History of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 4 (of 12) by Gaston Camille Charles Maspero
page 31 of 342 (09%)
page 31 of 342 (09%)
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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 |
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