t Sin, the Assyrian or Semitic term, is a word of quite
uncertain etymology, which, however, is found applied to the moon in many
Semitic languages; while Hurki, which is the Chaldaean or Hamitic name,
is probably from a root cognate to the Hebrew _Ur_, "vigilare," whence is
derived the term sometimes used to signify "an angel" _Ir,_ "a watcher."

The titles of Hurki are usually somewhat vague. He is "the chief," "the
powerful," "the lord of the spirits," "he who dwells in the great
heavens;" or, hyperbolically, "the chief of the gods of heaven and
earth," "the king of the gods," and even "the god of the gods."
Sometimes, however, his titles are more definite and particular: as,
firstly, when they belong to him in respect of his being the celestial
luminary--e.g., "the bright," "the shining," "the lord of the month;"
and, secondly, when they represent him as presiding over buildings and
architecture, which the Chaldaeans appear to have placed under his
special superintendence. In this connection he is called "the supporting
architect," "the strengthener of fortifications," and, more generally,
"the lord of building" (Bel-zuna). Bricks, the Chaldaean building
material, were of course under his protection; and the sign which
designates them is also the sign of the month over which he was
considered to exert particular care. His ordinary symbol is the crescent
or new moon, which is commonly represented as large, but of extreme
thinness: though not without a certain variety in the forms.

[Illustration: PAGE 81]

The most curious and the most purely conventional representations are a
linear semicircle, and an imitation of this semicircle formed by three
straight lines. The illuminated part of the moon's disk is always turned
directly towards the horizon, a position but rarely seen in nature.

The chief Chaldaean temple to the moon-god was at Ur or Hur (Mugheir), a
city which probably derived its name from him, and which was under his
special protection. He had also shrines at Babylon and Borsippa, and
likewise at Calah and Dur-Sargina (Khorsabad). Few deities appear to
have been worshipped with such constancy by the Chaldaean kings. His
great temple at Ur was begun by Urukh, and finished by his son Ilgi--the
two most ancient of all the monarchs. Later in the series we find him in
such honor that every king's name during some centuries comprise the name
of the moon-god in it. On the restoration of the Chaldaean p