the Christian era, we may yet affirm that the base of this
system of faith was merely a very distorted form of the
ancient Chaldæan worship practised in the town.

** Only one vicegerent of Mesopotamia is known at present,
and he belongs to the Assyrian epoch. His seal is preserved
in the British Museum.

*** The importance of Harran in the development of the
history of the first Chaldæan empire was pointed out by
Winckler; but the theory according to which this town was
the capital of the kingdom, called by the Chaldæan and
Assyrian scribes "the kingdom of the world," is justly
combated by Tiele.

These sovereigns were probably at the outset somewhat obscure
personages, without much prestige, being sometimes independent and
sometimes subject to the rulers of neighbouring states, among others to
those of Agadê. In later times, when Babylon had attained to universal
power, and it was desired to furnish her kings with a continuous
history, the names of these earlier rulers were sought out, and added
to those of such foreign princes as had from time to time enjoyed the
sovereignty over them--thus forming an interminable list which for
materials and authenticity would well compare with that of the Thinite
Pharaohs. This list has come down to us incomplete, and its remains do
not permit of our determining the exact order of reigns, or the status
of the individuals who composed it. We find in it, in the period
immediately subsequent to the Deluge, mention of mythical heroes,
followed by names which are still semi-legendary, such as Sargon the
Elder; the princes of the series were, however, for the most part