 1568* on the reverse of NN 2572. 125
2.68 Collated line drawing of PFS 0035*. 126
2.69 Impression of PFS 0035* on the reverse of PF 0484. 126
2.70 Impression of PFS 0035* on the reverse of NN 2488. 127
2.71 Collated line drawing of PFS 2323. 128
2.72 Impression of PFS 2323 on the reverse of NN 2458. 128
2.73 Collated line drawing of PFS 0021. 128
2.74 Impression of PFS 0021 on the left edge of PF 1677. 129
2.75 Collated line drawing of PFS 0077*. 130
2.76 Impression of PFS 0077* on the reverse of PF 1029. 131
2.77 Impression of PFS 0077* on the left edge of NN 1184. 131
2.78 Impression of PFS 0077* on the reverse of NN 1184. 132
2.79 Impression of PFS 0077* on the left edge of NN 1294. 132
2.80 Collated line drawing of PFS 0007*. 134
2.81 Impression of PFS 0007* on the reverse of PF 0702. 134
2.82 Collated line drawing of the second seal of Ziššawiš, PFS 0011*. 135
2.83 Impression of PFS 0011* on the upper edge of PF 1820. 135
2.84 NN 0958: upper edge, obverse (2×), left edge, obverse, lower edge
(2×), reverse (2×). 143
2.85 Fort. 0965-201: upper edge (2×), obverse (6×), reverse (2×). 149
2.86 PF 0309: left edge, obverse (2×), reverse (turned 180°). 150
2.87 PF 0734: upper edge, left edge, obverse (2×), lower edge, reverse (3×). 155
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

List of Illustrations and Plates xiii

2.88 PF 0733: upper edge, obverse, left edge, obverse (2×), lower edge, reverse. 163
2.89 PF 2035: obverse, left edge, obverse (3×), lower edge, reverse, upper edge. 166
4.1 DS 112 on Erg. 260 (Kaptan 2002: 2.124, pls. 322–3). 183
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.2 DS 63.1 on Erg. 324 (Kaptan 2002: 2.87, pls. 192–3). 183
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.3 DS 65 on Erg. 261 (Kaptan 2002: 2.88, pls. 197–8). 183
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.4 SHS 3.1 and 3.2 on Kt 9401 (Kaptan 2010: 364, figs. 33.4–5). 184
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.5 DS 64 on Erg. 331 (Kaptan 2002: 2.87, pls. 195–6). 185
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.6 DS 160 on Erg. 330 (Kaptan 2002: 2.143, pls. 421–2): (a) obverse,
(b) reverse, (c) right edge, (d) upper edge. 186
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.7 DS 91 on Erg. 373 (Kaptan 2002: 2.111, pls. 272–3). 187
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.8 DS 72 on Erg. 278 (Kaptan 2002: 2.97, pls. 223–4). 187
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.9 DS 79.1 on Erg. 276 (Kaptan 2002: 2.101, pls. 238–9). 188
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.10 DS 90 on Erg. 292 (Kaptan 2002: 2.110, pls. 270–1). 188
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.11 DS 89.1 on Erg. 325 (Kaptan 2002: 2.102–9, pls. 265–6): (a) obverse,
(b) reverse, (c) bottom edge.  189
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.12 DS 95.1 on Erg. 283 (Kaptan 2002: 2.113, pls. 282–3): (a) obverse,
(b) reverse, (c) bottom edge. 189
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.13 DS 86.2 on Erg. 326 (Kaptan 2002: 2.106–7, pls. 257, 259). 190
Photo: D. Kaptan.
4.14 DS 1 on Erg. 306 (Kaptan 2002: 2.3, pls. 3–4). 191
Photo: D. Kaptan.
5.1 Collated line drawing of PFS 0009*. 228
5.2 Impression of PFS 0009* on left edge of PF 1801. 229
5.3 Collated line drawing of PFS 0016*. 231
5.4 Collated line drawing of PFS 0083*. 233
5.5 Collated line drawing of PFS 0011*. 235
5.6 Collated line drawing of PFS 1567*. 238
5.7 Collated line drawing of PTS 14*. 242
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

xiv List of Illustrations and Plates

5.8 Impression of PTS 14* on the left edge of PT 12 (Oriental Institute

A23259).243
5.9 Collated line drawing of PFS 0233. 245
5.10 Impression of PFS 0233 on the left edge of NN 1310. 246
5.11 Collated line drawing of PFS 1480. 247
5.12 Impression of PFS 1480 on the obverse of PFUT 0384-201. 248
5.13 Impression of PFS 1480 on the left edge of PFUT 1376-201. 248
5.14 Collated line drawing of PFS 0284*. 251
5.15 Collated line drawing of PFATS 0263s. 252
Drawing by E. R. M. Dusinberre.

PLATES

1. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now in

the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 255
2. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now in
the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 256
3. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now in
the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 257
4. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now in
the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 258
5. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now in
the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 259
6. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VI, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now in
the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 260
7. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VII, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now
in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 261
8. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII, obverse (above) and reverse (below). Now
in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Scale 2:1. 262
9. Fort. 0965-201, reverse (upper); NN 0958, reverse (middle) and upper
edge (bottom). Scale 2:1. 263
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/11/20, SPi

List of Charts and Tables

CHARTS

4.1 Distribution of impressions on the reverse of the bullae from Dascylium. 178
4.2 Distribution of inscribed and uninscribed seal impressions from
Dascylium.181

TABLES

4.1 Dimensions of cuneiform inscribed cylinders (Royal Name Seals)

from Dascylium. 179
4.2 Dimensions of Aramaic inscribed seals from Dascylium:
(a) Aramaic inscribed cylinders, and (b) Aramaic inscribed stamps. 179
5.1 Hindukka’s journey from Kermān to Susa. 204
5.2 Travel authorizations by Šukra/Tuk(k)urra. 207
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Abbreviations and Conventions

A accession number of clay tablets and labels from the

Persepolis Treasury the Oriental Institute Museum, Chicago
(as e.g. A23374)
ADAB Naveh and Shaked 2012
BM clay tablets and other items in the British Museum, London
DS impressions of seals on bullae from Dascylium in Kaptan 2002
Erg. excavation inventory numbers of finds from Ergili (Dascylium)
Fort. #### Elamite documents from the Persepolis Fortification archive
in the National Museum of Iran, Tehran, edited by
G. G. Cameron, collated by R. T. Hallock, C. E. Jones, and
M. W. Stolper, published in Arfaee 2008a, re-collated by
W. F. M. Henkelman
Fort. ####-### Elamite documents from the Persepolis Fortification archive
on loan in the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago,
edited by M. W. Stolper
GN geographical name
Kt accession number of finds of the Kütahya Archaeological
Museum
LSJ H. Liddell, R. Scott, and H. Stuart Jones, Greek–English Lexicon
(ninth edition with revised supplement: Oxford, 1996)
MDP Mémoires de la Délégation Archéologique en Perse
ML Meiggs and Lewis 1988
NA not available
ND no date
NN Elamite documents from the Persepolis Fortification archive
on loan in the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago,
edited by R. T. Hallock, collated and prepared for
publication by W. F. M. Henkelman
OCHRE Online Cultural and Historical Research Environment
(Oriental Institute, Chicago)
OP Old Persian
Pell.Aram. leather document associated with Aršāma, Bodleian Library
PF Elamite documents from the Persepolis Fortification archive
in the National Museum of Iran, Tehran, published by
R. T. Hallock (1969) and collated by W. F. M. Henkelman
PFA Persepolis Fortification archive
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xviii Abbreviations and Conventions

PFa Elamite documents from the Persepolis Fortification archive

in the National Museum of Iran, Tehran, published by R. T.
Hallock (1978) and collated by W. F. M. Henkelman
PFAT Persepolis Fortification Aramaic Tablet, for clay tablets on
loan in the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago,
provisionally edited by R. A. Bowman, edited and prepared
for publication by Annalisa Azzoni
PFATS Persepolis Fortification Aramaic Tablets Seal
PFATS #* ditto, and indicating that the seal is inscribed
PFATS #s ditto, and indicating that the seal is a stamp seal
PFS Persepolis Fortification Seal
PFS #* ditto, and indicating that the seal is inscribed
PFS #s ditto, and indicating that the seal is a stamp seal
PFUT Persepolis Fortification Uninscribed Tablet, for clay tablets
on loan in the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
PFUTS Persepolis Fortification Uninscribed Tablet Seal
PFUTS #* ditto, and indicating that the seal is inscribed
PFUTS #s ditto, and indicating that the seal is a stamp seal
PN personal name
PT Elamite documents from the Treasury archive edited by
Cameron (1948, 1958, 1965), with collations and corrections
in Hallock 1960, Arfaee 2008b, and Jones and Yie 2011
PT# ### Field number assigned to artefacts excavated from the
Treasury at Persepolis (e.g., PT4 673)
PTS Persepolis Treasury Seal, occurring on PT tablets and ‘labels’
PTS #* ditto, and indicating that the seal is inscribed
PTS #s ditto, and indicating that the seal is a stamp seal
QA quart
SHS impressions of seals from Seyitömer Höyük
Sigill.Aram. Sealed letter-bullae associated with the Aramaic leather
documents of Aršāma, now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford
TADAE Porten and Yardeni 1986–99
TCL 13 Moore 1935
UCL University College London
Y. Yasna
YOS 7 Tremayne 1925
Yt. Yašt
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Abbreviations and Conventions xix

PERSIAN ROYAL INSCRIPTIONS

The following sigla represent Persian royal inscriptions: DB, DNe, DPb, DPg,
DPh, DSab, DSf, DSz, DZc, XPf, XPh, XV, A2Sa, A3Pb. (DBe and DBp designate
the Elamite and Old Persian versions of DB.) For these see Kent 1953 (text and
English translation of the OP version), Schmitt 2009 (texts and German trans-
lations of the OP versions), Lecoq 1997 (French translation covering OP,
Akkadian, Elamite, and Aramaic versions), Steve 1987 (text and French trans-
lation of Susa inscriptions covering OP, Akkadian, and Elamite versions),
Schmitt 1991 (text and English translation of the OP version of DB), Grillot-
Susini, Herrenschmidt, and Malbran-Labat 1993 (text and French translation
of Elamite version of DB), Von Voigtlander 1978 (text and English translation
of the Akkadian version of DB), Malbran-Labat 1994 (text and French transla-
tion of the Akkadian version of DB), TADAE C2.1 (text and English translation
of the Aramaic version of DB), Schmitt 2000 (text and English translation of
the OP version of the Naqš-e Rostam and Persepolis inscriptions). Most
important items are also available in English translation in Kuhrt 2007.

ARAMAIC TEXTS

The majority of the Aramaic texts to which reference is made in this publica-
tion are from four corpora, TADAE, ATNS, CG, and ADAB. Sigla in the form
A6.3 (i.e. letter (A–D) number, stop, number) designate texts published in
TADAE. Specific line numbers within a text are indicated by appending a colon
and number, e.g. A6.3:2. Sigla in the form A2 (i.e. letter (A–D) and number)
designate texts in ADAB. Specific line numbers within a text are indicated by
appending a colon and number, e.g. A2:2. Texts from CG or ATNS are always
labelled as such, e.g. CG 175 or ATNS 25 or (with a specific line number) CG
175:2 or ATNS 25:2.

PAPYRI

In the absence of information at the point of citation, papyrus publications can

be identified from J. F. Oates, R. S. Bagnall, S. J. Clackson, A. A. O’Brien,
J. D. Sosin, T. G. Wilfong, and K. A. Worp (edd.), Checklist of Editions of Greek,
Latin, Demotic and Coptic Papyri, Ostraca and Tablets, fifth edition (2001) or
online at http://www.papyri.info/docs/checklist
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xx Abbreviations and Conventions

JOURNAL TITLES

Abbreviations for journal titles follow the lists in The Assyrian Dictionary of
the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago 20 (U and W) (Chicago,
2010), vii–xxix and L’Année philologique (see https://about.brepolis.net/aph-
abreviations/), giving precedence to the former in cases of disagreement.
Journal titles are left unabbreviated in cases of ambiguity or when the journal
in question is absent from both lists.

DATES

Unless otherwise indicated all dates, except those in bibliographical references,

are bc.

Month–year dates in Persepolis documents are given in the form XI/23, which
designates the eleventh month of year 23. The form XIe indicates that the text
uses the Elamite, not the Persian, month name. Occasionally a specific day is
indicated as well, giving e.g. 29/XII/21.

CROSS-REFERENCING

Commentary A single line in one of the Bodleian letters regularly generates

several distinct notes in the Commentary (on distinct lemmata). When this
occurs the notes are numbered (1), (2), (3) etc., this number being appended to
the salient line number, giving e.g. ‘line 1(2)’. A cross-reference in the form
A6.3:1(2) n. refers to the second note on A6.3:1. Cross-references within the
commentary on a single letter may be in the form ‘above, line 1(2) n.’

Essays A cross-reference in the form Tuplin iii 34 refers to p. 34 of volume III

of this publication. Cross-references within a single essay are characteristically
indicated with a simple page or note number (e.g. ‘above, p. 27’, ‘below, n. 27’).
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List of Contributors

Mark B. Garrison is Alice Pratt Brown Distinguished Professor of Art History

at Trinity University.
Wouter F. M. Henkelman is Associate Professor of Elamite and Achaemenid
History and Culture at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris.
Deniz Kaptan is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the
University of Nevada, Reno.
John Ma is Professor of Classics at Columbia University.
Christopher J. Tuplin is Gladstone Professor of Greek at the University of
Liverpool.
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Catalogue of Bullae

Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan

INTRODUCTION

There are eight clay documents associated with the Aršāma dossier in the
Bodleian Library.1 To avoid confusion, we will refer to these clay documents as
letter-bullae.2 Seven of them (Sigill.Aram. I–III, V–VIII (Figs. 1.4–1.18
and 1.25–1.47, Pls. 1–3 and 5–8)) have a single impression of a large cylinder
seal that carries an Aramaic inscription naming Aršāma (PFS 2899* (Fig. 1.1));
one letter-bulla (Sigill.Aram. IV (Figs. 1.19–1.23, Pl. 4)) has a single impression
of a stamp seal (Fig. 1.24).3 The letter-bullae as objects per se have never been
systematically described, photographed, or studied.

1 The authors examined the letter-bullae on two separate occasions, January 2011 and August
2012. We would like to express our thanks to Christopher Tuplin and John Ma for their invitation
to study the letter-bullae. Access to the material in the Bodleian was facilitated by Dr Gillian
Evison, to whom we also express our thanks. The drawings of the letter-bullae here published are
by Deniz Kaptan. On our use of the term ‘letter-bullae’, see below n. 2. In what follows the bullae
are designated by the current Bodleian catalogue numbers, Sigill.Aram. I–VIII. Photographs of
the letter-bullae are at a scale of approximately 1.5:1 except where noted.
2 It has long been recognized that the term bulla is an imprecise one, used to designate docu-
ments of various materials (clay, wax, etc.) with a variety of shapes and functions (see e.g. Kaptan
2002: 1.13–14). In its widest sense, the term bulla within the context of western Asia designates a
lump of clay, most often carrying impression(s) of seal(s), that was used to secure doors, objects
(boxes, sacks, jars, etc.), and letters (see Herbordt 1992: 33–70, concerning sealing practices in the
Neo-Assyrian period). Sealed documents that serve such functions are generally uninscribed, but
in some cases they may carry short inscriptions in cuneiform. Often the lumps of clay are placed
over knots of rope or string securing the object (rather than directly on the object itself). Bullae,
used in this general sense, thus assume a variety of forms depending on the nature of the object to
which they are attached. Such sealed objects also go in the scholarly literature under the terms
sealings, tags, labels, etc. Lumps of clay sealed on both sides have been referred to as bulla-labels
(Rakic 2014: 195, Rakic 2018: 87–92). We shall use the term letter-bullae to distinguish the clay
documents associated with the Aršāma correspondence in Oxford, since it is clear that all eight of
the documents were at one time attached to leather documents (see the discussion below).
3 For analysis of the visual imagery on the cylinder seal, see Garrison & Henkelman ii 83–129;
for the stamp seal, see Garrison & Kaptan ii 167–71.
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1.1. Collated line drawing of the seal of Aršāma, PFS 2899*.

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Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 3

There are approximately twenty-six leather documents associated with the

Aršāma dossier now in the Bodleian.4 Eleven of these documents are letters
written by Aršāma. How, exactly, the eight clay letter-bullae relate to these texts
is uncertain. We assume that the large cylinder seal inscribed with the name of
Aršāma that is applied to seven of the letter-bullae was used by Aršāma.5 The
Bodleian possesses then eleven letters on leather written by Aršāma and seven
letter-bullae sealed with his seal—thus, more letters than letter-bullae.
Presumably some or all of the surviving letter-bullae were at one point attached
to some of the surviving letters.6
There are several indications that some of the letters associated with Aršāma
were still in their folded and sealed state when they were first studied.7 Allen i
15 states that when the collection reached Oxford, ‘most of the well-preserved
letters were already opened and had been sealed between glass’. She further
reports, moreover, based upon a personal communication from Porten, that
when new photographs were prepared for Porten and Yardeni (1986), ‘the
remaining sealed letter was also opened’. Two features of the current preserva-
tion of the letter-bullae deserve note in this regard. First, the upper edges of
four letter-bullae, Sigill.Aram. I (Figs. 1.4–1.8, Pl. 1), Sigill.Aram. II (Figs. 1.9–1.13,
Pl. 2), Sigill.Aram. V (Figs. 1.25–1.30, Pl. 5), and Sigill.Aram. VI (Figs. 1.31–1.35,
Pl. 6), whose ‘wings’ clearly overlapped the leather document in its sealed state,
have been broken and glued back onto the main bodies of the letter-bullae;
following Allen (2013: 26), the opening of the letters in modern times appears
to have been the cause of this breakage.8 Second, where the ends of the string
are preserved and visible (Sigill.Aram. II–III (Figs. 1.9–1.18, Pls. 2–3), V–VIII
(Figs. 1.25–1.47, Pls. 5–8)), they all appear freshly cut.
As conventionally understood, but based upon rather limited empirical
data, official letters such as those associated with the Aršāma dossier in the

4 See Tuplin i 265, iii 22. There are eleven mostly well-preserved (A6.3–A6.13 = Porten and
Yardeni 1986: 102–23) and twelve fragmentary letters (D6.3–D614 = Porten and Yardeni 1999:
135, 138–50), in Aramaic on leather, either written to or from Aršāma; by convention, A6.14–A6.16
(= Porten and Yardeni 1986: 124–9) are also included in the dossier, although these letters are
neither authored by nor addressed to Aršāma.
5 See Garrison & Henkelman ii 48.
6 The same will be true of Sigill.Aram. IV (Figs. 1.19–1.23, Pl. 4) with its single impression of a
quite distinct stamp seal (Fig. 1.24): see the catalogue entry below, pp. 22–6.
7 For the various issues surrounding the state of the leather and clay documents when they
were originally purchased by Borchardt and then subsequently by the Bodleian, see Allen i 12–18.
Allen (2013: 26) writes: ‘. . . the letters were purchased in Egypt from a dealer who had already
opened several, and it is unclear how many were still attached to their sealings. The letters were
purchased with one or two fragmentary leather bags, but were not still inside them, and the find-
spot of the whole assemblage is unknown.’
8 Allen (2013: 26): ‘Several of the Arshama letters seem also to have been found not just closed,
but sealed and unopened; the “wings” of the sealings which once enclosed the letter package have
been broken but retrieved and glued back together in modern times and their straw-yellow string
sharply cut.’
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4 Catalogue of Bullae

Bodleian would have been folded, tied, and then sealed before being sent out.9
Indeed, even a cursory glance at the surviving letters in the Bodleian reveals
horizontal (with the exception of Pell.Aram. VIII (A6.9), see below) and verti-
cal creases from the folding (Figs. 1.2–1.3); all of the surviving letter-bullae
have the impressions of the string on their reverses and/or the actual string.10
One assumes also that the beginning of the address on the outside of the
letter was visible in the bundled letter, the letter-bulla being applied in that
address in the large vacant space between the preposition ‘from’ and ‘Aršama’
(see Yardeni’s copy of the outside of Pell.Aram. IX, bottom text in Fig. 1.3); the
formula thus appears as follows:11
mn [vacant space for letter-bulla] Aršāma ʿl PN . . .
‘From [vacant space for letter-bulla] Aršāma to addressee . . .’
Of the eleven letters from Aršāma in the Bodleian dossier (A6.3–A6.13), A6.6
is so poorly preserved that the area for the address on the outside of the letter is
missing. Pell.Aram. VIII (A6.9) is an open letter, a travel authorization for
Nakhtḥor; there is, thus, no address on the outside of the letter.12 That leaves
nine possible letters addressed by Aršāma where one may have expected the

1.2. Pell.Aram. IX (TADAE A6.13).

9 Examples of Aramaic documents surviving in their folded and sealed state include e.g. a
legal document from Elephantine dated 402 (Kuhrt 2007: 816, fig. 16.7) and a rather enigmatic
item among the Bactrian documents in the Khalili Collection, ADAB C2, dated to year 1 of an
unnamed king and so assignable in principle to 359/8, 338/7, or 336/5: see Hyland 2013: 4. (There
is no good reason to follow Naveh and Shaked 2012: 187–91 in identifying the king as Alexander,
yielding a date of 330/29.) See also Kaptan ii 173–4.
10 As Allen (2013: 24) points out, most of the (intact) Aršāma letters were folded according to
a well-known protocol: first folded several times horizontally upwards, then once vertically, to
‘form a small, packed-like baton’. A string was then wound around the middle of the folded docu-
ment. The only recognizable exception is Sigill.Aram. VIII, which appears to have been attached
to an open letter (cf. the catalogue entry below).
11 The phenomenon is standard in official and private letters from various sources. See also the
discussion in Garrison 2017a: 563–68. Allen (2013: 25, 27, 31–2) offers some comments on the
linking of letters with letter-bullae (see below n. 13).
12 See Tuplin i 147.
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Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 5

1.3. Yardeni’s autograph copy of Pell.Aram. IX (TADAE A6.13) (Porten and Yardeni
1986: 123).

preservation of his sealed letter-bullae (thus two more than the seven letter-
bullae that carry the seal of Aršāma).
Yardeni’s autograph copies of six letters addressed by Aršāma, Pell.Aram. VII
(A6.3), Pell.Aram. II (A6.8), Pell.Aram. VI (A6.5), Pell.Aram. I (A6.10), Pell.
Aram. III (A6.12), and Pell.Aram. IX (A6.13 (Fig. 1.3)), have the annotations
‘Seal’ (A6.3, A6.12, and A6.13), ‘Seal (?)’ (A6.8), or ‘Seal?’ (A6.5 and A6.10) in the
lower right of the drawings with a line running up to the lower right corners of
the outside of the letters (i.e. the area on the outside of the letter where the address
starts). For Pell.Aram. VII (A6.3), in horizontal zone B, she has indicated what
appear to be the outlines of where a letter-bulla was attached in the large vacant
space between the preposition ‘from’ and ‘Aršama’. These annotations to Yardeni’s
autograph copies are not explained at any point in the publication. One is tempted
to suggest that the three letters with the annotations ‘Seal’ (i.e. A6.3, A6.12, and
A6.13 (Fig. 1.3)) are in fact letters that Yardeni at least knew were at one point in
modern times still folded, tied, and physically sealed with one of the surviving
letter-bullae. What is less clear is why Yardeni marked only three other letters
(A6.8, A6.5, and A6.10) with ‘Seal (?)’ or ‘Seal?’ That leaves us one letter short to
account for the seven surviving letter-bullae carrying the seal of Aršāma. Three
other letters are possible candidates, TADAE A6.4, A6.7, and A6.11. On all three
letters the addresses on the outside are well preserved.13

13 Photographs of the Bodleian documents taken with raking light reveal depressions that seem
to have been caused by the sealings. John Ma, Christopher Tuplin, and Lindsay Allen experimented
with the position of the sealings on the documents. Allen (2013: 27, caption to Fig. 2) links Sigill.
Aram. VIII (Figs. 1.41–1.47, Pl. 8), the letter-bulla with interlinked string that is anomalous
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6 Catalogue of Bullae

In the end, the difficulty of linking specific letter-bullae with specific letters
(and the possible information that may be encoded in Yardeni’s autograph cop-
ies) arises from the questions concerning the original nature of the discovery of
all the documents associated with the Aršāma dossier and the lack of any
detailed published information about the letter-bullae.14 Allen (i 12–18) sum-
marizes what little is known concerning the circumstances surrounding the
purchase of the Aramaic letters on leather, clay letter-bullae, and leather bags.15
Borchardt’s initial publication of the dossier offered only a few words on the
bullae (‘rötlichgelbem Ton’) and the seal impressions (1933: 47).16 He identified
only one seal, the cylinder seal.17 Driver’s first edition (1954: 2) noted the exist-
ence of the letter-bullae and published (unlabelled) photographic illustrations
of all eight clay letter-bullae (pl. 23), both obverses and reverses, but did not
distinguish that there were two different seals used on the documents.18 Porten
and Yardeni (1999: 230, no. D.14) published a sketch drawing of the impression
of the seal of Aršāma, with inscription copy (autograph by Yardeni), on the
letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. V (here Figs. 1.25–1.30, Pl. 5).19
Seven of the letter-bullae, six that carry impressions of the seal of Aršāma
(Sigill.Aram. I–III, V–VII) and the one that carries an impression of the stamp
seal (Sigill.Aram. IV), are square or rectangular in plan and similar in size.

among the surviving letter-bullae in the Aršāma dossier, with the open letter Pell.Aram. VIII
(A6.9). If that attribution is correct, that would leave six unattributed letter-bullae and six Yardeni
copies with ‘seal’ (vel sim.) annotation. See Allen (2013: 31–2) for further remarks on traces on the
leather documents that seem to betray the placement of seals (with illustrations). Lindsay Allen
(pers. comm.) also suggests that Sigill.Aram. IV, the letter-bulla that carries the stamp seal, was
attached to Pell.Aram. XIV (A6.15), one of the letters not written by Aršāma (see below, n. 27).
14 See Allen i 12–18, Allen 2013: 26. Owing to the rarity of the texts (i.e. satrapal correspondence)
and the general predilection to prioritize text over image, the letter-bullae have received almost no
attention in the published literature associated with the Aršāma dossier.
15 Allen i 16 observes that the letter-bullae did not receive fixed catalogue numbers until 2011.
Informal (and different) numbers did exist previously, which is why Porten and Yardeni (D.14.6)
described what is now Sigill.Aram. V as Sigill.Aram. VIII.
16 ‘Dabei hatte der Mann eine Anzahl von merkwürdig geformten Siegeln aus rötlichgelbem
Ton, wie ich ihn von ägyptischen Siegeln nicht kenne. Der auf allen gleiche Abdruck darauf stam-
mte von einem Rollsiegel, auf dem ein persischer König, abgesessen, einen ebenso abgesessenen
Feind im Kampfe erstach. Hinter beiden waren die Streitrosse dargestellt, unter der Szene lagen
Tote’ (Borchardt 1933: 47). Some of these observations are obviously inaccurate. Furthermore, he
only suggested that there may be traces of an Aramaic inscription (‘Vielleicht war auch auf
dem einen der Siegel oben die Spur einiger aramaischer Schriftzeichen zu erkennen’ (Borchardt
1933: 47)), which seems remarkable given the clarity of the inscription on Sigill.Aram. V
(Figs. 1.25–1.30, Pl. 5).
17 See Garrison & Henkelman ii 48 n. 5, concerning other published commentary on the seal
of Aršāma.
18 The caption for pl. 23 in the list of plates (p. viii) reads ‘Imprints of Seals on Clay’, but it is
unclear whether he means to indicate two different seals. Driver’s text (1954: 2) is unambiguous:
there is only one seal. As Allen notes (18), in the 1957 edition and later reprints the illustrations of
the letter-bullae were omitted. Exactly why this decision was taken is not known, though it is clearly
connected with the change in size/format of the book: the 1957 edition is literally an editio minor.
19 They label the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. VIII.
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Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 7

They are large by Achaemenid conventions, the widths ranging between 3.30
and 4.00 cm; the heights between 3.15 and 4.10 cm; the greatest thickness
(measured at the upper edge) between 0.55 and 1.10 cm.20 They can be roughly
characterized as plano-convex; the obverse (i.e. sealed) surface is markedly
convex, the right and left edges tapering to quite thin edges. The reverses of
these letter-bullae are flattish and always preserve the impression(s) of string(s)
and/or the actual string itself; the reverse of these seven letter-bullae also have
impressions of the folded edges of the leather document to which they were
attached.21
Sigill.Aram. VIII (Figs. 1.41–1.47, Pl. 8) is exceptional in several ways. It is
cubic in shape (although the left edge tapers to a blunt point), and the string
weaves in and out of the reverse surface creating an ‘X’ within a square
(Figs. 1.43–1.44, Pl. 8 (below); see the discussion of this arrangement of the
string in the catalogue entry). This letter-bulla also does not carry any impres-
sions of the folded edges of a leather document on its reverse. Allen (2013:
29–30) has plausibly suggested that Sigill.Aram. VIII was attached to the travel
authorization for Nakhtḥor (Pell.Aram. VIII (A6.9)). As an ‘open letter’, this
document has no address on the reverse and clearly was not folded in the man-
ner of the other letters addressed by Aršāma (see below, n. 34).
Six of the letter-bullae still preserve parts of the actual strings: Sigill.Aram.
II–III (Figs. 1.9–1.18, Pls. 2–3), V–VIII (Figs. 1.25–1.47, Pls. 5–8). The state
of preservation of the string fabric is exceptional. Where strings or their
impressions are present, they run along the longitudinal axis of the document
(as determined by the orientation of the seal impression).
The clay of all the letter-bullae is finely levigated and of a pleasant pinkish
buff colour; they are generally in an excellent state of preservation. The high
quality of the letter-bullae, the exceptional imagery and carving finesse of the
cylinder seal, the fine quality of the leather of the bags, and the precise format
and careful writing of the letters, give the impression of a well-organized
bureaucracy, displaying the prestige and pride befitting their satrapal context.
In line with the care invested in the physical format of the Aršāma cor­res­
pond­ence, the cylinder seal is rolled in a precise and consistent manner across
all but one of the seven letter-bullae that carry its impression. The space between
the two standing combatants—the central scene on the seal—is carefully

20 Letter-bullae dating to the Achaemenid period are known from a variety of locations and
contexts. The most relevant with regard to the letter-bullae of Aršāma are those found at Dascylium
(Kaptan 2002) and Memphis (Petrie et al. 1910: 41–2, pls. XXXV–VI). Both sets of documents
(see e.g. the discussion in Garrison and Root 2001: 35–7, Kaptan 2002: 1.21–7, Garrison n.d. 2).
Also noteworthy (but not as yet studied in its formal characteristics) is the letter-bulla attached to
Aramaic document ADAB C2, a letter from Achaemenid Bactria, illustrated in Naveh and Shaked
2012: 187. See the discussion in Garrison 2017a: 563–8.
21 On the shapes of letter-bullae of the first millennium bc, see above, n. 2. The letter-bullae
of the Aršāma dossier are regular plombenförmige Tonbullen, be it that Sigill.Aram. VIII was
attached differently.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

8 Catalogue of Bullae

placed in the central vertical axis of the obverse (Sigill.Aram. I–II (Figs. 1.4 and
1.9, Pl. 1 (above), Pl. 2 (above)), V (Figs. 1.25–1.26, Pl. 5 (above)), and VI (Fig. 1.31,
Pl. 6 (above))) or just slightly off the central vertical axis to the left (Sigill.Aram. III
(Fig. 1.14, Pl. 3 (above)) and VIII (Figs. 1.41–1.42, Pl. 8 (above))). Exceptional is
Sigill.Aram. VII (Fig. 1.36, Pl. 7 (above)), where the horse and dead warrior
behind the standing adversary at right are in the central vertical axis of the obverse.
As so impressed, the inscription on the seal is preserved only in bits and pieces, if
at all, on the letter-bullae; the exception is Sigill.Aram. V (Figs. 1.25–1.26, Pl. 5
(above)), which carries a very nice impression of the first two letters of each line.
One letter-bulla (Sigill.Aram. VIII (Figs. 1.43–1.44, Pl. 8 (below))) contains
a large fragment of what appears to be leather behind the strings on the reverse.
This is an important indication that the letter-bullae were indeed attached to
the leather documents that make up the Aršāma correspondence. The cuts of
the preserved strings are also clearly fresh; as noted above, it appears as if at
least some of the letter-bullae were still attached to the (folded) leather docu-
ments when they were found.
The orientation of the letter-bullae in the catalogue that follows is deter-
mined by the impressions of the cylinder or the stamp seal. The obverse is the
surface on which the seal is impressed. On all the letter-bullae the seal is applied
only once and to only one surface.
All letter-bullae are unbaked/unfired.
Yellow/whitish residue is found on Sigill.Aram. I (Figs. 1.4–1.8, Pl. 1), III
(Figs. 1.14–1.18, Pl. 3), and IV (Figs. 1.19–1.24, Pl. 4). This residue is yellow
where thick and whitish where thin. The exact source of this yellow/whitish
residue is unclear. A very diffuse, thin, white film occurs on Sigill.Aram. I
(Figs. 1.4–1.8, Pl. 1).
Brownish and/or light brownish discolouration is found on all the letter-
bullae. In some places, the brownish discolouration appears to have been
absorbed into the clay. In other places, the discolouration is darker and appears
as if it is a residue resting on the clay. It is clear that the brownish and dark
brownish discolouration represent the same phenomenon, since in many
places the dark, thick residue turns to brownish discolouration around its
edges. The working assumption is that this discolouration is caused by proxim-
ity with the leather bag(s); alternatively, the discolouration may be from the
letters themselves.
A specialist needs to study the material of the string preserved in the letter-
bullae. All the letter-bullae impressed with the cylinder seal have the same type
of string. The string is light yellow in colour and appears generally to consist of
two interwoven strands (although on Sigill.Aram. V (Fig. 1.27, Pl. 5 (below))
the string clearly has three strands). We do not have the expertise to determine
the material from which this string is made. It is remarkably well preserved.
Where the ends of the string are preserved, they generally have clean cuts; in
some instances, they have begun to fray.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 9

CATALO GUE

Sigill.Aram. I (Figs. 1.4–1.8, Pl. 1)

General Description

1.4. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I,

obverse, carrying an impression of
the seal of Aršāma. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.

The obverse carries one impression of the seal of Aršāma (PFS 2899*). The
impression of the seal is fair-poor.22 The rolling of the seal is partial, with the
winged symbol placed in the centre of the impression.
The reverse carries a deep impression of one(?) string, running lon­gi­tu­din­al­
ly along the length of the middle of the surface, and four string holes. Two
string holes emerge next to each other near the middle of bottom edge of the
reverse, on axis with the string impression. The third and fourth string holes,
appearing as one oblong-shaped hole, emerge near the middle of the top edge
of the reverse, on axis with the string impression. At several places on the
reverse, long individual fibres of string are attached to a brown residue.
The impressions of the edges of the original folded document run lati­tu­din­
al­ly along the top and bottom edges of the reverse. At the top the fold of clay is
quite thick.
For full description and discussion of the seal design see Garrison &
Henkelman ii 63–5.

22 Here and subsequently the General Description covers the seal impression, string, string
impressions, and impressions from the surface of the letters.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

10 Catalogue of Bullae

1.5. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I,

reverse. Now in the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Photograph
courtesy of the Bodleian Library,
Oxford.

Preservation
The letter-bulla is in two fragments, now glued together; the one fragment is
the great bulk of the surviving document; the other is a small section of the
folded clay along the top of the reverse. The letter-bulla overall is well preserved.

Obverse
There is some damage to the surface in the area of the winged symbol. There are
two streaks of brownish discolouration on the bottom of the obverse. The top
edge of the obverse also has this brownish discolouration; perhaps some of this
may be the result of wear from (modern) handling? The upper right corner of
the obverse is covered in a yellow/whitish residue. Areas of a diffuse white film
occur on the obverse running parallel to the left edge and in the area of the
winged symbol. On the right half of the obverse, there are traces of fingerprints
and/or cloth impressions.

Left Edge
Well preserved.

Right Edge
Well preserved.

Upper Edge
A small section of the folded clay along the upper edge, now brownish in c­ olour,
is glued onto the main surviving body of the document.23 This upper-edge

23 See the comments above, p. 3, concerning the possibility that some or all of the letter-bullae
were attached to folded leather documents when found and opened at their discovery, when given
over to the modern dealer(s), and/or at various stages in their initial study.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 11

1.6. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I,

upper edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.

fragment in fact appears to consist of two pieces, although this cannot be

­confirmed with visual inspection. This fragment appears to lie over an area of
yellow/whitish residue; the area along one edge where the fragment meets the
body of the letter-bulla is orange in colour, perhaps representing glue(?).
Another streak of white colour runs along the top of the repaired section. To
the left of the repaired section there is the continuation of the yellow/whitish
residue. Traces of fingerprints and/or cloth impressions may be found on the
left of this surface. Small individual fibres of string adhere to the glued interface
of the two fragments of the letter-bulla.

Bottom Edge

1.7. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I,

bottom edge. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Well preserved. There is a streak of brown discolouration on the left half of

this surface. In this same area there is a dark brown residue. The two string
holes at the bottom of the reverse may also have emerge on the bottom
edge. Traces of fingerprints and/or cloth impressions may be found on the
left of this surface.

Reverse
Well preserved. The impression of the string is damaged near the middle, and a
crack runs from this damaged area upwards diagonally to the right corner of the
surface. A series of small linear impressions, running latitudinally, is on the lower
left quadrant of the reverse. At the bottom right corner, there is a dark brown resi-
due, a continuation of the same substance found on the bottom edge. Another
patch of the brown residue is found on the lower left corner of this ­surface; a much
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

12 Catalogue of Bullae

smaller patch of this residue occurs immediately above the one at lower left. On all
three patches of residue individual fibres of string adhere; string fibres also adhere
to the lower right quadrant of the surface. These patches of dark brown residue
may be remnants of leather from the letter or staining caused by the leather bag.
The upper left corner of the surface is covered in the yellow/whitish residue, a
continuation of the same residue found on the obverse and upper edge. A diffuse
white film runs along the length of the right edge. Around the string holes and in
the impression for the string the clay is very porous.

1.8. Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. I. Now in the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Drawing by D. Kaptan.

Shape
The letter-bulla is approximately square in plan, plano-convex in shape, the
dimensions slightly irregular along all axes. The obverse is convex; the reverse
is flat. The bottom edge of the letter-bulla is thinner than the upper edge, where
the clay has folded over the edge of the original leather document. Right and
left edges are sharp and thin.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 13

Measurements

Obverse/reverse greatest W: 3.60 cm

Obverse/reverse greatest H: 3.50 cm
Upper edge: greatest thickness in middle: 1.10 cm, tapering to 0.40 cm at
right and 0.50 cm at left
Bottom edge: greatest thickness in middle: 0.75 cm, tapering to 0.30 cm at
right and 0.20 cm at left

Clay
A very finely levigated clay, buff-coloured. There are a few scattered reddish
sand-silt sized inclusions.

Sigill.Aram. II (Figs 1.9–1.13, Pl. 2)

General Description

1.9. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, obverse, carrying an impression of the seal of Aršāma.
Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library,
Oxford.

The obverse carries one impression of the seal of Aršāma (PFS 2899*). The
impression is poorly preserved and fragmentary. The rolling of the seal is
­partial, with the winged symbol placed in the centre of the impression.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

14 Catalogue of Bullae

String and string fibres emerge on the obverse along the break between frag-
ments #1 and #2 (see below).

1.10. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, reverse. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

The reverse has the impressions of three strings, running longitudinally

along the length of the middle of the surface. These string impressions have
regularly spaced diagonal hatching, apparently representing the wrapping
together of two strands. There are traces of the actual string emerging in the
string impression at far left and at the top of the string impression at far right.
At the middle of the bottom edge of the reverse, where one would expect the
string holes to appear, there is a rectangular-shaped depression. To the left of
this depression a string emerges. There is a string hole, poorly preserved, near
the middle of the top edge of the reverse, lying to the left of the axis of the string
impressions. In the break along the right edge of fragment #1 (see below), there
is preserved a section of string (apparently two interwoven strands) approxi-
mately 0.95 cm in length embedded in the letter-bulla; the frayed ends of the
string emerge from the break at the top of fragment #1. Along the join between
fragments #1 and #2 on the reverse and obverse emerge many long individual
fibres of string. The frayed remnants of two small strings are also visible in the
break on the right edge fragment (#3 and #4).
The impressions of the edges of the original folded document run lati­tu­din­
al­ly along the preserved top and bottom edges of the reverse.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 15

Preservation
The letter-bulla is very poorly preserved, in four separate fragments (see the draw-
ing Fig. 1.13). Two of the fragments (fragments #1 and #2) have been glued
together. Fragment #1 constitutes the great bulk of the surviving letter-bulla.
Fragment #2 is a small piece from the top of the letter-bulla. The other two
fragments (fragments #3 and #4) have also been glued together but are not
attached to fragments #1 and #2. Fragments #3 and #4 together constitute a
large section the right edge and right side of the letter-bulla. The upper left
corner of the letter-bulla is not preserved. In the photographs of the obverse
and reverse of Sigill.Aram. II published by Driver (1954: pl. XXIII), fragments
#3+#4 appear to be directly contiguous to fragments #1+#2. Moreover the
lower part of the adversary’s body seems to be visible in the photograph of the
impression of the seal on the obverse.
Obverse
The obverse is in very fragmentary condition. There are several slivers of sur-
face that apparently have been glued onto fragment #1 along the break with the
right side fragment (fragments #3 and #4); in other places along this break the
surface is destroyed. Another section of the surface of fragment #1 is fractured
along the break on the upper left corner. There are two large cracks on fragment
#1, the one running diagonally from the lower left to upper right, the other
running horizontally from the break on the upper left all the way through frag-
ment #1 and continuing onto to the right side (fragments #3 and #4). There are
pitting and small cracks running along these cracks. There is a large streak of
brownish dis­col­our­ation on the top of fragments #1, #2, and #3. The preserved
top edge of the obverse (fragment #2) also has the brownish discolouration.
Traces of fingerprints and/or cloth impressions may be found along the bottom
of the obverse. String and individual string fibres emerge along the break
between fragments #1 and #2.
Left Edge
Well preserved with the exception of the right half, which is destroyed.
Right Edge
Well preserved on right edge fragments #3 and #4.
Upper Edge
Preserved on fragments #2 and #3. There are bands of brownish discolouration
running along the latitudinal axis of the surface. The band at the bottom of the
surface is darker in colour.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

16 Catalogue of Bullae

1.11. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, upper edge. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Bottom Edge

1.12. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II, bottom edge. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Well preserved. Traces of fingerprints and/or cloth impressions may be found

at the left on this surface.

Reverse
Poorly preserved. The upper right corner is not preserved. A sliver of surface along
this break at upper right is cracked away. Where the string(s) emerged at the top
middle of the surface there is damage. Splitting and cracking of the surface occurs
along all the breaks. Where fragment #2 is attached to fragment #1 there is a thick
coating of glue. A thin, white film is found in patches over the whole of the reverse.
In addition to the string preserved in the impressions of the three strings running
longitudinally along the length of the middle of the surface, long individual fibres
of string emerge along the break between fragments #1 and #2.

Shape
The letter-bulla is approximately rectangular in plan (only partially preserved),
plano-convex in shape, the dimensions slightly irregular along all axes. The
obverse is convex; reverse is flat. Right and left edges are sharp and thin.

Measurements

Obverse/reverse greatest W: 3.80 cm

Obverse/reverse greatest H: 4.10 cm
1.13. Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. II. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Drawing by D. Kaptan.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

18 Catalogue of Bullae

Upper edge: greatest thickness in middle: 0.70 cm, tapering to 0.20 cm at

right (at left not preserved)
Bottom edge: greatest thickness in middle: 0.70 cm, tapering to 0.30 cm at
right and 0.40 cm at left

Clay
A very finely levigated clay, buff-coloured. There are a few scattered reddish
sand-silt sized inclusions. A small piece of unworked white stone is embedded
in the clay, emerging from the break along the upper left corner of the letter-bulla.
There is also what appears to be a small piece of straw emerging from the lower
left corner of the obverse.

Sigill.Aram. III (Figs. 1.14–1.18, Pl. 3)

General Description

1.14. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III,

obverse, carrying an impression of
the seal of Aršāma. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.

The obverse carries one impression of the seal of Aršāma (PFS 2899*). The
impression of the seal is fair. The rolling of the seal is partial, with the standing
antagonist placed in the centre of the impression.
The reverse has impressions of one or two strings, running longitudinally
along the length of the middle of the surface. There are traces of the actual
string emerging along the whole length of the string impressions. At the top of
the string impressions, there emerge three strings. The ends of two of these
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 19

1.15. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram.

III, reverse. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.

strings are frayed and extend away from the letter-bulla for some 0.15 cm. The
end of the third string is embedded in a small patch of the letter-bulla which is
unattached to the main body of the document. At the bottom of the string
impression, there may emerge part of a knot of string.
The impressions of the edges of the original folded document run lati­tu­din­
al­ly along the bottom edge of the reverse.
Allen (2013: 31–2, fig. 3) appears to link Sigill.Aram. III with the leather
document Pell.Aram. XIII (A6.11).24 This document is a letter from Aršāma to
Nakhtḥor, [Kenza]sirma, and his colleagues [the account]ants, who are in
Egypt. It concerns a request from Pet ̣osiri the plenipotentiary (wršbr), who had
earlier written to Aršāma, concerning restitution of family property lost during
a time of unrest in Egypt.

Preservation
A small sliver of the surface of the obverse along the left edge, now brown in
colour, has been glued back to the main body of the surviving letter-bulla. A small
section of the right edge has also been glued back to the main body of the letter-

24 The two documents, Sigill.Aram. III and Pell.Aram. XIII (A6.11), are illustrated together in
Allen 2013: fig. 3, suggesting perhaps that they belong together (although Allen does not spe­cif­ic­
al­ly state the linkage in the caption to the figure). Allen (2013: 32) also states: ‘The sealed format
of some letters suggests some variations from that of one seal per letter; for example, Arshama’s
response to a petition from his servant’s son for the restitution of a farm [sc. A6.11] shows an odd
combination of vertical lacunae that may have resulted from a double sealing (Figure 3).’ Allen
(2013: 32 n. 41) does, however, note that the exact manner in which Pell.Aram. XIII (A6.11) was
folded and sealed is unclear.
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

20 Catalogue of Bullae

bulla. Most of the upper edge and the lower right corner of the letter-bulla are
destroyed. As noted above, the end of a string emerging from the top of the
reverse is embedded in a small patch of the letter-bulla which is unattached to
the main body of the document. This small patch apparently is from the upper
edge of the document.

Obverse
The lower right corner and upper edge of this surface are destroyed. The lower
third of the surface is covered in the yellow/whitish residue. Much of the figural
imagery above the area covered in the yellow/white residue carries brownish
discolouration. The diffuse white film occurs on the right half of the surface.
Left Edge
Well preserved with the exception of the left corner, which is destroyed.
Right Edge
A section on the right edge has been glued back to the main body of the letter-
bulla. The left half of the edge is destroyed.
Upper Edge

1.16. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III,

upper edge. Now in the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Photograph
courtesy of the Bodleian Library,
Oxford.

Mostly destroyed except for a small section at far left.

Bottom Edge

1.17. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III, bottom edge. Now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Photograph courtesy of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Well preserved. Most of the surface is covered in the yellow/whitish residue, a

continuation of the residue found on the obverse and reverse.
 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

Mark B. Garrison and Deniz Kaptan 21

Reverse
Well preserved except for the upper edge, which is broken and along which
there is much chipping, and the lower left corner, which is destroyed. The lower
third of the surface is covered in the yellow/whitish residue, a continuation of
the residue found on the obverse and bottom edge. A patch of a thick, brown
substance lies over this residue at the bottom left corner of the surface. Similar
patches of a thick, brown substance fill part of the string impression and the
string hole(s) at the bottom of the string impression. This substance may be
remnants of leather from the letter or staining from the leather bag. The brown-
ish discolouration runs along the left edge of the string impression and along
the right edge of the surface. The diffuse white film occurs on the left half of the
surface.

1.18. Line drawing of all surfaces of the letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. III. Now in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. Drawing by D. Kaptan.

Shape
The letter-bulla is approximately square in plan (the upper edge of the docu-
ment is mostly destroyed), plano-convex in shape, the dimensions slightly
OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 28/11/20, SPi

22 Catalogue of Bullae

irregular along all axes. The obverse is convex; reverse is flat. The right and left
edges are sharp and thin.

Measurements

Obverse/reverse greatest W: 3.70 cm

Obverse/reverse greatest H: 3.80 cm
Upper edge: greatest thickness in middle: 0.95 cm, tapering to 0.25 cm at
right and 0.30 cm at left
Bottom edge: greatest thickness in middle: 0.80 cm, tapering to 0.40 cm at
right and 0.30 cm at left

Clay
A very finely levigated clay, buff-coloured. There are a few scattered reddish
sand-silt sized inclusions.

Sigill.Aram. IV (Figs. 1.19–1.24, Pl. 4)

General Description

1.19. Letter-bulla Sigill.Aram. IV,

obverse, carrying an impression of
the stamp seal. Now in the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. Photograph
courtesy of the Bodleian Library,
Oxford.

The obverse carries one impression of the stamp seal (Figs. 1.23–1.24), care-
fully placed in the middle of the surface. The seal appears to have had a circu-
lar face, although the impression on Sigill.Aram. IV is elongated along its
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293

of infantile spinal paralysis,

1114

of inflammation of the brain,

791
 of injuries to nerves,

1183

1185

1186

of insanity,

120

of insomnia,

379-382

of intermittent neuralgia of supraorbital,

1233

of internal pachymeningitis,

706
 of intracranial hemorrhage and apoplexy,

733

of labio-glosso-laryngeal paralysis,

1170

of melancholia,

155

156

of migraine,

407

1230

of moral insanity,

143-146

of multiple neuritis,