The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria Part 23

[382] Tallqvist, I. l. 38.

[383] See above, p. 254.

[384] To bewitch me.

[385] The witch.

[386] From which he suffers through the witches.

[387] The identification of the many herbs mentioned in the texts is as yet impossible. The subject awaits investigation at the hands of one versed in botanical lore.

[388] _I.e._, be ineffective.

[389] _I.e._, the G.o.ds presiding over the watches.

[390] Her words dissolve like wax and honey.

[391] Supposed to be situated at the northern point of the heavens.

[392] The vault of heaven was pictured as having two gates.

[393] So that the witch cannot leave her habitation.

[394] With the order 'to cast the lock,' etc.

[395] To prevent her from uttering her charms.

[396] The following four lines const.i.tute the incantation.

[397] _I.e._, the witches.

[398] See above, p. 278, where one has been given.

[399] Maklu, I. 122-143.

[400] The fiery element belongs to all three divisions of the universe,--to heaven, earth, and water.

[401] Maklu, III. ll. 89-103.

[402] Many of the seals used by the Babylonians were of white stone or bone.

[403] Zimmern's edition, pp. 25-29.

[404] _I.e._, the evil word.

[405] His protecting deity has deserted him.

[406] Of his body.

[407] _I.e._, whoever may have invoked the evil demon to settle upon him.

[408] The translation of these lines follows in all but some minor pa.s.sages the correct one given by Sayce, _Hibbert Lectures_, p. 446.

[409] Of the sick man.

[410] Zimmern, _Die Beschworungstafeln Shurpu_, pp. 5, 6.

[411] In mercantile transactions.

[412] _I.e._, lied.

[413] _I.e._, did he say one thing, but mean the contrary?

[414] Zimmern, _ib._ pp. 13-20.

[415] For details as to the manner in which this editing was done, see King's admirable remarks in the Introduction to his _Babylonian Magic and Sorcery_, pp. xx-xxiv.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE PRAYERS AND HYMNS.

From what has just been said, it follows that the step from magical formulas to prayers and hymns is but a small one, and does not, indeed, carry with it the implication of changed or higher religious conceptions. While the incantation texts in their entirety may be regarded as the oldest _fixed_ ritual of the Babylonian-a.s.syrian religion, there were occasions even in the oldest period of Babylonian history when the G.o.ds were approached in prayer without the accompaniment of magic formulas. Such occasions were the celebration of festivals in honor of the G.o.ds, the dedication of temples or of sacred statues, and the completion of such purely secular undertakings as the building of a ca.n.a.l. Gudea, we are told, upon completing a statue to his G.o.d Nin-girsu, prayed: 'O King, whose great strength the land cannot endure (?); Nin-girsu! grant to Gudea, who has built this house, a good fate.'[416] As in the earliest, so in the latest, period, the Babylonian kings approach the G.o.ds in prayer upon completing their great sacred edifices. The prayers of Nebuchadnezzar are particularly fine--remarkable, indeed, for their diction and elevation of thought.

Upon completing the restoration of a temple to Nin-karrak or Gula in Sippar, he prays:[417]

Nin-karrak, lofty G.o.ddess, look with favor upon the work of my hands, Mercy towards me be the command of thy lips, Long life, abundance of strength, Health, and joy, grant to me as a gift.

In the presence of Shamash and Marduk cause my deeds to be regarded with favor, Command grace for me.

A prayer of the same king addressed to Shamash, upon restoring the great temple at Sippar, E-babbara, runs:[418]

O Shamash, great lord, upon entering joyfully into thy glorious temple E-babbara, Look with favor upon my precious handiwork, Mercy towards me be thy command; Through thy righteous order, may I have abundance of strength.

Long life, and a firm throne, grant to me.

May my rule last forever!

With a righteous sceptre of blissful rulership, With a legitimate staff, bringing salvation to mankind, adorn my sovereignty forever.

With strong weapons for the fray, protect my soldiers; Then, O Shamash, by oracle and dream, answer me correctly!

By thy supreme command, which is unchangeable, May my weapons advance, and strike and overthrow the weapons of the enemies.

Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions are characterized by the prayer with which they almost invariably close. Whether erecting a sanctuary or building a ca.n.a.l or improving the walls of Babylon, he does not fail to add to the description of his achievements a prayer to some deity, in which he asks for divine grace and the blessings of long life and prosperity.

There were other occasions, too, in which, both in ancient times and in more modern periods, prayers were sent up to the G.o.ds. Kudur-mabuk, of the second dynasty of Ur, informs us that he built a temple, E-nun-makh, to Sin in grat.i.tude to the G.o.d for having hearkened to his prayer.

The a.s.syrian kings pray to Ashur or Ishtar before the battle, and offer thanks after the victory has been gained. "O G.o.ddess of Arbela!" says Ashurbanabal,[419] "I am Ashurbanabal, the king of a.s.syria, the product of thy hands, created by thee in the house of my father. To renew the sanctuaries of a.s.syria, and to enlarge the cities of Babylonia, ... have I devoted myself to thy dwelling-places, and have steadfastly worshipped thy sovereignty.... Hearken unto me! O thou mistress of mistresses, supreme in battle, mistress of the fray, queen of the G.o.ds, ... who speakest good things in the presence of Ashur, the father, that produced thee. Teumman, king of Elam, has arrayed his army and fixed upon battle, brandishes his weapons to proceed against a.s.syria. Do thou now, O warrior, like ... drive him into the midst of the fray, pursue him with a storm, with an evil wind." Ishtar, the narrative tells us, hearkened to the fervent words of the king. "Be not afraid," says the G.o.ddess to her royal subject. Elsewhere the same king prays more briefly to Ashur and Ishtar. "May his corpse [viz., of a certain enemy] be cast before his enemy [_i.e._, before Ashurbanabal], and his remains be carried off."[420]

Upon ascending the throne, we find Nebuchadnezzar addressing a fervent prayer to the great G.o.d Marduk:

O Eternal Ruler! Lord of the Universe!