Lacock Abbey

Feb. 5. 1875

Dear Sir

In line 21 <cuneiform> dalkhu is ‘disturber’, being explained by <cuneiform> which almost always expresses the root dalakh. Heb. חعך Turbarit. In my paper “Four new Syllabaries” which will appear in the forthcoming number of the Societys Trans^ns you will find the gloss <cuneiform> Mamitu often means an Oath, but often Religion in a general sense, or Faith. ex. gr. Samsi queen of the Arabians, who had abandoned the Worship of the Sun (sha mamit Samsi titiku). “Padiah king of Ekron, who held the worship or religious faith (mamit) of Assyria.” But mamit often means some special religious object greatly venerated, for it could scare away evil spirits when nothing else could, and it could be wrapped in a cloth and placed in a sick man’s right hand. Some new text will probably disclose its nature. I would not render it ‘Enchantment’ but it no doubt acted as an enchantment or talisman. It may have been a kind of Bible, your rendering ‘Covenant’ would somewhat support this: but other texts might suggest something different.

Believe me
Yours truly

H. F. Talbot

Rev^d A. Sayce

Rev^d A. H. Sayce
Queen’s College
Oxford