The orthographical differences also arrange themselves with the same distinctness in clearly defined groups. On the 6–lined stamps _Ba-bi-lu_ or _Ba-bi-i-lu_ is written for Babylon, while on the 7–, 4–, and 3–lined stamps it is exclusively called _Ka-dingir-ra_. The term _Tin-tir_, which is by far the most usual on stone inscriptions, only occurs once on a 3–line and once on a 4–line stamp on bricks. Very rare is a 4–line stamp on which the father’s name is omitted (Fig. 49), and as a curiosity 7–line metal stamps occur on which the order of the lines has been reversed. What elsewhere is the 7th line is here the 1st. We have no wish to decide whether this is mere carelessness. We must, however, remember in this connection that we have Assyriologists of repute who read the cuneiform writing from above downwards, with which its historical development certainly agrees. The literature of the tablets for the ordinary right-handed man was written from left to right, but were the scribe left-handed he would be forced to write from above downwards, and many of the archaic stone inscriptions indeed convey the impression that they should be read in this fashion. All will agree that the later writings must be read from left to right. It is quite possible that Nebuchadnezzar, who so greatly preferred the archaic characters which were so highly decorative, also made an attempt to employ the ancient method of arranging them vertically. The stamps are all inscribed with these monumental, early Babylonian characters. [Illustration: FIG. 50.—Brick stamp of Evil-Merodach. ] The 6–lined stamp gives _Nabu-ku-dur-ru-u-ṣur_ or _Nabu-ku-dur-ri-uṣur_, the 7–lined gives either the latter or _Nabu-ku-du-ur-ri-uṣur_. The 4–lined is exclusively characterised by the use of _ap-lam_ instead of _tur-uš_, which is universally used elsewhere. [Illustration: FIG. 51.—Brick stamps of Nebuchadnezzar (E, F), of Neriglissar (G), and Nabonidus (H). ]