<h2 class='c010'>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
<p>
THIS latest king of Babylon is, however,
an interesting personage. To
him we are indebted for many records
which but for him the archæologists of
this present time would not have recovered.
He was a zealous restorer of ancient temples
and shrines, which in his day had fallen into
decay through all Mesopotamia. This seems
to have been a duty enjoined by the gods upon
all kings of Chaldea. But, whatever his motive,
whether as a fulfillment of religious duty
or of antiquarian inclinations, Nabonidus is
said to have undertaken these restorations to
an extent no king before him seems to have
attempted.</p>
<p class='c000'>Of famous temples rebuilded by him are
those of the Moon God of Ur, and Haran; also
of the Sun God at Larsa and of Sippara.</p>
<p class='c000'>The custom of placing the records of the
founder of an edifice in chambers or cavities in
the foundations of the structure is of immense
antiquity. These records were inscribed generally
on clay cylinders and usually ended with
injunctions to any future king who might, in
<span class='pageno' title='100' id='Page_100'>[100]</span>rebuilding, come upon the secret hiding place
of the cylinders that these records should be
replaced in their original depository with religious
rites. Failing to do this, the wrath of
the gods is invoked upon his sacreligious head.</p>
<p class='c000'>It was in this way that Nabonidus came
upon some very ancient and important documents.
As in all cases he followed his discoveries
with the record of the event upon inscribed
cylinders deposited by him in the foundations
of the new structure, the value of these
to later explorers can scarcely be estimated.</p>
<p class='c000'>It was during his excavations in the foundations
of the Sun temple at Larsa that he
came upon a cylinder inscribed and deposited
by Hammurabi, or Khammuragas, at the rebuilding
of a more ancient temple on the same
site.</p>
<p class='c000'>Hammurabi states upon his cylinder that
this more ancient temple was founded by Urea,
or Ur Gur, seven hundred years before his
time.</p>
<p class='c000'>On annalistic tablets of Babylonian kings in
the British Museum, Khammuragas is mentioned
and the date accorded to him B. C.
2315, or the end of his reign B. C. 2259, which
gives the date of Urea, The Builder, as about
2959 B. C.</p>
<p class='c000'>The most important of the discoveries of
Nabonidus, was, however, the finding of the
<span class='pageno' title='101' id='Page_101'>[101]</span>foundation cylinder of Naram-Sin, the son and
successor of the great Sargon of Accad.</p>
<p class='c000'>This occurred at the time of his restoration
of the Sun temple at Sippara, near the ancient
city of Agane.</p>
<p class='c000'>Of this, Nabonidus says:</p>
<p class='c017'>“I brought the Sun God from his temple,
and placed him in another house.”</p>
<p class='c017'>“I sought for its old foundation stone, and
eighteen cubits deep—”</p>
<p class='c017'>“I dug into the ground and the foundation
stone of Naram-Sin, Son of Sargon, which for
thirty-two hundred years no king who had
gone before me had seen.”</p>
<p class='c017'>“The Sun God—the great Lord of E Bara.
Let me see; even me.”</p>
<p class='c000'>Before the discovery of the cylinder of Nabonidus
the date of Sargon of Accad was uncertain.
He had often been regarded as identical
with the later Sargon, the Assyrian king
who carried the Ten Tribes of Israel into captivity
about 722 B. C. The numerous records
remaining of the earlier Sargon had made the
identity of these two monarchs confusing and
impossible, which was cleared away by the
discovery of the records of Nabonidus.</p>
<p class='c000'>This king had data for his statements which
subsequent discoveries have confirmed, thus
giving to Naram-Sin the date of thirty-two
hundred and fifty years before Nabonidus,
<span class='pageno' title='102' id='Page_102'>[102]</span>which was 550 B. C., and allowing for the long
reign of Sargon I, we have the immense antiquity
of B. C. 3800 for the time of the great
Sargon of Accad.</p>
<p class='c000'>The site where this important discovery was
made is one of the two Sipparas, situated on
opposite sides of the royal canal, not far from
the Euphrates, and running parallel with the
river.</p>
<p class='c000'>These two cities were anciently known by
their rival sanctuaries, the one dedicated to
the worship of the Sun, and the other to the
worship of the Moon, and were known as the
Sippara of the Sun and the Sippara of Annuit.</p>
<p class='c000'>The Sippara of Annuit is the supposed site
of the ancient Agade of Sargon. It was, however,
at Sippara of the Sun that Naram-Sin,
the son of Sargon, founded the temple which
was discovered by Nabonidus and rediscovered
by Mr. Rassam a few years ago.</p>
<p class='c000'>While making excavations in a mound near
the supposed site of Sippara, Mr. Rassam made
his way into some rooms of a vast structure
which he found to be a temple. Passing on
from room to room, he at last entered a smaller
chamber which was paved with asphalt. As
this kind of pavement was unusual in Babylonian
and Assyrian structures he concluded
this must be the secret depository of records.
Having broken into the pavement, he came
<span class='pageno' title='103' id='Page_103'>[103]</span>finally upon a sealed casket or chest of earthenware,
about three feet below the surface, in
which was found a stone tablet, beautifully inscribed,
and also other documents.</p>
<p class='c000'>This stone tablet was the archive of the famous
Sun temple as was proved by the inscription
on it, and also by the documents found
with it, which gave the names of the founder
and the restorers of the temple.</p>
<p class='c000'>The tablet had upon it a representation of
the Sun God, seated upon a throne receiving
the homage of his worshippers, while above
him the sun disc is suspended as from heaven
by two strong cords held up by two ministering
spirits.</p>
<p class='c000'>The inscription declares this to be the image
of Shamash, the great Lord who dwells in the
House of the Sun which is within the city of
Sippara.</p>
<p class='c000'>This established at once the site as that of
ancient Sippara, which to this time had been
doubtful, and may lead to further discoveries
of still greater antiquity on the site of the Sippara
of Annuit, the supposed site of the ancient
Agane.</p>
<p class='c000'>In the records remaining of Sargon, from
various localities, it is stated that he built here
a palace, which, after some important military
campaigns he greatly enlarged; that he built
also a magnificent temple to Annuit, and that
<span class='pageno' title='104' id='Page_104'>[104]</span>afterwards a statue of him (Sargon) was here
erected, inscribed with memorials of his birth
and career.</p>
<p class='c000'>The tablets in the British Museum containing
these records are probably copies of these
older inscriptions, the originals not having as
yet been discovered. They record Sargon’s
invasions of Elam with victorious armies, another
successful campaign in Syria, the subjugation
of all Babylonia and the peopling of his
new city, Agane, with the conquered nations.</p>
<p class='c000'>His longest and greatest campaign was a
later invasion of Syria at which he was absent
from his kingdom for three years. At this
time he penetrated to the “Sea of the setting
Sun”—the Mediterranean—conquering all the
countries through which he passed.</p>
<p class='c000'>In the rocky cliffs of the Asian shore he left
inscriptions recording his triumphs, and memorial
statues of him were erected in various
places. It is possible that he crossed to Cyprus
where relics of him, and of his son, Naram-Sin,
have been found.</p>
<p class='c000'>He seems to have had ambitions of universal
empire, and it is stated that after his return
from this expedition, “he appointed that all
places should form a single kingdom.” Of
this he says:</p>
<p class='c017'>“Forty-five years the kingdom I have ruled,
and the black Accadian race I have governed.”</p>
<p class='c017'><span class='pageno' title='105' id='Page_105'>[105]</span>“In multitude of bronze chariots I rode
over rugged lands.”</p>
<p class='c017'>“Three times to the coast of the Persian sea
I advanced.”</p>
<p class='c017'>“The countries of the Sea of the setting Sun
I crossed.”</p>
<p class='c017'>“In the third year at the setting Sun my
hand conquered.”</p>
<p class='c017'>“Under one command I caused them to be
only fixed.”</p>
<p class='c000'>Naram-Sin—the beloved of Sin, the Moon
God—continued the military advances of his
father. The records remaining state that he
invaded Egypt and held in possession for a
time Maganna, the land of Magan, the region
of the turquoise and copper mines and of the
famous diorite.</p>
<p class='c000'>A vase discovered at Babylon and since lost
in the Tigris, has on it the inscription:</p>
<p class='c000'>“To Naram-Sin, King of the Four Races, Conqueror of Apirak and Magan.”</p>
<p class='c000'>A second alabaster vase was found by M. de
Sarazec in the ruins of Tel-Loh, having inscribed
on it the words:</p>
<p class='c000'>“Naram-Sin, King of the Four Regions,”
or king of the north, south, east and west.</p>
<p class='c000'>This vase was imbedded in the masonry,
evidently later restorations of the earlier buildings
of Gudea.</p>
<p class='c000'>A cylinder found by General Cesnola, at
<span class='pageno' title='106' id='Page_106'>[106]</span>Cyprus has on it an inscription declaring its
owner as a worshipper of Naram-Sin, who it
seems had been deified by his subjects.</p>
<p class='c000'>In the first volume of Babylonian inscriptions
found at Nippur, Prof. Hilfrecht records
six inscriptions of Sargon, two brick stamps
of baked clay, fragments of many vases and
three door sockets, most of these temple offerings
to Bel—Mul-lil, of Nippur. The door
sockets contain the longest inscriptions of Sargon
thus far known.</p>
<p class='c000'>There are many inscriptions of Naram-Sin
in the Nippur remains, and yet more now in
course of translation. These refer again to the
restoration by these kings of the temple of Bel
and their dominion over the whole of South
Babylonia.</p>
<p class='c000'>As these explorations are yet in progress, it
is too early to indicate the farther evidences
of these early rulers of Babylonia remaining
at Nippur.</p>
<p class='c000'>The various localities in which these relics
have been found indicate the extensive sway
of these monarchs. They suggest also the
period when certain gods of Chaldea were
adopted by the various nations and people conquered
by Sargon or Naram-Sin.</p>
<p class='c000'>Sinai, the mountain of Sin, the Moon God,
may be a reminiscence of the invasion of Arabia
by Naram-Sin directed by this divinity.</p>
<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' title='107' id='Page_107'>[107]</span>Mount Nebo, the mountain upon which
Moses died, received its name from the Chaldean
Nebo, the god of science and literature,
the god of wisdom and prophesy.</p>
<p class='c000'>Istar, the evening star, the Chaldean Venus,
the goddess of love and fertility, became the
Atthar of southern Arabia, is identical with
the goddess Hathor, of Egyptian mythology,
and was worshipped by the Canaanites as Ashtaroth,
and finally by the Greeks as Astarte.</p>
<p class='c000'>Against this background of history and tradition,
of civilization so remote, a notable figure
appears about fifteen hundred and forty
years later than the great Sharrukin, or 2260
B. C., in whom the most sacred traditions of
later civilizations were to have their rise.</p>
<p class='c000'>This was Abraham, or Abu-ramu, “the exalted
father” with whom the history of the people
of Israel begins. A Semite, and a native
of Ur, his historical position is an important
landmark in the story of letters.</p>
<p class='c000'>Of special significance in this connection is
this early contact of Abraham and his family
with the land and people of Chaldea;—the
lingering survivals of Accadian speech and
traditions in Hebrew language and literature.</p>
<p class='c000'>Again, when Abraham left Chaldea to found
a great nation in another land, writing and
literature could not have been unknown to him.</p>
<p class='c000'>The constant use of cuneiform signs in architectural
<span class='pageno' title='108' id='Page_108'>[108]</span>structures, in business forms and
in every department of social and industrial
life and the ever present schools for scribes in
all the great cities of Mesopotamia made this
impossible. The art of writing was no new
thing to this young Semite prince. It was an
art even then hoary with age.</p>
<p class='c000'>With all to whom Abraham is a historic personality,
the story of his life and times as recorded
in the biblical narrative, is illuminated
as never before in the testimony of these cuneiform
documents from old Chaldea.</p>
<p class='c000'>The biblical narrative does not touch upon
the causes which led Abraham away from the
land of his nativity. Jewish and Arabian traditions,
however, state (and there may be a
grain of truth in these traditions), that this
was the result of the revolt of Abraham against
the idols of Ur, and his refusal to acknowledge
them as divine; that this brought upon him
and his father’s family a storm of persecution
from the priests and people which ended in
their banishment from Ur, and their departure
for a distant country.</p>
<p class='c000'>The references in the scripture narrative to
Terah, the father of Abraham, as an idolator,
and the Arabian tradition as a sculptor or maker
of idols, is significant in these connections.</p>
<p class='c000'>The destination of this family was Haran,
at that time a Turanian city in northern Mesopotamia,
<span class='pageno' title='109' id='Page_109'>[109]</span>an important frontier station on the
high road to Syria and Palestine, and the various
roads to the fords of the Tigris and Euphrates.</p>
<p class='c000'>The word Haran is from the Accadian,
Kharran, “a road,” and was thus named for
its position. It is said to lie in a region of
exceeding fertility and beauty. Its fine, free
air and commanding views make it the delight
of the Bedaween tribes who find here luxuriant
pasturage for innumerable flocks and herds.</p>
<p class='c000'>Previous to the time of Abraham, there seems
to have been at Haran, and in the region round
about, a considerable colony of Semitic people,
as indicated by Assyrian inscriptions. Since
Abraham’s date, “Nahor’s City” and the
“Well of Rebekah,” located near Haran, bear
these ancient names to the present day.</p>
<p class='c000'>The deity of Haran was then the Moon God,
the same deity as worshipped at Ur, always a
favorite divinity with all Semitic people, and
which might have been an influence that drew
Terah there. During the remaining years of
Terah’s life, Abraham remained in this locality,
prospering greatly; but with his father’s
death his long conceived purpose of establishing
himself in Canaan was finally achieved.</p>
<p class='c000'>After Abraham’s arrival in Canaan with his
numerous household, his princely retinue and
his great possessions, we find him again in
<span class='pageno' title='110' id='Page_110'>[110]</span>contact with certain Babylonian princes who
have invaded Canaan and have obtained sovereignty
in various localities.</p>
<p class='c000'>The fourteenth chapter of Genesis gives account
of the battle of Abraham with these kings
of Babylonia for the rescue of Lot, his nephew,
in which he put the invaders to flight, establishing
peace and security in the land.</p>
<p class='c000'>The names of these kings as given in the
scripture narrative are Chedorlaomer, king of
Elam; Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch,
king of Ellasar, or Larsa, and Tidal, king of
nations.</p>
<p class='c000'>These kings are now identified by Babylonian
records, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, as Kudur-Lagomar,
an Elamite king of that date;
Arioch, king of Ellasar, with Eri-Aku, then
king of Larsa. Amraphel, king of Shinar, is
identified as Hammurabi, or Khammuragas,
and Tidal, king of nations, as Thorgal, king
of Gutium, a region to the north of Elam.</p>
<p class='c000'>The evident correspondence of these kings
with Abraham’s contemporaries, furnish continued
evidence of the political contacts of
Babylonia and Canaan from the earliest times,
and in many ways confirm the historical verities
of the early scripture records.</p>
<p class='c000'>Another document, reflecting new light from
the cuneiform inscriptions, is the last exhortation
of Joshua to Israel assembled at Shechem.
<span class='pageno' title='111' id='Page_111'>[111]</span>In the review he then gives of the history of
his people, he says:</p>
<p class='c017'>“Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the
flood—the Euphrates—in the old time; even
Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father
of Nahor, and they served other gods.</p>
<p class='c017'>“And I took your father Abraham from the
other side of the flood and led him throughout
all the land of Canaan. And I brought you
into the land of the Amorites ✴ ✴ and I gave
them into your hand; ✴ ✴ now, therefore,
fear the Lord ✴ ✴ and serve him in sincerity
and truth and put away the gods which your
fathers served on the other side of the flood and
in Egypt, and serve ye the Lord.”</p>
<p class='c000'>The whole discourse bears internal evidence
of a written report, fresh from the voice of the
speaker. We now know that the functions of
the scribe were as constantly employed as the
modern reporter through all Babylonia and
Assyria as well as Egypt at these early dates.</p>
<p class='c000'>Moses, who was learned in all the wisdom
of the Egyptians, evidently had no lack of
scribes among the Israelites. The Tel-el-Amarna
tablets give evidence of the general practice
of the art of writing through all Canaan
before the days of Moses and Joshua.</p>
<p class='c000'>We have thus little need to refer to the period
of the Babylonian captivity for the appearance
of Accadian and Aramean words in early
<span class='pageno' title='112' id='Page_112'>[112]</span>Hebrew history, or for the correspondences of
Chaldean legends with scripture records.</p>
<p class='c000'>The origin of the documents which in Ezra’s
time were collected and re-written in new form,
were historical remnants surviving from the
earlier periods to which they are assigned in
history and tradition.</p>
<div class='pbb'>
<hr class='pb c003' /></div>
<div class='figcenter id009'>
<ANTIMG src='images/i_112.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
<div class='ic001'>
<p>HIEROGLYPHS AND TRANSLATION.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p class='c017'>The order both of the columns and the hieroglyphs
is from left to right. Verbally translated it reads:</p>
<div class='lg-container-b'>
<div class='linegroup'>
<div class='group'>
<div class='line'>1. <i>nuk neb aamt</i></div>
<div class='line in4'>I am a lord excellent</div>
</div>
<div class='group'>
<div class='line'>2. <i>uah mert heka</i></div>
<div class='line in4'>very beloved ruler</div>
</div>
<div class='group'>
<div class='line'>3. <i>mer tamaf arna kar</i></div>
<div class='line in4'>loving his country passed I for</div>
</div>
<div class='group'>
<div class='line'>4. <i>rēnpau em heka em</i></div>
<div class='line in4'>years as the ruler of</div>
</div>
<div class='group'>
<div class='line'>5. <i>Sah baku neb en</i></div>
<div class='line in4'>Sah the work all of</div>
</div>
<div class='group'>
<div class='line'>6. <i>sutna kheper em tuta</i>.</div>
<div class='line in4'>the palace was done by my hand.</div>
</div></div>
</div>
<div class='pbb'>
<hr class='pb c003' /></div>
<span class='pageno' title='113' id='Page_113'>[113]</span>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
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