The Bureaucracy.--The prefects or satraps of the Assyrian provinces and subject cities were appointed by the king, like the military officers, and were responsible to him. A certain number of them were eligible for the post of _limmu_, or eponym, after whom the year was named--an honour which they shared with the monarch. The office does not appear to have existed in Babylonia. Among the tablets which have come from the library of Nineveh are some which contain long lists of Assyrian officials. They were a very numerous body, but we need mention only the Rab-shakeh (_Rab-saki_), 'chief of the princes,' or Vizier, the Rab-saris (_Rab-sa-resi_) or 'chief of the nobles,' and the Rab-mag (_Rab-mugi_) or 'chief physician.' The identification of the two last is due to Mr. Pinches. The priests and judges have already been alluded to, as also the clerks or scribes, many of whom, at least in Babylonia, were also priests. Poets and musicians were attached to the court, and we hear of a grant of land being made to a court-poet, in Babylonia, for some verses in which he had doubtless flattered the king. Society, in short, was highly organized, and the principle of a subdivision of labour was fully understood. In one important respect, however, the basis upon which society rested in Babylonia and in Assyria was different. The government of Babylonia was theocratic, that of Assyria was military. While Assyria with its bureaucratic centralization is an anticipation of imperial Rome, Babylonia with its theocratic constitution is an anticipation of papal Rome. The king was the adopted son of Bel, and his right to rule was based on the fact that Bel, the true lord and ruler of the State, had delegated to him his power. APPENDIX ASSYRIAN MEASURES OF LENGTH. 60 Uban ('fingers') 1 Ammat ('cubit'). 6 Ammat 1 Qanu ('reed'). 2 Qanu 1 Gar. 60 Gar 1 Sussu ('soss'). 30 Sussi 1 Kaspu. MEASURES OF CAPACITY[6]. 10 GAR[7] 1 QA. 27 QA 1 AP. 36 QA 1 PI (or Persian Ardeb). 60 QA 1 Homer. 3 Homers (or 5 Ardebs) 1 GUR (about 250 quarts). [6] As determined by Dr. Oppert. [7] Capitals denote that the Semitic pronunciation of the ideograph is unknown. MEASURES OF WEIGHT AND COINAGE. 60 Shekels 1 Silver Mana ('Mina') = £9. 60 Silver Manas 1 Silver Talent. 60 Gold Manas 1 Gold Talent (£8400). The silver shekel was worth about 3_s._ THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. Assyrian Name. Sumerian Name. Zodiacal Sign. Corresponding Months. (1) Nisannu (Nisan) Month of 'the dweller in the Asherah[8] Aries March-April.