2017– 1740 BCE), and Old Babylonian periods.11 The relevant insignia, again mostly the crown, the scepter, and the throne, do not quite correspond as objects to the ring and rod. Statements of the conferral of insignia on the king are especially attested in the royal hymns of the Neo- Sumerian, Isin-Larsa (ca. It is often unclear in texts whether the conferral is purely symbolic or connected with actual events.9 Textual accounts of ceremonies of coronation are not found in ancient Mesopotamia, except for the so- called coronation ritual from the Middle Assyrian period, a text that is not well preserved. Investiture is a wider semantic category than coronation or enthronement, since in addition to ceremonies of coronation, the conferral of insignia on the king may have been part of rituals of renewal or reconfirmation of the royal office held on an annual basis, perhaps in association with the New Year’s festival. In Assyriology, “investiture” is a technical term referring to the ceremonial or symbolic conferral of royal insignia, particularly the crown, the scepter, and the throne, on the king, be it in association with coronation or not, as attested in texts. The scholarly audience has hardly asked why we should think of this image as an episode of “investiture.” (.) Since then, the term has been firmly attached to this work of art. The first occurrence of this designation in relation to the Mari painting is in the initial excavation report by Parrot, in which the archaeologist referred to the composition directly as the “investiture” without any explanation. But in discussions of neither work of art do we usually talk about, say, the “investiture” of Urnamma or that of Hammurapi. The same formula featuring the conferral of the ring and rod by a god on the king also appears on the Stela of Urnamma from the Ur III period and the Stela of Hammurapi, the latter contemporary with the Mari painting. It is on account of this scene that the painting has been dubbed the “investiture” in the study of the art of ancient Mesopotamia. In occupying the geometric center and focus of attention of the entire composition, its diversion from symmetry, and its featuring an encounter between the royal figure and the goddess, the upper register of the central panel is the climactic point of the Mari painting. They are part of the royal imagery, but they belong to a sphere above the king, of which the king can partake only under divine supervision. In light of the closer physical association of the insignia with the gods than the king, the ring and rod should be thought of as supra- royal symbols. In the visual arts, the ring and rod appear in scenes in which a god holds them, extending them toward the royal figure. By virtue of their prominent occurrence in the relief on the Hammurapi Stela, they are also seen as objects with overtones of judgment or justice, notions that are cognate with those of balance and measure. Their symbolism is connected with order and harmony in the cosmos, concepts that underlie the ideology of temple building in ancient Mesopotamia as well. The ring and rod, often thought of as insignia of rule and authority, may be measuring or surveying instruments used in the construction of temples. But otherwise you should be able to highlight as many as you want.(Upper part of The "Investidure" Painting of Mari) Keep in mind that skills like Magic Accuracy are only available to magicians so you will not be able to highlight that skill on a fighter. I thought you could highlight any number of skills. You say on the first column you can highlight up to four skills, but that does not jive with my memory. But I never bothered with this, I just kept the relevant skills highlighted all the time. For example, highlighting Barding only and then using the practice lute, or highlighting Lockpick only before trying to pick a lock. Min-maxers will highlight only one skill while training. I tended to highlight a few relevant skills for each character, though. you can play the game without highlighting any skills and still do fine. If you only highlight a few skills, they'll increase faster than if you highlight lots of skills. Yes, highlighting a skill will increase the rate at which it increases with practice.
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