Folk Lore - Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland within This Century by James Napier
page 11 of 177 (06%)
page 11 of 177 (06%)
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7. Shama, Judge of heaven and earth, Director of all. Lord of the
cities of Larsa and Sippara. 8. Ninip, Warrior of the warriors of the Gods, Destroyer of wicked. Lord of the city Nipur. 9. Nergal, Giant King of war. Lord of the city Cutha. 10. Nusku, Holder of the Golden Sceptre, the lofty God. 11. Belat, Wife of Bel, Mother of the great Gods. Lady of the city Nipur. 12. Ishtar, Eldest of Heaven and Earth, Raising the face of warriors. "Below these deities there were a large body of gods, forming the bulk of the Pantheon; and below these were arranged the Igege or angels of heaven; and the anunaki or angels of earth; below these again came curious classes of spirits or genii, some were evil and some good." The gods of the Greeks were numbered by thousands, and this at a time when--according to classical scholars--the arts and sciences were at their highest point of development in that nation. Their religion was of the grossest nature. Whatever conception they may have had of a first cause--a most high Creator of heaven and earth--it is evident they did not believe he took anything to do directly with man or the phenomena of nature; but that these were under the immediate control of deputy-deities or of a conclave of divinities, who possessed both divine and human attributes--having human appetites, passions, and affections. Some of these were local deities, others provincial, others national, |
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