[Gutenberg 45137] • Myths & Legends of Babylonia & Assyria

The purpose of this book is to provide not only a popular account of the religion and mythology of ancient Babylonia and Assyria, but to extract and present to the reader the treasures of romance latent in the subject, the peculiar richness of which has been recognized since the early days of archæological effort in Chaldea. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, writers who have made the field a special study have rarely been able to triumph over the limitations which so often obtrude in works of scholarship and research. It is true that the pages of Rawlinson, Smith, Layard, and Sayce are enlivened at intervals with pictures of Assyrian splendour and Babylonian glory—gleams which escape as the curtains which veil the wondrous past are partially lifted—but such glimpses are only interludes in lengthy disquisitions which too often must be tedious for the general reader.

It was such a consideration which prompted the preparation of this volume. Might not a book be written which should contain the pure gold of Babylonian romance freed from the darker ore of antiquarian research? So far, so good. But gold in the pure state is notoriously unserviceable, and an alloy which renders it of greater utility may detract nothing from its brilliance. Romance or no romance, in these days it will not do to furnish stories of the gods without attempting some definition of their nature and origin. For more than ever before romance and knowledge are a necessary blend in the making of a satisfactory book on mythology.

Nevertheless, it is anticipated that it will be to the modern reader who loves the romance of antiquity that this book will especially appeal. It is claimed that the greater part of Chaldean romance clusters around the wonderful mythology and religion of that land; it is therefore of these departments of Chaldean lore that this volume chiefly treats. But the history of Babylonia and Assyria has not been neglected. The great names in its records will be found to recur constantly in these pages, in most instances accompanied by a tale or legend which will illuminate the circumstances of their careers and serve to retain these in the mind of the reader. Nor has the Biblical connexion with Chaldea been forgotten; the reader will find as he proceeds frequent references to the pages of the most picturesque Book in the world.

CONTENTS

BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA IN HISTORY AND LEGEND

BABYLONIAN COSMOGONY

EARLY BABYLONIAN RELIGION

THE GILGAMESH EPIC

THE LATER PANTHEON OF BABYLONIA

THE GREAT GOD MERODACH AND HIS CULT

THE PANTHEON OF ASSYRIA

BABYLONIAN STAR-WORSHIP

THE PRIESTHOOD, CULT, AND TEMPLES

THE MAGIC AND DEMONOLOGY OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA

THE MYTHOLOGICAL MONSTERS AND ANIMALS OF CHALDEA

TALES OF THE BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN KINGS

THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN RELIGIONS

MODERN EXCAVATION IN BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Sacrificing to Bel (Evelyn Paul)

Assault on a City

Basalt Stele engraved with the Text of Khammurabi's Code of Laws

Sennacherib receiving Tribute

The Death of Sardanapalus (L. Chalon)

The Library of King Assur-bani-pal at Nineveh (Fernand L. Quesne)

Daniel interprets the Dream of Nebuchadrezzar (Evelyn Paul)

Grant of Privileges to Ritti-Marduk by Nebuchadrezzar I

Birs Nimrûd, the Tower of Babel

The Murder of Setapo (Evelyn Paul)

The Seven Tablets of Creation

"Mighty was he to look upon" (Evelyn Paul)

Conflict between Merodach and Tiawath

Types of En-lil, the Chief God of Nippur, and of his Consort Nin-lil

Ishtar, as (1) Mother-goddess, (2) Goddess of War, (3) Goddess of Love

The Mother-goddess Is