Note 159.1 — Chapter VIII · Religion and Morality.

There are other aspects of the divine character interesting to compare in the religious theory of East and West. Despite the apparent grimness of the Babylonian-Assyrian theology, no divine trait is more movingly insisted on in the liturgies than the mercifulness of the deity: Nebo is “the merciful, the gracious”;159.1 Ishtar is “the mighty lady of the world, queen of humanity, merciful one, whose favour is propitious, who hath received my prayer”;159.2 Sarpanitum is addressed as “the intercessor, the protectress of the captive”;159.3 Shamash as “the merciful god, who liftest up those that are bowed down and protectest the weak”;159.4 Sin as “the compassionate, gracious Father”; and “Gamlat the merciful” is mentioned as a descriptive general epithet of an unknown Assyrian deity.159.5