Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

DURING 191H CENTURY: HITTITES 7G7
to the fact that even in the inscriptions from Hama (Hamath),
which, apart perhaps from that carved on the rock
of the Pseudo-Sesostris, are undoubtedly the oldest of the
series, we find no longer a pure picture-writing, but one
Hittite Inscription on a Bowl from Babylon
already modified by the influence of the cursive. It follows
from this that the system is of earlier date than the Hamath
inscriptions, that is, earlier than about iooo b. c. It
is to be noted on the other hand that about 1400 the
Assyrio-Babvlonian cuneiform writing then in use in Western
Asia was also employed in the royal despatches sent to
the king of Egypt by the various princes ruling in the