Front matter

Donald A. Mackenzie

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

I The Races and Early Civilization of Babylonia

II The Land of Rivers and the God of the Deep

III Rival Pantheons and Representative Deities

IV Demons, Fairies, and Ghosts

V Myths of Tammuz and Ishtar

VI Wars of the City States of Sumer and Akkad

VII Creation Legend: Merodach the Dragon Slayer

VIII Deified Heroes: Etana and Gilgamesh

IX Deluge Legend, the Island of the Blessed, and Hades

X Buildings and Laws and Customs of Babylon

XI The Golden Age of Babylonia

XII Rise of the Hittites, Mitannians, Kassites, Hyksos, and Assyrians

XIII Astrology and Astronomy

XIV Ashur the National God of Assyria

XV Conflicts for Trade and Supremacy

XVI Race Movements that Shattered Empires

XVII The Hebrews in Assyrian History

XVIII The Age of Semiramis

XIX Assyria's Age of Splendour

XX The Last Days of Assyria and Babylonia

Index

List of Figures

1. TEMPTATION OF THE EA-BANI

2. BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA

I.1. EXAMPLES OF RACIAL TYPES

I.2. STATUE OF A ROYAL PERSONAGE OR OFFICIAL OF NON-SEMITIC ORIGIN

III.1. WORSHIP OF THE MOON GOD

III.2. WINGED MAN-HEADED LION

IV.1. TWO FIGURES OF DEMONS

IV.2. WINGED HUMAN-HEADED COW (?)

V.1. ISHTAR IN HADES

V.2. Female figure in adoration before a goddess

V.3. The winged Ishtar above the rising sun god, the river god, and other deities

V.4. Gilgamesh in conflict with bulls (see page 176)

V.5. PLAQUE OF UR-NINA

VI.1. SILVER VASE DEDICATED TO THE GOD NIN-GIRSU BY ENTEMENA

VI.2. STELE OF NARAM SIN

VII.1. STATUE OF GUDEA

VII.2. "THE SEVEN TABLETS OF CREATION"

VII.3. MERODACH SETS FORTH TO ATTACK TIAMAT

VIII.1. THE SLAYING OF THE BULL OF ISHTAR

IX.1. THE BABYLONIAN DELUGE

IX.2. SLIPPER-SHAPED COFFIN MADE OF GLAZED EARTHENWARE

IX.3. STELE OF HAMMURABI, WITH "CODE OF LAWS"

X.1. THE BABYLONIAN MARRIAGE MARKET

XI.1. HAMMURABI RECEIVING THE "CODE OF LAWS" FROM THE SUN GOD

XI.2. THE HORSE IN WARFARE

XII.1. LETTER FROM TUSHRATTA, KING OF MITANNI, TO AMENHOTEP III, KING OF EGYPT

XII.2. THE GOD NINIP AND ANOTHER DEITY

XIII.1. SYMBOLS OF DEITIES AS ASTRONOMICAL SIGNS

XIII.2. ASHUR SYMBOLS

XIV.1. WINGED DEITIES KNEELING BESIDE A SACRED TREE

XIV.2. EAGLE-HEADED WINGED DEITY (ASHUR)

XVI.1. ASSYRIAN KING HUNTING LIONS

XVI.2. TYRIAN GALLEY PUTTING OUT TO SEA

XVII.1. STATUE OF ASHUR-NATSIR-PAL, WITH INSCRIPTIONS

XVII.2. DETAILS FROM SECOND SIDE OF BLACK OBELISK OF SHALMANESER III

XVIII.1. THE SHEPHERD FINDS THE BABE SEMIRAMIS

XIX.1. STATUE OF NEBO

XIX.2. TIGLATH-PLESSER IV IN HIS CHARIOT

XIX.3. COLOSSAL WINGED AND HUMAN-HEADED BULL AND MYTHOLOGICAL BEING

XIX.4. ASSAULT ON THE CITY OF ALAMMU (? JERUSALEM) BY THE ASSYRIANS UNDER SENNACHERIB

XX.1. ASHUR-BANI-PAL RECLINING IN A BOWER

XX.2. PERSIANS BRINGING CHARIOTS, RINGS, AND WREATHS