lid’s Reviews > Myths of Babylonia and Assyria > Status Update

The ancient Sumerian city ofEridu, which means "on the seashore", was invented with great sanctity from the earliest time, and Ea, the "great magician of the gods", was invoked by workers of spells, the priestly magicians of historic Babylonia. Like the early Egyptians, the early Sumerians may have been in touch with Punt (Somali-land), which some regard as the cradle of the Mediterranean race.

In ancient days, the ideal of womanhood was the poet's chief source of inspiration, and among the hymns the highest reach of poetic art was attained in the invocation of Ishtar, the Babylonian Venus. The hymn of Ishtar..

In Egypt and Babylonia the soil was tilled and its fertility increased by irrigation. Their mode of life necessitated a knowledge of Nature's laws; they had to take note of the seasons and measure time. So Egypt gave us Calendar and Babylonia the system of dividing the week into seven days, and the day into twelve double hours.

The invading nomads had superior military organization and considerable experience in waging war against detached tribal units. the Sumerians, ultimately achieved an intellectual conquest of their conquerors.

magic and religion were never separated in Babylonia; not only the priest but also the god performed magical ceremonies. In sacred literature proud Babylon became the city of the anti-Christ, the symbol of wickedness and cruelty and human vanity.