T H E S AM E AU T H O R .

O R I GI N N A TI O N S .

T wo P a rt s
C i vil i z a t i on s .

A fli n i t i e s .

W i t h Ma ps . 1 V o l 1 2m o
. . C l o th
 TH E R E L I GI O N S

THE AN C I E N T WO RLD ,

I N C L UD I N G

E GY PT ,
P H O E N I C IA ,

A SS YR I A AN D B A B YL O N I A ,
E T R U R IA ,

P ER S I A , GREE C E ,

/ I ND IA, r
R O ME .

I
‘f
GE O R GE R AW L I N S O N ,
M A . .
,

C AMD E N PR O F E SS O R O F A N C I E N T H I S T O R Y, OX F OR D ,
AN D C AN ON O F C A N TE R BU R Y ;

” "
A u tho r of Th e O r i g i n ofN a ti ons , The F i ve Gr ea t M ona r c hi ee , e tc .

N E W YO R K

C H AR L E S S C R I BN E R S S O N S ’

1883

[A l l R i g hts R e sc ued ]
 P R E F A C E .

TH IS l ittl e work has origi nat ed

a seri e s of pap ers
in
writte n for t he S un day a t H om e i n t he ye ars 1 8 7 9 and
1 8 8 1 b ase d upon L e cture s d e l i ve r e d i n t he U n i ve rs i ty
,

of O xford fr om t he chai r whi ch I have the honour to

,

hold D uri n g t he twe nty on e ye ars that I have o c c u

.
-

pi e d that chai r I have conti nually fe lt more and more

,

that t he re al history of nati ons is bound up with t he

history of the i r r e l ig i ons and that unl e ss the se ar e car e
, ,

fully studi e d and accurate ly known t h e i nn e r li fe o f ,

nati ons is not appre he nd e d nor is th e i r h istory unde r

,

stood .

I have also fe lt that t he d e si r e to g e n e ral i ze upon t he

subj e ct o f anci ent r e l igi ons and to bu i ld up a formal
,
”
“
S ci e nce of R e l i gi on as it is call e d has outrun t he
, ,

n e cessari ly ante ri or coll e cti on of mate ri als on whi ch

g e n e ral i zat i on m i g ht b e sa fe ly bas e d I h av e th e r e.for e , ,

in my l e cture s to stud e nts mad e a po i nt of drawi n g

,

th e i r atte nti on fr om time to t i me to t he re l igious b e l i efs

, ,

and practi ce s of t he various race s and nati ons with

whom my h istori cal te achi ng has b e e n conce rn e d and of ,

e xh i b it i n g to the m as we ll as I was abl e at onc e t h e

, ,

e xt e rnal fe ature s and t h e i nt e rnal characte risti cs of

The R e lig i ons of t he A nci e nt W orld
”
.

B ut t he voi ce of a Profe ssor spe a ki n g ex c a thedr a,

rare ly re ach es fa r nor do mode rn acade mi cal re forms

,

v ii
v ii i P r efa c e .

tend i n t he d ire ction of e nlarg in g professori al i nflue nce

with in U n iversities I t thus b e comes n e cessary for Pro
.

fes so rs if th ey wish to advance t h e stud i es i n wh i ch

,

th ey fe e l espe ci al i nte re st to addre ss t he world without

,

through t he Press and this I have accordin g ly don e

,

from ti me to t ime and shall probably cont i nu e to do

, ,

w h i l e l ife and stre ngth a r e g rant e d to m e .

Of t he shortcomin gs of t he pre se nt work no on e can

b e m ore consci ous than i ts author I have r epre s e nt e d
.

myself towards its close ( p 239) as havi ng don e no more

.

than touch ed t he fri nge of a g re at subj e ct Should c i r .

c ums t a n c e s pe rmi t and su ffici e nt e ncourag e me nt be r e

,

c e i ve d t he s k e tch of A nc i e nt R e l ig i ons h e r e put forth

,

m ay not i mprobably re ce i ve at some futur e ti me s uch an

e xpans i on as may r e nd e r i t mor e proport i onat e to t he

vas t matte r of whi ch i t tre ats .

I t is i mpossibl e to make acknowl e dg me nts to all thos e

whose wor ks I have consulte d with advantag e B ut my .

obl ig ations to Professor M a x M ii lle r s disse rtati ons upon ’

t he V e das to D r M art i n H ang s E ssays on t he Pars e e

’
.
,
”
R e l ig i on and to M r D e n n i s s C it i e s and C e met e r i es
“ ’
.
,

”
of E truri a se e m to r e qu ire sp e ci al r e cog n ition A part .

”
from t he works of the se wri t e rs thre e of t he R e l ig i ons
,

could not have b e e n so much as atte mpte d I f I have .

venture d someti mes thoug h rare ly to d iffe r from th e i r

, ,

conclusions i t has b een with difii den c e and re luctance

, .
 C O N TE N T S

IN T R O D UCT I O N .

Pre s ent fa sh i on of s p e c u l a ti n g on the or i gi n of t h i n gs

Th e ai m o f t hi s w o r k t f ct n t t
o c ol l e c t
t u t a s, o o c on s r c

a
“
Sc i e n c e f
o —R l i gi on o
R l i gie on
”
f th m t e ne o e os

v
i n stru c ti e an d i t ti g b n er esh s f hi t i l
n r an c e o s or c a

st u dy—T h e se p g de l w i th th l i gi u t t d
a es a e re o s en e s an

p ti c f
r ac es o th i gh t p i
e e ip l ti of a t i q i ty
r nc a na on s n u

Th e r el i
gi o n of t h e J w p u p e l y om i t t e d
e s p gr os a e

C H APTE R I .

TH E R E LI G I O N o r TH E A N C I E N T E G YPT IA NS .

y
Pol t h e i s m e xi
d i t h f m 1 S y th eti c ; 2 An
s te n ree or s : , n , a

ly t i ; 8
c M i x d —Egyp t i n p l y th i m f t h l st
e a o e s o e a

i fi c at i n f t h g o d —T h p i
,

na m e d k i d —E n ly l ar c ass o o e s e r n

ci p l d i vi i ti
a A m m — K h em K e ph—Ph th h
n es on -
n a

R — O i i — N i th
a s r s N t —W e hi p f thor u d e or s o e s n an

m —M l v l t d i t i — L l t i d —
oo n a e o en A im l w
e es oc a r a s n a or

shi p —Th Ap i b ll —T m p l
e s d c u m si s—B e es an er e on e e

h ef i fut
n a lif — T tm
ur e t f th de d —Egyp t i n
rea en o e ea a

n tu a l t h l gy
ra Neo o g u d f upp i g E gy p -
o ro n or s os n

ti ans ac q u i t d w i t h th d t i f t h T i i t y
a n e e oc r n e o e r n
x C o n te nts .

C HA PTER II .

R E LI G I O N O T A Y I A N A BA B YLO NI A NS
TH E F H E SS R S N D .

A sy i
s r a nsb li v d in f w e g d e ed w hi pp d t h e er o s, an o rs e e

h v ly b di
ea en m th n th oEgyp t i —H d n
es ore a e an s a o

te i
eso l i g i n —An
r c re t f th i l igi
o i h a c c ou n o e r re on s e nc e

d i p ti
a esc r f t h i p nth n — A h u
on o d II R e r a eo ss r an or a

Th fi t t i d A u B l n d H
e rs r a H ,
—Th n d , e a ea or oa e s e c on

t i dr a Si Sh m s
,
nd V l — Th
n, i g dd
a a ,
a a e s x o ess es ,

A n t B l t i D v k i n G ul S h l
a a, e s, T l a d -
a, a, a a or a a, an

th G t L dy —Th l d i ti —Th A
”
e rea fiv t a e e as r a e es e s

y i n N i — Th B by l n i n M d h — N g l
s r a n e a o a ero ac m
er a

I h t —N b — R l i gi u b il d i n g f t h A y i
s ar e o e o s u s o e ss r an s

T h i i tu l — T h i v i w f f tu li f — T h i p
e r r a e r e o a u re e e r su er

t i ti
s —T h i
ons d l g d — Th C h l d n l g d
e r s ac r e e en s e a ea e en

f o ti n
c re a g i v by B u d t h m u m t
o as en e r os s an e on en s

Th Ch l d
e l g d f th
a D l g — Th d
e an e t fen o e e u e e es c e n o

I ht int H d
s ar o a es p g a e

C HA P TE R III .

TH E RE LI G I O N
A N C I N T I RA NI A N S or TH E E .

E l y h om f t h
ar n —Th
e o o i gi f th i
e I i l i gi n
ran a s e r n o e r re o

t i t th b i th f M
a n e r or s —Z o t ei t f u de r o ose or o as er , s o n r

P i i t b i d i g h m — Th Z n d v t —D u li m th e
e rs a s a n o e e e a es a a s

g t h t i t i —A h u M d d A g M i yu
rea c ar a c e r s c ra - az a an n r o- a n s

Sig i fi ti n f th
n n m
ca —A t t i b u t s f th t w
o o es e a es r e o e o

d iti — Th i
e p t i v e b n d s f i n f i p i i t — Th e
es e r res ec a o e r or s r s

Am h — S p t — Th
es p i i t ub d i t t A g o
a en as e s r s s or na e o n r

M i n y u — Th
a y m b l f t h e w i n g d i l —M i th
s e s o o e c rc e ra,

th g i s f l i gh t — M n
e en u t d by A h
o M da ; a c rea e ura- az

b un d t o b y him d pp s An g M i y u —Th
o o e ,
an o o e rO -
a n s e

p i t y f t h I i — T he i i n d t y— V e i ty
ur o e ran a ns r us r ra c

Vi w n f t l i f — B l i f i
e s o a u ur e t i n of th e e e n a r es u r r e c o e

b dy t f
o di li
no p t f Z d v t —T n s
oun n e ar er ar s o en a es a ra

l ti n fa G ama i b d t Z
o o a t —A p ec im en asc r e o or oa s e r s

f m the Y s
ro B k S i fi — I t od u c t i o n of
a na or oo on acr ce n r
 C on ten ts . xi

M gi sm o w hi p f fi
a ,
r i th
or s o re, a r, e ar , and w a t er
Th M gi n p i th d—T h ei t g e
e a a r es oo r s r an t r e a tm e n t of

t h e d e a d —N at u e f t h l t e an d m i x e dr o e a r e li gi on
p ag e 77

C H APT ER I V .

TH L I G I O N O F T H E AR L Y SA NS K R I T I C I N D IA NS
E R E E .

E l y I di
ar n p l y th i t i T d i t i o p i t t o n e l y
an s o e s c- ra ns o n a ar

c n d i ti
o f x t m e h d s hi p i
on o e w h i h t h e b el i e f i
re ar , n c n

o ne G d m y h ve b
o g a ll y l t—Th e
a l i gi us e en e n er a os re o

i t i t i n t h e H i d o m n u f t u d d i t i s — G o w th
ns nc n o s a ac re e e r

o f V d i c p l y t h i s m — Th e c hi f d i t i
e o e V Mit e e es, aru n a , ra ,

d I d —
an Ag i t h e g d f fi e— Dy u s n d t h oth e
n ra n , o o r a a e r

t u e g od
na r Us h
-
t h d w — Su y
s m
th e s u —V y u
as
,
e a n r a, n a ,

t h e w i d — Dy n d P i t hi vi — S m a w
au s h i pp e d
an s r o or s a

t he m d l o as th e g e i u s f
oon , a n a s t i pl t n o a c er a n an

I d i w hi p i m pl e i f m —T h i hy m — T h i
n an or s s n or e r ns e r

ff i g s —T h e i v i w s n t h e fu tu e l i f — I m m t l i t y
o er n r e o r e or a

ash i t e d t b y V e d i p e t — S p c ul t i o
n a o t he d p e c o s e a ns n ee r

p bl m f h um n n d d i vi n e x i s t c — T n l t i n
ro e s o a a e en e ra s a o

fo V di p m
a e c oe .

C HAPTER V .

TH E LI G I O N O F T H E PH CE N I C S A N CART H AG INI A N S
RE I AN D .

O ur k n owl e dg e o thi ubj e c t h t b e gl n e d f m

n s s as o ea ro

fe w d s c at t e e d
an ti s—Th P h oeni i n a n ow
r no ce e c a arr

p l y th i m —Th
o e s me f t h e g d s i d i c at e
e k w
na s o o n a no

l dg of t h e p e o al i t y o f t h e S u p e m e B i g— T h e y
e e rs n r e n

p i t t n o i gi n l m on ot h e i m —Th e f m l d ei ti e
o n o a r a s e a e s

m e m ode
er f th m l e o e s —B l — A h t o e t h
s o e a n aa s r

M l k t h— D g n Ad ni
e ar T m m u —R l —Th e s u n
a o -
o s or a z

w hi p — S h m — M l h — B l t i —
or s a asS dyk—E h m n O ec aa s a s u

—Th K b i i —F o i g d ei ti —L i c ti
e a r it — H u
re n es en ous r es

m ans c ifi c —N a r i m ge i et h e t e m p l —A h
o hs a s n es s era

G eneral te d c y f the w n hi p t o l w
en d d b se
o or s o e r an e a

men
 C o n ten ts .

C HA PT ER V I .

R LI G I O N o r T II ETR US C A NS
TH E E E .

Kn o wn t o u c hi e fl y f m s f e n c i n G e k nd L tin ro r e er es r e a a

w it r — E t us n l an g u g
er s n t y e t m as t e
r ca d —R a es o re e

l i gi n h l d
o l e d n g p l e i n t h e t h ou g h t
e a a nd f
i l ac s a ee

i g s f t h e n t i n —T w f l d obj t
n o a f w o hi p d e i t i o o ec s o or s ,
es

a nd L e s —T h e e c l
ar s of d i t i of h e ven
r of
as s e e es , a ,

e ar th an d f t h e i fe n l
,
g i n s —C hi ef d ei ti s f
o n r a re o e o

H v n —T i n o T i n i —C up —M e n v
ea e a r M en f as ra r a or r a

U il d L s n a — Th e th e e e l e m en tal g d —Th e
s an o r o s

N ov n i l e s —Th e p mi e n t p l c e
e s i gn e d t t h e g d
ro n a ass o o s

O f t h i n f n l e g i on —M n t u
e er a M n i an d C h u n
r s a s, a a, ar

A tt ib t r f thes u es d e i ti e s n d t h e i tt e n d n t
o e a r a a s

E t u c n ou g h t t o l e n t h e w i l l o f t h e g d i n t h e e
r s a s s ar o s r

w y a 1 by t h u n d
s : ,
d l i g h t n i n g ; 2 by t h e fl i g h t o f
er an ,

bi d ; a n d 3 b y t h
r s i n p e c ti n f e n t i l —Th e e s o o ra s

p i s th d a e of t h y e s —S c i fi c s we e b oth
, ,

r e oo rac s oo sa r a r e r

a n i m l a n d h u m n — Th e t u
a t m ple w a th e h m r e e as o e,

th l bj e c t o f w o h i p t h L
e r ea o s —E t u c n t o m b rs e ar e r s a s

Th E t e d p i g up ti t i
r u s c an a e d d ba m g
r ess n ,
s e rs o us , a n e s

wo sh i pr
p g a e

C H A PT E R VI I .

TH E RE LI G I O N O F TH E A NC IE NT GR E E K S .

W h at s en s e a M ul t i t u d i ou s ha c
w or s h i p of N a t ur e — n c ra

t e o f t h p l y t h i m — Cl
r ee of g d —Go d ti in
e s ass s o s ra a on s

r ank d p w e — Th e i g d f th e fi s t d e Z e u
an o r s x o s o r or r : s

P e id
os Ap l l A — H p h t u —H m es The
on o o res e aes s er

i
s x fe m l e O l y m p i d i t i
a H A th e A te m i c e es : e ra , en , r s,

Ap h d i t e H t i D m t —W s h i p f D i o y u
ro , es a, e e er or o n s s

L t —P p h — C h t i s ti of G k wo h i p
e o ers e on e arac er cs re e rs

Th f t i v l —Th d k i d — Th F u i —H u m n
e es a s e ar s e e r es a

s ac i fi r —Th m y te i
ce e s r es
 C on tents . x ii i

C H APTE R VI I I .

LI G I O N o r TH E A N C I E N T R O M A NS
TH E RE .

R m an q ui t e d i s ti c t f om t he G e e k el i g i —The
o n r r r on

t w el v e D i m j J upi t e — J u o —M i e v —M a s
a or es : r n n r a r

B el l — V e t C e
on a S t u nu s
s a O ps
‘

H e c ul e s
res a r r

M e u i us — N e ptu n u s —F i v e g oup s of s ub d i t
rc r r or na e

d i ti s—Th e wo hi p supp o t e d by t h e Stat e—S ev e al

e e rs r r

o de s
r r f p i e s t s —Th e t h e c hi e f c ol l e gi a
o r 1 S li i re : , a

P l at i i ; 2 S alii C ll i ni ; d 3 Vi gi n V e f l e s
a n , o an ,
r es s a

Th e l e n e d c p o ti
ar 1 th
or P n ti fi c e s ; 2 the
ra on s : , e o ,

A u gu s ; 3 th e F ti l ; 4 th e D uum vi i sac o u m
r , e a s ,
r r r

Th e p ub li c w hi p of t h e S t at e —Th e p i vat e w
or s hi p r or s

of th e p e p l — R m a o e l i g i o n d u ll a n d t m e a s c o m
e o n r a ,

p e d wi th th e G k —D oc t i of e xp i ati on—M y th o
ar re e r n es

l o gi c l f bl e s f e i gn t o t h e s p i i t of th e R om a ns p g
a a or r a e

C O N CL UD I N G R E M A R KS .

The t i m e h as n ot y et c om e to c on s t r u c t a S c i e nc e of Re
li gi on ,
”
b ut c e rt ai n r e s ul t s s e em to foll ow f om r thi s
re vi ew vi z —1 I t i s i m p s si bl e t o t ac e to any n e
, . . o r o

fun d m ental c on c e p ti on t h e va i ou s l i gi n s —2
a r re o .

F om n on e of th em c oul d th e H eb e w eli gi on h v e
r r r a

o i g i n at e d —
r 3 Th c ed b k s f th e H eb e w s c oul d
. e sa r oo o r

n o t p s i bl y h a v
o s b e n d i v e d f om t h e s ac e d w i t i g
e e er r r r n s

o f th es e n a t i n s — 4 T h i s r e v i w gi v e s n o c u nt e
o e o

n n c e t o t h e t h e o y o f C om t e —
.

a 5 Th e fac t s p oi n t t o a
r .

p i m i ti v e el i gi n f w h i h m t he i s m n d e xp i tory
r r o , o c on o a a

sa c ri fi c e w e e p a t s g a d u ll y c or u p t e d
r r n d l os t ex
, r a r a

c p t a m on g t h e H eb e w s
e r a
p g e
 L I ST O F I L L U S TRA TI O N S .

P AGE

O BE L s O F U S U R TA S E N A T H E LI O P O LI S ( F r on ti sp i ec e )
A M M ON 11
PH TH A H 13
RA 14

T OTH H 17

TRI A D O S A A R A AT OR AND K ON S
F V x- ,
H ,
H 19

T J U DG M N T H A LL O
H E O S IRI S
E F 25

M U M M Y A ND D I S E M O DI E D S P IRI T B 27
A SS U RH 40
SIN 47

VUL 50
N IN 52
N E RG A L 56

W ING E D CIR C L E 86
F O U R W I G D IG U R E A T M U RG A
-
N E F B 87

TO M O D A RI US
B F 89

F IR E AL A R S T 97

M A GI A N PRI E S T 100

A S T AR T E 139

T H E SUN 145

C OIN O C SS U A
F O R 150

C OIN O C Fo AU L s 151

S A C R E D TR E E—A S E R A H H 157
 TH E R E L I GI O N S

TH E AN C IE N T W O R L D

I N TRO D U C TI O N .

R eli gi o es t qu
,
ae s u p j
e r i o r i s c u u s d a m , n a t u r es , qu am D i vi nam
voc a n t , c ur a m c aer i m o n i am q u e a tfe r t .
”
—C I C . D e I n venti o ne , ii .

53 .

T i s t he fash i on o f the day to sp e c ulate o n t he

ori g i ns of th i ngs N o t conte nt w ith obs e rv i ng
.

t he m e chan i sm of t he h e av e ns astronom e rs d i scuss ,

t he format i on o f t he mat e r i al un i v e rs e and s ee k i n ,

t he ph e nom e na wh i ch consti tute t he subj e ct matt e r -

”
o f th e i r sc i e nc e for Ve stig e s o f Cre at i on Natura l .

“
ph i losoph e rs propound th e or ie s o f t he Orig i n of
S p e cie s ,
and t he pr i m i ti v e cond i t i on of man C o m .

r at i ve ph i lolog i sts a re no long e r sat i sfi e d to d iss e ct

p a

language s compare roots o r contrast systems o f

, ,

grammar but r egard i t as i ncu mb e nt upon th e m to

,

put forward v ie w s r esp e cti ng t he first b eg i nn i ngs o f

language i ts e l f .

T o d eal wi th facts is thought to b e a hu m dru m

2 T he R e li g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

and commonplace e mploym e nt o f t he i nte ll e ct o n e ,

fitte d for t he dull ag e s wh e n m e n we re conte nt to

“
plod and wh e n progr e ss d e ve lopm e nt the h igh e r
, , ,
”
cr i t i c ism w e r e unknown T he i nte ll e ct n o w ta ke s
.

loftie r fl ights Conj e ctur e i s found to b e mor e

.

amus ing than i nduct i on and an i ng e n i ous hypoth e s i s

,

to b e m ore attracti ve than a prov e d law Our ad .

”
v a n c e d th i nk e rs advance to t he furth e st l i m i ts o f
human knowl e dge som e t i m e s e v e n b eyond th e m ;
,

and b ew i tch us w i th sp e culat i ons wh i ch a r e as b e a u ,

ti ful and as unsubstanti al as t he bubbl e s wh i ch a

, ,

ch i ld produce s w i th a l i ttl e soap and wate r and a

tobacco p ip e
-
.

N o r do e s e v e n r e l i g i on e scap e T he h i stor i cal .

m e thod o f i nqu i ry i nto t he past facts o f r e l i g i on i s i n

dange r o f b e ing sup e rs ed e d by sp e culat i ons conce rn
“ ” “ ”
i n g what i s call e d i t s ph i losophy or its sc i e nce,
.

W e a re cont inually i nv i te d to acce pt t he v i e ws o f

th i s o r that th e or i st r e sp e cting t he ori g i n o f all r e l i
g i ons wh i ch a re attr i bute d e i th e r to a common i n
,

nate i d ea or i nst inct o r e ls e to a common mod e o f

,

r e ason i ng upon t h e ph e nom e na and e xp e r i e nce s o f

human l i fe W h il e t he facts o f anci e nt r e l ig i ons a re
.

only j ust e me rg ing from t he profound obscur ity that

has h i th e rto r e ste d upon th e m fancy i s busy con ,

s t ruc t i n sch e m e s and syst e ms wh i ch hav e about as

g ,

much r e al i ty as t he i mag inati ons o f a nov e l i st o r t he

day —dre ams o f an Alnaschar T he pati e nt to i l t he.
,

care ful i nv e stigat i on wh ich r e al S c i e nce re qu i re s as

t he n e c e ssary bas i s u pon wh ich g e n e ral i sat i on must
procee d , and syste ms be bu i lt up i s d i scar d e d for ,
4 The R el ig i ons f
o the A n c i e n t Wor ld .

In the e nsu ing page s the r e l ig i ous ten e ts and prac

ti ces o f e ight pr i nc ipal n at i ons of anti qu ity are pass e d
in e e r v i w — t he nat i ons b e i ng thos e w i th wh i ch a n
—
c ie nt h i story i s ch e fly conc e rn e d t he Egypti ans
i ,

A ssyr i ans and Baby lon i ans Iran i ans S anskr i ti c I n , ,

d i ans Phoen i c i ans Etruscans Gr e e ks and R omans

, , , , .

T he r e l ig i on o f t he J e ws has b ee n om i tte d as suf ,

fic i e n t ly we ll known to all e ducat e d p e rsons T he .

r e l ig i ons of anc i e nt barbarous race s hav e b ee n e xclu

d e d as not hav i ng c o m e down to us i n any d e ta i l o r
, ,

u pon su f fi c ie ntly trust w orthy e v i d e nc e T he e ight .

nat i ons s e l e cte d hav e o n t he contrary l e ft monu

, ,

m ents and wr i ti ngs mor e o r l e ss e xte ns i v e fro m

, ,

wh i ch i t has s ee m e d to b e poss i bl e to g i v e a tol e rably

full account o f th e i r r e l ig i ous b e l ie fs and o n e o n ,

wh i ch a fa i r d e gr ee o f d e p e nd e nce may b e plac e d .

N O doubt as t i m e go e s o n and fr e sh d iscov e r ie s a re

, ,

mad e o f anc i ent docum e nts o r an i ncr eas e d i ns ight ,

obta i n e d i nto t he tru e m e an i ng o f th e i r conte nts w e ,

shall co m e to know m uch mor e than w e know at

'

pr e s e nt o n t he subj e ct h e re handl e d ; but i t i s c o n fi

d e n t ly b e l i e v e d that furth e r r e s e arch and study w i ll
only suppl e m e nt and not contrad i ct the v i ews wh ich
, ,

a r e h e r e put forward T he author w i ll gladly s e e

.

t he s ket ch wh i ch he h e r e atte mpts fill e d up and

compl e te d by oth e rs Adfeze u d v fl a x/t o; e l va e
.

si v xa i ded o fiprha a z r ot m i d) ; é xo w
’
n
poa a
r r a
'
j m l 6 ypé vo g r o zo dr w v é pe z iyg, 97
' ’

ne
pn e oa g r al u
'
og , e

a o ue
py b g d ra dO : e ll/ a c
f
5 0 3 ) m i r ui n
1 . ) rs
yuchy
y r
e é ua o w
é m dé a ei c 7 mm ; yap npo a fis i ua e T b Si l e firé v
'
'
.
 C H A PTE R I .

TH E RE L I G I O N OF TH E A N C I E N T E GY P T I A N S .

A i yi n n o c é é vreg y dhlc r a m w m
’

fis o o rflé s g rrs pt o o é g v

dvfipé n wv —
'

. H RO
E D . ii 37
. .

HE r e l igi ons o f the anc i e nt world i f w e e x ,

c ept Juda i sm s e e m to hav e b e e n a l l of th e m

, , ,

m or e o r l e ss polyth e i st i c ; but t he polyth e i s m gr e w

u i n d if f r nt ways was carr i d u t to v ry d i f
f r e nt
p e e ,
e o e e

l e ngths and procee d e d upon cons id e rably vary i ng

,

pri nc ipl e s In som e place s natural Obj e cts and op e ra

.

t i ons app e ar to hav e pre s e nte d th e ms e lv e s to t he un

S oph i sti cat e d m i nd o f man as myst e r i ous wond e rful ,
,

d i vi n e ; and l i ght fir e t he a i r the sun t he moon

, , , , ,

t he dawn t he cloud t he str e am t he storm t he l i ght

, , , ,

n i ng dr e w his attenti on s e parate ly and d i sti nctly

, ,

e ach hav i ng qual i t i e s at wh i ch h e marv e ll e d e ach as , ,

he thought i nsti nct w i th l i fe and e ach th e r e fore

, , , ,

r egard e d as a Powe r a B e i ng— the n atural and

,

prop e r Obj e ct o f worsh i p and r e ve r e nce Els ewh e r e .

,

m e n s e e m to hav e b egun w i th a d i m and fa i nt a p

pre ci ati on o f a s i ngl e myste r i ous power i n t he world
w i thout th e m and to hav e gradually d i v i d e d th i s
,

powe r up i nto i ts var i ous man i fe stati ons wh i ch by ,

d egree s b e cam e s e parate and d i st i nct b ein gs T he .

5
6 T he R elig i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

proce ss i n th i s cas e m ight stop S hort afte r a fe w st eps

had b e e n tak e n o r i t m ight b e carr i e d on almost i n
,

t e rm i nably unt i l a panth e on had b e e n form e d in

,

wh i ch t he m i nd l os t i ts e lf .

W h e r e th e polyth e i sm gre w up o ut o f an analys i s ,

t he pr i nc i pl e o f t he d i v i s i on m i ght b e e i th e r phys i cal

o r m e taphys i cal a s e parati on o f natur e i nto i ts parts ,

o r an analys i s o f t h e B e i ng pr e s i d i ng ov e r natur e i n

to hi s vari ous powe rs and attr i bute s Or th e s e two .

proce ss e s m ight b e comb i n e d and i nt e rm i x e d t he ,

panth e on b e i ng thus sti ll furth e r e nlarge d at t he e x

p e ns e of som e confus i on o f thoug ht and compl e x i ty
o f arrang e m e nt . A ga i n occas i onally th e r e was a
, ,

furth e r e nlarge m e nt and compl i cat i on i n cons e qu e nce

,

o f t h e d e s i r e to e mbrac e i n o n e syst e m analys e s wh i ch

w e re re ally d i sti nct or to compr i s e i n a s i ngl e nati onal

,

r e l ig i on local d iv e rs i t ie s o f arrange m e nt or nom e n

c l a t ure o r e v e n to adm i t i nto a syst e m bas e d o n o n e
,

pr i nc i pl e e l e m e nts wh i ch b e long e d prop e rly to syste ms

bas e d upon oth ers T he whol e r e sult i n such a cas e
.

was o n e o f e xte ns i v e compl e x i ty and e v e n contra

,

d i ct ion a ta n g l e was produc e d wh i ch i t was scarce ly

poss i bl e to unrave l The syste m how e v e r ga i n e d i n
.
, ,

r i chn e ss and var i e ty what i t lost i n log i cal s e qu e nc e

and i nte ll ig i b i l i ty and cont i nu e d to hav e a firm hold
,

o n t he m i nds o f many wh e n r e l i g i ons of gr e ate r i n

te rnal cons iste ncy had l os t th ei r pow e r .

T he Egypt i an polyth e i sm was o f t he charact e r last

de scr i b e d
. Its most str i k ing charact e r isti cs w e r e i ts
mult itud inousn e ss i ts compl e x i ty and t he conn e cti on
, ,

o f th i s l att e r fe atur e w i th e arly local d i ve rs it i e s i n

 The R e li gi on f
o the An c i en t E gypti a n s . 7

t he nam e s and office s o f t he gods W i lk i nson who .

,

do e s not profe ss to e xhaust t he subj e ct e num e rate s ,

s e ve nty thr e e d i vi n i ti e s and g i v e s th e i r s e v e ral nam e s

-

,
1 “
and forms B i rch has a l i st of s i xty thre e pr i n c i
.
-

a l d e i ti e s and not e s that oth e rs p e rson i fi e d t h e

p ,

e l e m e nts o r pr e s i d e d ov e r t h e O p
,
e rat i ons of natur e
,
”3
t he s e asons an d e v e nts It i s not p e rhaps too
,
.
, ,

much to say that t he Egypti an panth e on i n i ts final,

form compr i s e d som e hundre ds o f gods and g o dd es

e ach known und e r a d i f fe r e nt nam e and e ach
4
s es , ,

d ischarg ing mor e o r l e ss p e cul i ar funct i ons We .

“
say e ach d i scharg i ng mor e o r l e ss p e cul i ar func
,
”
t i on s s i nc e som e d e i ti e s w e r e S O n e arly al i k e cam e
, ,

so clos e t he o n e to t he oth e r that th e i r i d e nti ty o r ,

d i v e rs i ty i s a moot po i nt st i ll d i spute d among ,

Egyptolog i sts In oth e r cas e s t he d i v e rs i ty i s

.

gre ate r y e t sti ll t he fe ature s poss e ss e d i n common

,

a r e so num e rous that t he gods can scarc e ly b e con

s i d e r e d wholly d i st i nct and i nd e e d a r e not un fr e , , ,

qu e ntly confound e d toge th e r and bl e nd e d i nto a »

s i ngl e p e rsonage W e h e ar of Am e n R a Am e n .
-

K n e ph R a — Harmach i s Is i s Se lk Phthah S okar i

, ,
-

,
-

Os i r is and the l i k e Th e r e i s r e ason to b e l i e ve that

, .

1 “ M an n e r s a n d Cu s tom s of th e A n c i en t Egyp ti v l iv ans , o s . .

and v . F or t h e f
or m s , see hi s “
S u pp l em en t , p l t 21 t o 72
a es .

2
S e e hi s Di c t i on a r y of Hi er o gl yp hi cs
”
in B u n n s Egyp t
se
’ “
,

vol v pp 5 8 1—5 8 3
. . . .

G ui d t t h B i ti h M u u m p 4
3 “
e o e r s se ,
. .

An i n
4 i pti f R m scr
I p k f th th on od g ds a eses I . s ea s o
“
e o us a n o ,

th g od m l
e th g d f m l t h w h i c h e of t h e l d f
s a e, e o s e a e, ose ar an o

Egyp t R d f t h e P st vol i v p 3 1 ) b ut t hi p hras e

”
e c or s o a ,
”
. . . s

i n d ub t h e to i al
s o o r r c .
8 T he R e l ig i o ns f
o the An c i e nt Wor ld .

a ma i n cause o f th is mult ipl icati on of d e i ti e s n early ,

o r qu i t e t h e sam e wh i ch at first s i ght se e ms so strang e

,

and unaccountabl e i s to b e found i n the or i g i nally ,

local characte r o f many o f t he gods and t he s u bse ,

qu e nt adm i ss i on of pure ly prov i nci al d e i ti e s i nto t he

!

ge n e ral panth e on .

W ith a V i e w to e duce ord e r o u t of th i s m u l t i tud i

n ous confus i on att e mpts w e r e mad e by t h e G r ee ks
, ,

and p e rhaps by som e of t he late r Egypt i ans th e m

se lv e s to class i fy t he d e it i e s and d i v i d e th e m i n to
, ,

c e rta i n ran ks or ord e rs e ach o f wh i ch should com ,

pr is e a ce rta i n d e fin i te numb e r H e rodotus sp e a k s .

1
o f a first a s e cond an d a th i rd ord e r
,
and ass i gns
, ,

pos it i v e ly to t he first ord e r e i ght and to t he se cond ,

t w e lv e gods l e av i ng t he th i rd rank i nd e t e rm i nate

, .

S om e trace s of a s i m i lar clas s i ficat i on are found i n

som e o f the nat i ve wr i te rs ; and i t i s g e n e rally 2

agree d that a d i sti ncti on of ranks was r e cogn i z e d ;

but wh e n an e nd e avor i s mad e to sp e c i fy t he gods o f
each rank i nsurmountabl e d i fficulti e s pr e s e nt th e m
,

se lv e s It s e ems cl e ar that e v e n t he first e i ght gods

.

w e r e not e stabl i sh e d by t he ge n e ral conse nt of t he

nati on i n all parts of Egypt and pro babl e that i n ,

o n e and t h e sam e plac e th e y w e r e not always t h e

sam e at d iffe re nt p e r i ods Accord ing to what s e e ms .

t he e arl i e st trad i t i on t he e i ght nam e s w e r e thos e of

,

P ht hah R a S h u ( or K n eph) S e b Os i r i s Is i s S e t
, ,
3
, , , , ,

1 ll er o d i i. . 43 .

2 As M a n e th o
( ap . E useb .
“
Ch n ro . C an . i .

3
Th e n am e giv en is Ag at h o d m ae on , w h o i s t h ou h t t o g re p r es ent

o n e or o t h e r o f t h es e gd o s .
 T he R elig i on o
f the An c i e nt E gypti a n s . 9

and Horus ; accord i ng to t he late st r e s earch e th ey s

,

w e r e at M e mph i s P ht hah Shu T e fn u S eb Nu (or

, , , , , ,

Nut) Os i r i s Is i s and Athor wh i l e at Th e b e s th ey

, , ,

w e r e Ammon M e ntu T um ( or Atum) Shu S eb , , , , ,

1
Os ir i s S et and Horus
,
Oth e rs hav e thought to
,
.

find th e m i n Ammon Kh e m Maut K n e ph S at i , , , , ,

P ht ha h N e ith and R a o r i n th is l i st w ith a S i ngl e

,
z
, ,

change — that o f t he last nam e for wh i ch i t i s pro ,

po se d to su bst i tute that o f Bast o r Pasht 3

It i s .

e v i d e nt that wh i l e t he ch i e f author i t i e s a r e thus at

,

var iance n o c e rta i n l i st o f e v e n the e ight gre a t gods

,
‘

can be put forward .

T he twe lv e gods o f t he s e cond ord e r ar e st i ll mor e

i nd et e rm i nate T w o l i sts hav e b e e n formulat ed o n e
.
,

by S i r G W i l k i n son and the oth e r by t he lat e B aron

.
,

Bunse n but e ach i nclud e s thre e d e it i e s wh i ch a re

,

e xclud e d by t h e oth e r T he formati on o f such l ists .

4

1
B i h s Egyp t f m t h e E li st T i m e s t o C 3 00
S ee rc
’ “
ro ar e B . .
,

I t du ti
n ro pp x i n d c m p e G ui d e t t h B i ti sh
c on
,
”
. . x .
,
a o ar
“
o e r

M u eu m p 1 2
s ,
”
. .

B
2
n Egyp t s Pl c i n A i t H i t or y v l i pp
uns e
’
s
“ ’
a e n c en s , o . . .

366 36 7
-
.

3 W il k i i R
n son , n a wl i n s on s
’
H e ro d otu s , vol . II . pp . 28 4 28 6 -

( 3 2 dn d i t
e i n ) o .

4
Bu n s en s
’
l i st c o n si s t s O f

Ch o ns * B sta

T h th o * A th or
Tu m S hu
Wilk i n so n s O
’
f
*R a Kh on s S hu Sa v k
a

S eb *An o uk
e Ta fn é *
Sen eb
N e t pe Tu m Th oth M e n tu

Th e pe c ul i ar n am e s ar e m ar k e d wi th a n a ste r isk .
10 Th e R e li g i on s f
o the A n c i e n t Wor ld .

is m e r e gu e ss work and t he conclus i on to be drawn

-

from t he att e mpts mad e i s that wh i l e the Egypt ians ,

r e cogn is e d a gradat i on of ranks among th e i r d e i ti e s ,

and as s ign e d to som e a pos iti on o f d e c id e d sup e r i

o r it to oth e rs o n e comparat i v e ly sp e a k i ng i nfe r i or
y , , , ,
“ ”
th e re was n o hard and fast l i n e s eparati ng rank - -

from ran k o r ord e r from ord e r nor was any d e fin i te

, ,

numb e r o f d i v i n i t i e s r e ckon e d i n any d i v i s i on .

S t i ll w e can e as i ly part i cular i s e t he pr i nc i pal d i

,

vi n i t i es t h e gods wh i ch w e r e t he ch i e f obj e c t s o f
,

worsh i p e i th e r i n t he ma i n c e ntr e s of populati on o r

, ,

throughout t he country T h e r e can b e no doubt .

that to th i s class b e long Ammon Kh e m K ne ph , , ,

Pht ha h R a Os i r i s and N e i th
, ,
Ammon was t he ,
.

ch ie f god o f Th e b e s Kh e m o f Ch e mm i s or P a n O p , ,

ol i s K n eph o f El ephanti n e Pht ha h of M e mph i s R a

, , ,

o f H e l i opol i s Os i r i s o f Abydos and Ph i l ae N e i t h o f

, ,

Sa is .It w i ll p e rhaps b e a b e tt e r i llustrati on o f t he

Egypti an r e l ig i on to g i v e a parti cular though bri e f
account of th e se s e v e n d e i ti e s than to waste page s i n
ge n e ral i ti e s .

Ammon i s sa i d to hav e m e ant e tymolog i cally , ,

1
t he conce al e d god ; and t he i d e a o f A mmon was
that of a r e cond i te i ncompre h e nsi bl e d i v i n i ty , ,

mote from man h idd e n myste r i ous the prop e r o h , , ,

jc e t of t he profound e st r e ve r e nce Practi cally th i s .

,

id e a was too abstract too h i gh flo w n too m e taphy ,

-
,

s i c al fo r ord i nary m i nds to conc e i ve o f i t ; and so

,

Ammon was at an e arly date conj o i n e d w ith R a t he ,

1
M an e t h o ap . Pl t
u ar c h ,
“
D e I ids . et O sir . s . 9 ; I am bl i c h .

D e M ys te r i i s , viii 3. ,
12 T he R e li g i ons f
o the A n ci en t Wor ld .

K n e ph was t he d i v i n e sp i r i t or soul cons i d e red as

form ing the sch em e of cr eat i on H is nam e i s by som e .

conn e cte d e ty m olog ically w i th t he Egyptian word

“ ”I
fo r br eath wh i ch i s n ef; and cur i ous analogi e s
,

a r e trac e d b e tw e e n hi m and t he th i rd P e rson o f t he

“
Holy T r i n i ty i n t he Chri stian syste m 2
As t he .

”
S p i r it of Go d at t h e t i m e o f t he cr e ati on mov e d
upon t he face Of the wate rs so K n eph is r e pre ,

s e nte d as t he d e i ty who pr e s id e s ove r t he i nunda

“
t i ons As t he h e av e ns w er e mad e by t he bre ath
.

’ ” “
o f God s m o n t h so K n eph i s call ed the god who
, ,

has mad e t he sun and moon to r e volve und e r t he

h e av e n and abov e the world and who has made the ,
”3
world and all that i s i n i t S om e r e pr e s e nta ti ons .

e xh i b i t h i m as a pott e r w i th hi s wh ee l ; and t he i n

s c r i t i o n s accompany i ng th e m ass i gn to h i m t he for

p
mati on of gods and m e n It i s p e rhaps as a pro .

cre at ing pri nc ipl e that he i s figure d commonly w i th

t he h e ad o f a ram K n e ph was worsh i pp e d ch i e fly
.

i n Upp e r Egypt at El e phant i n e and t he Cataracts ;

,

but he was acknowl edg e d also at T h e b e s at A n tae0 p ,

ol is and e ls e wh e r e
,
.

P ht hah whom t he Gr ee ks i d e nt ifi e d w ith th e i r

,

H e pha istos and t he R omans w i th th e i r Vulcan was

, ,

a cr e ator of a more vulgar typ e than K n e ph o r

Kh e m H e was an art isan god t he actual man ipula
.
,

t o r O f matte r and d i r e ct mak e r of t he sun t he moo n

, , ,

and t he e arth H e is call e d . th e fath e r o f t he be ,

1 B un sen ,
“
Egyp t P l c v l ’
s a e, o . i . p . 3 75 .

2
Wilki ns o n A i t E gyp ti
,
“
n c en an s , vol . iv . p . 23 6 .

v l i p 3 77
3
B uns e n , o . . . .
 The R e li g ion o
f the A n c i en t E gyp t ia n s . 13

” “
g i nn ings t he first o f t he gods o f t h e u pp e r world
, ,
“
he who adj usts t he world by his hand t he lord
” “
o f t he b e aut i ful counte nanc e and the ,
”1
lord o f truth H e .

i s also d e fin e d by an
2
ancie nt wr i ter as
t he g o d who c r e at e s
w i th truth W e find
”
.

hi m r e pr e s e n t e d u m
'

d e r thr ee qu i te d i fle r
e n t forms as a man ,

walk i ng or s itti n g as ,

E THAH
a m i
umm d figur
e e P
,
“
accompan i e d by the e mbl e m o f
”
stab il i ty and as a p igmy o r dwarf ,
.

A figure of th i s last d e scr ipt i on

PH T H AH
provok e d t he r id i cul e of Cambys es
.

,
“
t he P e rs i an conqu e ror o f Egypt w ho e nt e r e d t he ,

grand te m pl e o f Phthah at M e mph is a n d mad e ,

”3
gr e at sport o f t he i mag e Forms o f P hthah are .

also found cons i sti ng o f two figur e s plac e d back to

back and e v e n of thre e figur e s place d at an angl e
, .

T h e s e s ee m how e v e r to r e pr e s e nt comb i nat i ons o f

, ,

P ht ha h w i th oth e r n e arly all i e d gods and a r e call e d ,

“ ” “
commonly figures of Phthah S okar i or o f Phtha h l -

,
-

—
S o kar i Os i ri s
”
.

R a was t he Egypt ian sun god and was e sp e c ially -

1 “ R e c or d s of t h e P t v as , ol . v i i i pp . . 5 —1 5 ; Bi rc h,
“
G ui d e to
t he B ri ti s h M us um p 13
e , . .

2
I am bli c hu s , “
D e M ys te r u s , vi ii . 3 .

3
H ero d . i ii . 37 .
14 The R e li g i ons f
o the An c i en t Wor ld .

worsh i pp e d at H e l i opol is Ob e l isks accord i ng to .

,

som e r e pre s e nte d his rays and w e r e always or

1
, , ,

us ually , e r e ct e d i n hi s honour H e l i opol i s was c e r .

t a i n ly o n e o f t he place s
wh i ch we re thus adorn e d ,

fo r o n e o f t he fe w wh i ch
sti ll sta n d e r e ct i n Egypt
i s on t he s i te o f that c i ty 2
.

T he k i ngs for t he m ost

part cons i d e re d R a th e i r
sp e c i al patron and prote ct
o r ; nay th e y we nt so far ,

as to id e nti fy th e ms e lve s
wi th hi m to use his ti tl e s ,

as th e i r o w n and to adopt ,

h is nam e as t he ord i nary

pre fix t o th e i r o w n nam e s
and ti tl e s T h i s i s b e l i e ve d .

by many to have b ee n t he
ori g i n o f t he word Pharaoh 3
wh i ch was i t i s , ,
“ ’
thought t he H e bre w r e nd er i ng o f Ph R a
,
t he z

”
sun R a i s som e ti m e s r epr es e nte d s i mply by a d i sk
.
,

colore d r e d o r by such a d i sk w ith t he a n kh o r

, ,

symbol o f l i fe attach ed to i t ; but mor e commonly

,
’
he has the figure o f a man w i th a hawk s h e ad and , ,

abov e i t t he d isk accompan i e d by plum e s or by a

, ,

s e rp e nt T he b ee tl e (scarab ae us) was o n e o f h is

.

1 Z g oe D O b el i s i ;
a, e Pl i H N xxxvi 8 s 1 4
c s n . . . .
, . .

2 S th F
ee t i sp i
e f thi s b k
ro n ec e o oo .

3 S Wi l k i
o
( i R w l
n s on i n H ad t u v l
ns on s
’
p 1 8 1 ero o s, o . II . .
.

B t t h d i v ti f m Ph u th e k i g “
’
no et 1) d th
an o ers . u e er a on ro o r o, n ,

is p h p
er a p ob bl e
s as r a .
 The R e li gi on o f the An ci en t E gyp ti a ns . 15

em bl e ms As for hi s t i tl e s th e y a re t o o num e rous

.
,
“ ”1
to m e nti on : t he L i tany o f R a alon e conta i ns
som e hundre ds o f th e m .

Os ir i s was prop e rly a form o f R a H e was t he .

l ight o f t he low e r world t he s u n from t he t i m e that ,

he s i n k s b e low t he hor i zon i n t he w e st to t he hour

wh e n he r e app ears abov e t he e astern hor i zon i n t he
morn i ng T h i s phys i cal i d e a was how e v e r at a
.
, ,

late r date mod i fi e d and Os i ri s was ge ne rally r e cog ,

n i z e d as t he p e rp e tually pr e s i d i ng lord o f t he low e r

world t he k i ng and t he j udge o f Had e s o r Am enti

,
.

H i s worsh i p was un i v e rsal throughout Egypt but 2

,

h i s ch i e f t e mpl e s w e r e at Abydos and Ph i l ae Ord i .

n ari l h e was r e pr e s e nte d i n a mumm i e d form as t he

y
o d o f t h e d e ad but som e t i m e s he app e ars as a l i v i ng
g ,

man stand i ng o r walk i ng H e carr i e s i n hi s two

,
.

hands t he crook and t he flagellum or wh i p and com ,

m o n ly w e ars o n hi s h e ad t he crown o f Upp e r Egypt ,

w i th a plum e o f ostr i ch feath e r o n e ith e r s i d e o f i t .

A sp e c ial characte r o f goodn e ss attach e s to hi m W e .

“ ” “
find hi m call ed t he man i fe ste r o f good ,
full o f ,
” “ ”
goodn e ss and truth t he b en e fic e n t sp i r i t
,
be n e fi ,
” “ ” “
c e nt i n w i ll and words m i ld o f h e art and fa i r , ,
”3
and b e lov e d o f all who s ee hi m .

N e i th o r N et t he godd e ss o f Sa is was i d e nti fi ed

, , ,

by t he Gr ee ks w i th th e i r Ath en e ( M i n erva), but

4

1
Se e R ec d or s of P st
th e a , vol . v ii i pp . . 1 0 5 —128 .

2
H er o d . i i 42,
. w i th W i l k i n s o n s n ot e
’
.

3 “
Re d f
c or s o th P t
e as ,
”
vol . iv . pp . 9 9 —1 0 3 ; W i l ki n son ,

A n c i en t Egyp t i an s ,
”
v ol . iv . p . 3 20 .

4 P la t .
“
Ti m . p . 22, A; C ic . De N at . D eo r . ii i . p . 24 8 .
16 T he R e li g i on s f
o the An c ie nt Wor l d .

do es not app e ar to hav e b ee n r e ally a godd e ss of w is

dom S he was t he fe mal e corr e spond e nt of Kh e m
.
,

t he conc e pt i v e e l e m e nt i n natur e as h e was t he g e n ,

“ ” “
e ra t i v e H er t i tl e s a r e
. t he moth e r t he m i str e ss , ,
” “ ”1
o f h e av e n t he e ld e r godd e ss
, S he i s r e pr e s e nte d .

i n t he form o f a woman stand ing and w e ar i ng on he r ,

h ead th e cro w n o f Lowe r Egypt In her l e ft hand .

s h e carr i e s a sc e ptr e som e t i m e s accompan i e d by a bow

,

and two arrows ; i n her r i ght she b e ars t he a n kh o r ,

symbol o f l i fe O n e of the s igns w ith wh i ch h e r nam e

.

i s wr i tt e n r e s e mbl e s a shuttl e ; from wh i ch fact com ,

b i n od w ith h e r carry i ng a bow and arrows she has ,

“ ”2
b e e n call e d t he godd e ss o f war and w e av i ng
,
H er .

worsh i p was n o t v e ry wi d e ly spr e ad nor i s s he often ,

m e nt i on e d i n t he i nscri pti ons .

No part of t he Egypti an r e l ig i on was so much de

3
v e l ope d and so mult i pl e x as th e i r sun worsh i p Be .

s i d e s R a and Os ir i s th e re w e r e at l e ast s i x oth e r

d e i ti e s who had a d i st in ctly solar charact e r T h e s e .

w e re Shu Ate n Horus or Harmach i s Tum o r Atum

, , , ,
’
K he pr a and M e ntu ,
S hu was t he sun s l i ght A te n.
,
’
t he sun s d i sk Har o r Har e m a k hu ( Horus or Har
, ,
- -

m ac h i s ) t h e s un at hi s r i s i ng
,
T u m ( or Atum) t he
sam e lum i nary at his s e tti n g ; K he pr a was t he l i fe
gi v i ng powe r o f t he sun ; wh i l e M e ntu was a prov i n
1 B e uns Egyp t Pl a c e v l i p 3 86 ; Wi l k i
n,
“ ’
s ,
o . . . n so n , An
t Egyp t i a vol i v p 28 5
”
cien ns , . . . .

2 B i h G i d e t M u eum p 1 3
rc ,
“
u o s ,
. .

3 B i h gorc f s t y t
es as h t m t f t h
ar ag d w o sa ,
a os o e o s er e c on

n t d wi t h th s u
ec e a d p e t d t h t l um i y i n i t s p
e n, n re res n e a n ar as s a g e

thr ou g h th u pp e l w e h em i phe e r or p o er s r
”
. but
thi m t be
s see se x gg ra ti o
o an a e n .
 The R eli g i on f
o the An ci ent E gypti a ns . 17

c ia l sun g od adopt e d i nto t he g en e ral pan th e on

-
,
.

Athor more ov e r t he moth e r o f R a and Is i s t he s is

, , , ,

te r and w i fe o f Os i r i s w e r e i n so m e sort sun god ,

-

d e sse s a nd bore upon th e i r h e ads t he d i sk of R a

, ,

to mark th e i r clos e co nn e cti o n w i th the gre at lum i

nary .

T HO T H .

Compare d w i th the worsh i p o f the sun that o f the ,

m oon w as qu i te s e condary and i ns i gn i ficant Two .

gods only Khons and T hoth had prop e rly sp e ak i ng

, , ,
1
a lunar characte r Of th e se Khons was t he moon
.

o d s i mply wh i l e Thoth comb i n e d w i th h is lunar

g ,

asp e ct som e what cur i ously t he characte r of the god

, ,

1 Re p r e s en t at i o n s of O s i ri s ar e f ou n d as O s i r i s Aa h
-

( Bi rch ,

“
G idu e to M useum ,
”
p . or
“
O s i r i s , t h e m o on g o d ; b ut
t h es e a re p u lyre a b n or m al .

2
18 The R eli gi ons o f the An ci ent Wor ld .

”
O f l e tt ers . H
was r e pr es e nt e d w i th t he h ead o f an
e

i b i s ; and t h e i b i s and cynoc e phalous a pe w e re sacr e d

to h im Both he and Khons commo nly b e ar o n th e i r
.

h eads a cre sce nt and d is k e mbl e mat i c r e sp e cti v e ly o f ,

t he n e w and t h e full moon .

Oth e r d e i ti e s of som e i mportance i n t he r e l i g i ous

syste m w e r e Maut t he consort o f Ammon who , ,

r e pre s e nte d matte r o r natur e ; S ati the consor t o f ,

K n e ph a sort o f Egypti an Juno ; S e kh e t t h e con

, ,

sort o f P h thah usually r e pr e s e nte d as l i on h e ad ed o r

,
-

cat h e ad e d ; S e b t he Egypt i an S aturn ; H a n har

-

( O n u ri s
) t h e Egypt i an Mars ; S abak o r S ava k t he
, ,

crocod i l e h e ad e d god ; A n u ke a war godd e ss ; N ebta

-

e pht hys ) s i st e r o f Os i r i s and Is i s ; Nut o r N e t e

( N , p ,

godd e ss o f t he firm a m e n t ; and Ma godd e ss of truth ,

.

T h e Egypt i ans had also gods of taste and touch o f ,

s i l e nce o f wri t i ng o f m e d i ci n e o f t he harv e st e tc

, , , ,
.

Almost any fact o f nature almost any act o f man , ,

m i ght b e tak e n s e parate ly and p e rson i fi e d t he p e rson i ,

fic at i o n hiac o m i n g th e nc e forth a god o r godd e ss .

A class o f d e i ti e s poss e ss i ng a v e ry p e cul i ar char

act e r r e ma i ns t o b e noti ce d T h e se a re t he mal e vo .

l e nt d e i t i e s S e t o r Su t e c h t he gr e at e n e my of O s i
.
,

r i s a god w i th the h e ad of a gr if fin or gi raffe ; B e s

, ,
1
accord i ng to som e t he g o d o f d e ath ; T ao ur i s t he
,

w i fe o f Bes ; and A pap o r Ap ep i t he gre at s e rp ent , , ,

ge n e rally r e pr e s en te d as sla i n by Horus 2

A ll th e s e .

1
So Wilki n s on ( A“
i t Egyp
n c en t i a s v l i v p O t h
n ,
o . . . ers

re g dBar e s as s i m pl y n m aof S t a Typ h o ( Bi c h D i ti on

e e or n r ,
c

ary o f Hi er o gl yphi c s,p ”

.

2 Wil k i ns n, o
“ A n c i ent Egyp ti n s S upp l e m e t
a pl 4 2
,
” “ n , . .
 20 The R e lig i ons f
o the A n ci en t Wor ld .

s isted o f Phthah Se kh e t and T u m ; at Th e b e s o f

, , ,

Ammon R a Maut and Khons ; at H e l i opol is o f R a

-

, , ,

N e bhept ( Athor) and Horus ; at El e phant i n e of

z
,

K n eph S ati and A n uke ; at A bydos o f Os i r i s Is is

, , , , ,

and Horus ; at Ombos o f S avak Athor and Khons ; , , ,

at S i ls il is o f R a P hthah and t he N i l e god H ap i o r

, , , ,

N e il us S om e t i m e s a fourth god o r godd e ss was

.

associ ate d w i th the pri ncipal three as Bast at M e m ,

ph is , N e i th at Th eb e s N ephthys at A bydos and , ,

Hak at El e phantin e but t he fourth was al ways

qu i te subord i nate Occas i on ally a c i ty r e cogn i z e d
.

m or e than o n e tr i ad ; fo r i nstanc e S i ls i l i s h e ld i n ,

honour b e s i d e s R a Phthah and Hap i a tr i ad con

, , , ,

s i sti ng o f S et Thoth and N e tpe and anoth e r com

, ,

pri si n g Ammon , R a and Savak ,

.

Anoth e r p e cul i ar fe ature o f t he Egypti an r e l i

g i on and o n e wh i ch though i t may hav e had som e
, ,
1
r e d ee m i ng po i nts must be pronounc ed o n t he whol e
,

low and d e grad i ng was t he worsh i p o f l i ve an i mals ;

,

In t he first i nstanc e ce rta i n a n i mals s ee m to hav e ,

b ee n assum ed as e mbl e ms o f ce rta i n gods from som e

2
,

r e al o r fanc i e d analogy ; afte r wh i ch i n cours e o f ,

ti m e the an i mals th e ms e lv e s cam e to b e r e gard e d

,

as sacr ed ; sp e c i m e ns o f th e m w e re attach e d to t he
te mp l e s k ept i n shr i n es and care fully fed and nur
, ,

1 Th e s ac r e d c h ar a c t e r of c ow s a n d h ei f
e r s s e c ur e d a c o n t i n u al

i ncrea se i n th e k f t tl e ; t h t of t s a n d i h
s to c O ca a ca c n e um on s , of

i bi
s es ,h wk a n d v ul t u e
s, p a v d t h s e u ful r s, r e s er e o se a n i m al s , of

w hi h t h t w o f m e k p t t h e h u e f e f m m i c e
c e or r e o s s re ro an d s na ke s,

w h i l t h t h e e l att
e e wer d m i bl e s v g s
er re a ra ca en er .

2 A t h v ul t u e o f M aut t h e i bis o f T h oth a nd

s e r , , th e ram of

K n eph , etc .
 The R eli gi on f
o the An ci en t E gypti a ns . 21

t ur e d duri ng l ife and at d e ath e mbalm e d and bur i e d

,

i n sacr e d r e pos i tor i e s wh i l e the e nt i r e sp e c i e s had a

,

sacre d characte r ass ign e d to i t un i v e rsally o r parti al

ly. A n i m als o f th e s e k i nds i t was unlawful to k i ll ,
e i th e r i n Egypt g e n e rally o r w i th i n t h e l i m i ts w i th
,

i n wh i ch th ey w e re honoure d ; if th ey d i e d th e i r ,

d e ath was mourn e d and th e y w e r e car e fully bur i e d

,

by those who found th e m o r t o whom th ey b e long e d , ,

l
w i th more o r l e ss ce r e mony Of an i mals un i ve rsal
.

ly sacr e d t he pr i nc i pal w e r e cows a n d h e i fe rs wh i ch ,

w e re sacre d t o Athor ; cynoce phalous ap e s and i b i s e s ,

wh i ch we re sacre d to T hoth cats wh i ch w e re sacre d ,

to Bast ; hawks wh i ch w ere sacr e d to R a ; and pe r

,
2
haps asps though th i s is unc e rta i n
,
S h e e p e sp e c i al .
,

ly rams w e re g e n e rally r e gard e d a s sacre d b e i ng

, ,

e mbl e ms o f K n e ph ; and dogs though not ass i gn e d ,

to any sp e c i al d e i ty h e ld a s i m i lar pos it i on

,
.

Th e worsh i p o f oth e r an i mals had a more local

characte r .L i ons e mbl e ms o f H o r n s and T u m
, ,

w er e sacr e d at L e o n t opolis ; crocod i l e s e mbl e m s ,

o f S avak at Crocod i lopol i s and i n t he Fayou m

,

ge n e rally ; wolve s o r j ackals e mbl e ms o f Anu ,

b i s at Lycopol i s ; shr e w m i ce e mbl e ms o f M a ut at

,
-
, ,

Buto and Athr i b i s ; h i ppopotam i e mbl e ms Of S e t ,

and T a our is at Papr e m i s ; ante lop e s at Coptos

,

i b e x e s and frogs at Th e b e s ; goats at M e ndu ; vul

ture s at E i l e ithy i a fish at Latopol i s i chn e umons
at H e racl e opol i s ; and oth e r an i mals e lse wh e re .

Each town was j ealous fo r t he honour o f it s sp e c ial

1
H ero d ii . . 6 6 , 6 7 , w i th W i l k i on s n ot es
ns
’
.

2
So Wi l ki nson,
“
A n i e nt Egyp ti
c v l v p
an s ,
”
o . . . 24 3 .
22 The R e li g i on s f
o the A n ci en t Wor ld .

favour i te s and quarr e ls bro ke o u t b etwe e n c i ty and

c i ty or b e twe e n prov i nce and provi nce i n conn e cti on
, ,

w ith th e i r sacr e d an i mals wh i ch l e d i n som e cas e s ,

to v i ol e nt and prolong e d confl i cts i n oth e rs to a ,

smould e r i ng but pe rman e nt hosti l i ty It i s d i ffi cult .

to say how much o f t he re l i g i ous s e nt i m e nt o f t he

nat i on was absorb e d by th es e unworthy obj e cts ; but
th e re i s n o j ust gro und for b e l i e v i ng that t he an i mal
worsh ip absurd as i t may hav e bee n i nt e rfe re d s e ri
, ,

o usl w i th t h e r e v e r e nc e and r e sp e ct wh i ch w e r e
y
pa i d to t he prop e r d e i ti e s .

T he worst and most pronounc e d form o f t he

,

an i mal worsh i p has sti ll to be m e nti on e d In som e .

i nstanc e s t h e b e l i e f was not that a parti cular class o f

,

an i mals had a sacr e d characte r but that a d e i ty abso ,

l ut e ly b e cam e i ncarnate i n an i nd i v i dual an i mal and ,

so r e ma i n e d t i ll i ts d eath An i mals to wh i ch th i s .

was suppos e d to hav e happ e n e d w e re actual gods ,

and re ce i v e d the most profound ve n e rati on that i t was

poss i bl e to pay S uch w e re t he Ap i s bul l s o f wh i ch
.
,

a succe ss i on was ma i nta i n e d at M e mph i s i n t he ,

t e mpl e o f Phthah i ncarnati ons accord ing to som e

, , ,
1
o f P ht hah
2
accord i ng to oth e rs o f Os i r i s wh i ch
, ,

w e r e among t he obj e cts o f worsh i p most v e n e rated by

t he Egypti ans S uch aga i n w e r e t he Mn e v i s bulls
.
, ,

o f H e l i opol i s i ncarnat i ons o f R a o r T u rn and t h e

, ,

Baci s or Pac i s bulls o f H e rmonth i s i ncarnati ons o f ,

Horus T h es e b e asts ma i nta i n e d at t he cost o f t he

.
,

1 See Bi r c h, Egyp t f r om th e Ea rl i e s t Ti m es ,
”
I n t r odu c
ti o n , p
”
. x ii .

2
Wil ki n so n , in R a wli n s on s
’
H ero d ot u s , vol . 11 . p . 4 28 , n ot e 2 .
 The R eli g i on f
o the A n c i ent E gypti a n s . 23

pri e stly commun i ti e s i n t he gre at te mpl e s o f th e i r r e

spe c t i ve c i t i e s w e r e p e rp e tually ador e d and pray e d
,

to by thousands duri ng th e i r l i v e s and at th e i r d eaths ,

w e re e ntomb e d w i th t he utmost car e i n huge sar

C O ha i wh i l e all Egypt w e nt i nto mourn i ng o n a c
p g ,

count o f th e i r d e ce as e .

T he e xte rnal man i fe stat i on o f r e l i g i on I n Egypt

was magn i fice nt and S pl e nd i d Nowh e r e d id r e l ig i ous .

ce re mon i al occupy a large r part i n the l i fe of a p e opl e .

In e ach ci ty and town o n e o r more grand structure s ,

u pr e ar e d th e ms e lv e s abov e t h e r e st o f t h e bu i ld i ngs ,

e nr i ch e d w i th all tha t Egypt i an art could supply o f

pa i nte d and sculptur e d d e corati on , d e d i cate d to t he

honour an d b ear i ng the nam e o f som e d i v i n i ty o r
d i v i n i ti e s The i mage o f t he gr e at g o d o f t he place
.

occup i e d the ce ntral shri n e accompan i e d i n most i n ,

stance s by two o r thr e e conte mplar gods or godd e ss e s .

Around w e re t he chamb e rs o f the pri e sts and furth e r ,

o ff court afte r court som e p i llar e d som e colonnad e d , ,

and all more or l e ss adorn e d w i th sculptur e and pai nt

i n g t he e ntrance to th e m ly i ng through long ave nu es
,

o f sph i nx e s o r Ob e l i sks wh i ch conducte d to th e ,

prop y l aea two g igant i c towe rs flank i ng the ma i n

,

doorway A p erp etual cer e mon i al o f the r i ch e st k i nd

l
.

w e nt o n w i th i n t he te mpl e walls score s o f pr i e sts ,

2
w i th shav e n h eads and cl e an wh i te l i n e n garm e nts ,

crowd e d t he courts and corri dors ; long pr oc es

1 T h es e towe v e b e e n c om p e d wi th s om e e
rs ha ar ,
r a s on , t o t h os e
wh i h c m m o l y
c o d n th e w e s te n f cad e of ou
n a or r a r c a th e d r al s .

( F g u on
er ss H i st o y of A c hi t ec tu e vol i p
,
r r r ,
. . .

“H e o d
r 37 . 11 . .
24 The R e li g i ons o
f the An c i en t Wor l d .

s i ons mad e th e i r way up o r do w n t he sph i nx

av e nu e s i nce ns e float ed i n the a i r stra ins o f mus i c
, ,

r e sound e d w i thout pause hundre ds of v i ct i ms w e r e ,

sacr i fice d e ve rywh e re a hol i day crowd i n bri ght ,

array ch ee rful and happy bore i t s part i n t he fe sti

, ,

val and mad e t he co urts re e cho w i th th e i r j oyous

,
-

acclamati ons T he worsh i p was conducte d ch i e fly .

by m e ans o f rhythm i c l i tan i e s o r hymns i n wh i ch ,

pray e r and pra i s e w e re bl e nd ed the latte r pre do m i ,

1
nati ng C e re mony follow e d c e re mony T he cal .

e ndar was crowd e d w i th fe st i vals ; and a w e e k rar e ly

pass e d w i thout t he p e r formanc e o f som e sp e c ial

r ite som e annual obs e rvance hav i ng i ts o w n
, ,

p e cul i ar attract i ons For e i gn e rs b e h e ld wi th aston .

i s hm e n t th e almost p e rp e tual round o f r e l i g i ous s er

v ices wh i ch e ngage d o r at any ra te s ee m e d to e n
, ,

gage t he ma i n atte nt i on o f all ranks o f t he p e opl e

,
.

B e l ie f i n a future l i fe was a ma i n pr i nc ipl e o f t he

Egypti an r el i g i on Imm e d i ate ly afte r d e ath t he . ,

soul i t was taught d e sce nd e d i nto t he lowe r world

, ,
”
m e nti and was conduct e d to t he Hall o f T ruth
( A ) , ,

wh e re i t was j udg e d i n t he pre s e n ce o f Os i r i s and o f ,

”
h is forty two ass essors t he -
Lords of T ruth and , ,

j udge s o f the d ead A nub i s th e son o f Os i r i s who .

, ,

“ ”
was call e d t he d i r e ctor o f the w e ight brought ,

forth a pa i r o f scal e s and a fte r placi ng i n o n e scal e ,

a figure or e mbl e m o f T ruth s e t i n t he oth e r a vas e ,

1 S e e th e “ Li t y an of R a, and th e Hym ns
”
t o O si ri s , Ame n,

Am en -
Ra .
, a nd Ra -
H a r m a c hi s , p ubl i sh e d in “
R ec ds or O f the

P t pp 1 0 5— i v pp 9 9 —1 0 4 ; vi pp 99
”
as vol ii . 134 ; v ol . . .
vol . . .
, . .

10 1 ; a n d vo l . v i i i pp
. . 1 3 1 —1 3 4 .
26 The R e li g i ons o f the An ci en t Wor ld .

conta i n i ng the good d eeds of t he d e c e as ed T hoth ,

stand i ng by t he wh i l e wi th a tabl e t i n his hand , ,

1
wh e r e on to r e cord t he r e sult If t he good d e eds .

w e re suffi ci e nt i f th ey w e igh e d down t he scal e wh e r e

,

i n th e y w e r e plac e d th e n t he happy soul was per ,

“ ”
m i tt e d to e nt e r t he boat o f the sun and was con ,

ducte d by good sp i r i ts to th e Elys i an fi e lds (A ahlu) ,

”
to t he Pools o f P e ace and t he dwe ll i ng place s o f ,
-

t he bl e s t If on t he contrary the good d ee ds w e r e

.
, ,

i nsuffici e nt if t he scal e r e ma i n e d susp e nd e d i n t he

,

a ir th e n t h e unhappy soul was s e nt e nce d accord i ng

, ,

to t he d egr e e o f i ts i l l d e s e rts to go through a round ,

o f transm i grat i ons i n t he bod i e s o f an i mals mor e o r

l e ss uncl e an ; t he numb e r n ature , and durati on o f ,

t he transm i grat i ons d e p e nd i ng o n t he d egr ee o f t he

d e ce as e d s d e mer i ts and the cons e qu e nt l en gth and
’
, ,

s e v e r i ty o f t he pun i shm e nt wh i ch he d e s e rved o r t he ,

p ur i ficat i on wh i ch h e n ee d ed Ult i mat e ly i f a fte r .

,

many tr i als su ffi ci e nt pur i ty was not atta i n ed t he ,

w ic ke d soul wh i ch had prov e d i ts e l f i ncurabl e

, ,

und e rwe nt a final s e nte nce at t he hands o f Os i ri s ,

j udge o f t he d e ad and b ei ng cond e m n e d to compl ete

, ,

and absolute ann i h ilat i on was d e stroy e d upon t he ,

steps o f H e av e n by Shu t he Lord o f L i ght 2

T he,
.

good soul hav i ng first b ee n free d from i ts i n firm i t ies

,

by pass i ng through t he basi n of purgator i al fire

1
Wil ki ns A n c i e nt Egyp ti ans vol v pp 3 1 4 3 1 5 R e
on , , . . .
, .

p e n t t i n of th e s c n e a e f e q u t i n t h e t om bs d i n th e
res a o s e r r en ,
an

m an y c p i e s of t h e Ri tual of t h e D ea d
o
“
( S e e t h e a c c om p n y .
”
a

i n g w o d c ut )
o -
.

2
B i c h G ui d e t o M us eum pp 1 4 1 5
r ,
“
, .
, .
28 The R eli g i ons f
o the An ci en t Wor ld .

w e re bound u p i n the C los e st way th e i r arrang e m e nts

w ith re sp e ct to d e ad bod i es and th e i r care ful and ,

e laborat e pr e parat i on o f tombs As e ach man hop e d .

to be among thos e who would be r e ce i v ed i nto A ahl u ,

and afte r dwe ll i ng w i th Os i r i s fo r thr e e thousand

y ea rs would r e turn to e arth and r e e nt e r th e i r old ,
-

bod i es i t was r e qu is ite that bod ie s sho uld be e nabl e d

,

to re s ist d e cay fo r that long p e r i od H e nce t he e n .

t i re syste m o f e mbalm i ng o f s wath i ng i n l i n e n and

, ,

th e n bury i ng i n ston e sarcophagi cov e re d w i th l ids

that i t was scarce ly poss i bl e to l i ft o r e v e n to move ,
.

H e nce i f a man was we althy he sp e nt e normous sums ,

o n mak i ng h i ms e l f a safe and commod i ous an e l e gant

,

and d e corate d tomb ; e i th e r p i l i ng a pyram i d ov e r

hi s sarcophagus or e xcava t i n g d e e p i nto t he sol i d
,

rock and pre pari ng fo r his r e st i ng place a r e mote

,
-

chamb e r at the e n d o f a long s e ri e s o f gall e r i e s .

W i th t he noti on probably that i t would be o f us e to

, ,

hi m i n hi s passag e thro ugh A m e nti to A a hl u he ,

took car e to hav e the most i mportant passage s fro m

“ ”
t he sacr e d book e nt i tl e d t he R i tual o f t he D e ad ,

e i th e r i nscr i b e d o n t he i nn e r part o f t he co ffin i n

wh i ch he was to l i e o r pa i nte d on h is mummy ban

,
l
dage s o r e ngrav e d upon t he i nn e r walls o f h is tomb
,
.

S om e t i m e s he e v e n had a compl e te copy o f the book

bur i e d wi th hi m no doubt fo r r e fe r e n ce if his m e m
, ,

or
y fa i l e d to supply h i m w i th t he r i ght i nvocat i on or

pray e r at t he dange rous parts o f hi s long j ourn ey .

T he thought o f d e ath of j udgm ent o f a s e nte n ce

, ,
.

t o happ i n e ss o r m i s e ry accord i ng to th e l i fe l ed on '

Bu se
1 n Egyp t s P l c vol v pp 1 27—1 29
n,
“ ’
a e, . . . .
 The R e li gi on o f the A n ci en t E gypti a ns . 29

e arth was thus fam i l i ar to t he ord i nary Egypti an

,
.

H i s th e olog i cal not i ons w e re confus e d and fantas

t i cal ; but he had a strong and ab i d i ng convi cti on
that h is fate afte r d e ath would d e p e nd on his conduct /
dur i ng his l i fe o n e arth and e sp e ci ally o n h is O bs er ,

vance of t he moral law and p e rformance o f hi s var i

l
o us dut i e s .

T he b e tte r e duca te d Egypt i an had a firm e r grasp

o f t he truths o f natural r e l i g i on B e low t he popular .

mythology th e r e lay conce al e d from ge n e ral v i e w,

but op e n to the e ducate d class e s a th e ologi cal sys ,
“
te m wh i ch was not far r e mov e d from pur e natural
”
th e ology T he r e al e ss e nt i al un i ty o f the d i v i n e
.

n atur e was taught and i ns i st e d o n T he s acr e d .

“
t e xts spok e o f a s i ngl e b e i ng the sol e produce r o f ,

all th i n gs i n h e av e n and e arth h i ms e lf n ot produce d ,

” “
o f any t he only tru e l i v i ng Go d s e lf or i g in at e d
, ,
-
,
“ ” “
who e x i sts from t he b e gi nn i ng who has mad e ,
”2
all th i ngs but has n ot h i ms e lf b een made
,
Th is .

1 See BiEgyp t f om th e E a l i e st T i m e s p 4 6
rch ,
“ r Th e r , .

Egyp ti j oy d l l t h p l e u s o f x i t
an en e a ed d l i gh t d as re e s enc e, an e e

mo i n th e
re t f p c th n w ar s o I n hi li g i u b l i f t h e
ea e a ar . s re o s e e

id of
ea fut u t t
a d p b b l y of t h t
re s a e , an m i g t i n f ul
ro a e rans ra o o so s,

w v p
as e er t t h i m i n d w hi l e — d h i l
r ese n o s g l i fe w s n e ,
an s on a o

p e p ti n f d t h—to b d v t d o p i u t o th g d b d i
r ar a o or ea e e o e r o s e o s, o e

e t t
n t h w i sh e s f hi s o v e i g
o e ff t i o a t e t w d hi w i f
o s re n, a ec n o ar s s e

a d c hil d
n w e e th e m x i m s i
r en , l t d f
r h i d m e ti o
a ncu c a e or s o s c r

i lif
nn er B y d t h t i l h i d ut i t m k i d w
e . e on a c rc e m s es o an n er e co

p i d i gi v i g b d t o t h h u g y d i k t t h t h i s t y l t h s
r se n n r ea e n r ,
r n o e r , c o e

t o th ek ed i l t o th e w u d d d b i l t t h e d d O n
na , o o n e , an ur a o ea .

th x i of g d w k h
e e er c s e t d hi h p e
oo or f p i g th e
s e res e s o s o as s n

ord l f t he fut u
ea o d g t j u dg m t d
r e an hi g th A b l
rea en , an r e ac n e a a

o Ely i fi l d
r s an d P l f P
e f t h Egyp t i n p
s , an oo s o di eac e o e a ar a se .
”

L e n o m a nt
2
r M u el d H i s toi e A n c i e nn vol i p 5 22
,
“
an
’
r e, . . . .
30 T he R eli g i ons f
o the An ci en t Wor ld .

b e i ng s ee ms n e v e r to hav e b e e n r e pr e s e nte d by any

1
mate r i al e v e n symbol i cal form
,
It i s thought that .

he had no nam e o r if he had that i t must hav e , , ,

2
be e n unlawful to pronounc e o r wr i te i t Ev e n .

“ ”
Ammon t he conce al e d God was a m e re e xt e rnal
, ,

adumbrati on o f th i s myste r i ous and unapproachabl e

d e i ty H e was a pur e S p i ri t p e rfe ct i n e v e ry r e
.
,

,
i —
sp e ct all w s e all m i ghty supr e m e ly p e rfe ctly good
-

, , ,
.

T hos e who grasp e d th i s gr e at truth und e rstood

cl e arly that the many gods o f t he popular mythology
w e r e m er e nam e s p e rson i fi e d attri bute s o f the o n e
,

tru e D e i ty o r parts o f t he natur e wh i ch he had

,

cr e ate d cons i d er e d as i nform e d and i nsp i re d by h i m

, .

Num o r K n eph r e pr e s e nte d t he cr e at i v e m i nd ,

P hth a h t h e cr e ati v e hand or act o f cr e ati ng ; Ma ut ,

r e pre se nte d m a tte r R a t he sun Khons the moon , , ,

S e b t he e arth Kh e m t he g e n e rati v e pow e r in natur e

, ,

K e i th t he conce pti v e pow e r Nut t he upp e r he m is ,

p h e r e o f h e av e n Athor t he low e r world o r und e r

,

h e m i sph e re ; T hoth p e rson i fi e d t h e d i v i n e w i sdom ,

Ammon t he d i v i n e myster i ousn e ss or i n c o m prehens i

b i l ity Os i r i s t h e d i v i n e goodn e ss
,
It may not b e .

always e asy to say what i s t he e xact qual i ty act o r , ,

part o f natur e wh i ch i s r e pr e s e nte d by e ach god and

godd e ss ; but t he pri nci pl e was cl e ar and b eyond a
doubt No e ducate d Egypti an pr i e st ce rta i nly pro
.
,

S i m il ar ph ras es ar e f qu e
re nt in a ll th e r el i gi ou s i n sc r i p ti on s .

d P t pp 1 29—1 3 2 ; pp
”
( See R e c or s of th e as , vol . ii . . vo l . iv . . 99
1 00 ; vo l . vi . 100 , e tc .
)
1 Wi l ki n son ,
A n c i ent Egyp ti an s , vol . iv . p . 1 78 .
 The R e li g i on f
o the A n c i en t E gypti a ns . 31

bably no e ducat e d layman conce i ve d o f the popular ,

gods as r e ally s eparate and d i sti nct b e i ngs All .

kn e w that th e r e was but o n e god and und e rstood ,

that wh e n worsh i p was offe r e d to Kh e m o r Phthah , ,

o r Maut o r T hoth o r Ammon

,
t he o n e god was
, ,

worsh i pp e d und e r some o n e o f hi s forms o r i n som e ,

o n e o f h i s asp e cts H e nce i n t he s ol e mn hymns and

.
,

chants , wh i ch we re compos e d by the pr i e sts to be

us e d i n t he var i ous fe st i vals the god who i s fo r t h e ,

ti m e addre sse d r e ce i v e s all t he h i gh e st t i tl e s o f honour ,

and e v e n has the nam e s o f oth e r gods free ly ass i gn e d

t o hi m as b e i ng i n som e sort i d e nt i cal w i th th e m
,
.

Thus i n o n e hymn H ap i t he N i l e g o d i s i nvok e d , , ,

1
as Ammon and Pht hah ; i n anoth e r Os i r i s as R a ,
2
and T hoth ; wh i l e i n a th i rd R a i s Kh e m and
Ammon T u rn an d Horus and K he pr a all i n o n e
,
3
,
“ ”4
and though spok e n o f as b egotte n o f P hthah is ,
“ ” “ ” “
t he good g od t he ch i e f Of all t he gods
,
t he ,
”“ ” “
anci e nt Of h e av e n t he lord o f all e x i ste nc e s
,
t he ,
”5
support o f all th i ngs .

I t i s n o t altog e th e r e asy to say what t h e e ducat e d

Egypti an b e l i e v e d w i th r e sp e ct to e v i l T he myth of .

Os i r i s re pr e s e nte d hi m as p ers e cute d by hi s broth e r ,

S et o r S ut e c h who murd e r e d hi m and cut up h i s

,

body i nto s e v e ral p i e ce s afte r wh i ch he was mad e ,

’
war upon by Horus Os ir i s son and i n cours e o f , ,

1 R e c d s of t h P
or e as t , vol . iv . p . 1 0 7, ll 4 . an d 11 .

2 I bi d p 1 0 3 , pa r 24 , a d fin
. . .
.

3
I h i d vol i i
. . . pp
1 30 , 1 3 1 , a n d 1 3 3
. .

4
I bi d . p . 1 29 , l 20 . .

5 l bi d 11 2—
. 12 . .
32 The R eli g i ons o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

t i m e d e pos e d and thrust down to darkn ess In .

1

t he latt e r mythology S e t and B e s T ao u r i s and Ap e p i ,

w e r e d i sti nctly mal ignant b e i ngs pers o n ific ati on s ap , ,

n tl o f an e v i l pr i n c i pl e ; and from t h e i n s c r i p
p are
y ,

ti ons and papyri o f th i s p er i od w e should gath e r ,

,

that t he Egypti an r e l i g i on was dual i sti c and com ,

pri s ed t he i de a of a constant and i nte rm i nabl e strug

l e b e tw ee n t h e pow e rs o f l i ght and darkn e ss of
g ,

good and e v i l ; a struggl e i n wh i ch ther e w as som e

’

sup e r i ori ty o n t he part o f good but no co m pl et e ,

v i ctory not e ve n a v e ry d e ci d e d pr e pond e rance On

,
.

t he oth e r hand as w e go back an d e xam i n e car e fully

,

t he mor e anc i e nt monum e nts and t he e arl i e r wr i t i ngs ,

w e find l e ss and l e ss trac e o f th i s antagon is m ; w e

“ ” ”2
find Se t or S ut ec h spok e n o f as great glor i ous ; ,

w e find that t he k i ngs i d e nt i fy th e ms e lv e s w i th hi m 3

,

bu i ld hi m magn i fice nt t e mpl e s and mak e hi m n um e r ,

4
o us o f fe r i ngs It i s doubtful wh e th e r at th i s t i m e
.

any not i on e x i ste d o f e vi l o r mal i gnancy attach i ng

to S et I f i t d i d w e must suppos e t he e arly cr e ed
.
,

t o hav e b ee n that t he bad was a n e ce ssary part o f

t he un i ve rsal syste m and i nh e r e nt i n all th i ngs ,

e qually w i th t he good ;
5
and so that d i v i n e honours ,

w e re d ue to the gods r e pr e s e nt i ng the pr i nci pl e s o f

d i sord e r an d e v i l no l ess than to those re pr e s e nt ing
t he oppos i t e pr i nc i pl e s T he chang e of v i e w wi th .

1
W il k i s on A i t Egypt i
n ,
v l i v pp 3 29—
n c en 33 3 an s , o . . . .

2
R e c o d of t h e P t v l i v p 29
r s as ,
”
o . . . .

vol i i p 7 6 ; vol v i i i p 7 5
3 I bid
. . . . . . . .

4 I bi d v l i v p 27 ; v l v i i i pp 27 3 1
. o . . . o . . . .

5 S o W il k i n s o n A n c i e t Egyp ti an vol i v p 423 n s, . . .

, .
 The R eli g i on o f the An ci en t E gypti a n s . 33

r e gard to Se t may hav e b e e n conn e cte d to som e ex

te n t w ith nat i onal r ivalr i e s for S e t was b eyond a , ,
1
doubt the sp e ci al god o f t he Hyksos t he fore ig n
, ,

conqu e rors o f Egypt whom a fte r age s d e teste d and ,

-

,
2
also o f t he Kh ita or H i tti te s w i th whom t he ,

Pharaohs o f t he e ight ee nth n i n e te e nth and t we n , ,

t i e t h dynast i e s w e r e e ngag e d i n constant host i l i ti e s .

It has b e e n ma i ntai n e d by som e that t h e r e l i g i o n

o f t he e ducate d Egypt i ans compr i s e d a r e cogn i t i o n

o f t h e doctr i n e o f t he T r i n i ty T he l e arn e d Cud .

worth i n t he s e v e nt ee nth c e ntury und e rtook to prove

that a doctr i n e clos e ly r e s e mbl i ng t he Chr i sti an had
b e e n taught by t he Egypti an pr ie sts many ce ntur i es
3
b e for e Chri st and some mod e rns hav e caught at his
,

state m e nts and la i d it down that t he doctri n e o f t he

,

Tr i n i ty ma y be trace d to an Egyptian source But .

th e re i s r e ally not t he sl ighte st ground for th i s ass e r

ti on C udw o rth s argum e nts w e r e long ago m e t an d
.
’

4
r e fute d by Mosh e i m ; and mod ern i nv e sti gat i on o f
t he Egypt i an r e ma i ns has but confirm e d Mosh e i m s
’

conclus i ons T he Egypt ians h eld t he un i ty o f God ;

.

but th e i r un ity had w i th i n i t no tr i n i ty God w i th .

th e m was absolute ly o n e i n e ss e nc e and wh e n d i v i ,

de d u p was d i v i d e d not i nto thr e e but i nto a mul

, , ,

t i t ud e of asp e cts It i s tru e that th ey had a fancy

.

for tr i ads ; but a tr i ad i s not a T r i n ity The tr i ads .

.

1
B i h Egyp t f m th e E l i e t T i m e s p 7 5 ; R e c o ds of
rc ,
“
ro ar s , . r

th P t l v i ii p 3
”
e as . vo . . . .

2
R d of th P t v l i v pp 3 1 3 2
e c or s e as , o . . .
,
.

3
S eeth I t l l t l Sy t m f t h U i v
e
“
n e ec ua h v p 41 3 s e o e n ers e , c . . . .

4
I t h e L ti t a s l a t i n o f C ud wo t h g e t w o k n ot e s t o ’
n a n r n o r s r a r ,

p 413
. .

3
34 The R eli g i on s f
o the An c i en t Wor ld .

a re not groups o f p e rsons but o f attr i but e s ; t he ,

thr ee a r e not co e qual but d i st i nctly t he r e v e rs e t he

, ,

th i rd i n t he tr i ad b e i ng always subord i nate ; n o r i s

t h e d i v i s i on r e gard e d as i n any cas e e xhaust i v e of
t he d i v i n e natur e o r e xclus i v e o f oth e r d i v i s i o n s
, .

Mor e ov e r as alr e ady obs e rv ed t he tri ad i s fre qu e ntly

, ,

e nlarg e d by t he add i t i on o f a fourth p e rso n o r char

acte r who i s associ ate d as clos ely w ith t he oth e r

,
’
thr e e as th ey a r e w i th e ach oth e r C ud w or th s .

V i e w must th e r e for e b e s et a s i d e as altog e th e r i mag i

n ary ; and t he e ncom i ast o f the Egypti an r e l ig i on

must cont e nt h i ms e l f w i th po i nt i ng o ut that a r e al
monoth ei sm und e rlay the sup e rfici al polyth ei sm w i th ,

o u t r e qu i r i ng u s to b e l i e v e that e v e n t h e w i s e st o f

t he pr i e sts had any knowl e dg e o f t he gr e at e st o f all

1
Chr i sti an myste r i es .

1 See L a ti n t r a n s l a ti on of C u d w or t h
’
s g r e at w or k p
, . 28 .
36 T he R e l ig i ons o
f the An c i en t Wor ld .

‘
ranks o f worsh i pp e rs B e rosus who was a Chald aean .
,

pr ie st and w ho should th e r e for e if th e re was any

, , ,

such syste m hav e b ee n we ll acqua i nte d w i th i t has

, ,

i n his e xtant fragm e nts noth i ng monoth e i sti c noth ,

i n g to d i st i ngu i sh h is r e l i g i o us v i e w s from thos e o f

t he mass o f hi s countrym e n Accord i ng to all a p .

ra n c e t h e r e l i g i on o f t he Babylon i ans and Assy

p e a ,

r i ans was thus a r e al polyth e ism a worsh i p o f nu ,

m e r o us d i v i n i t i e s whom i t was not thought n e c e ssary

,
2
to trace to a s i ngl e stock who w e re e ss e nt i ally o n a ,

par the o n e w i th the oth e r and who d i v i d e d among

’

th e m t he r e l i gi ous r e gards o f t he p e opl e .

An account o f t he Assyr i an and Babylon i an r e l i

g i on must thus b e i n t he mai n an account o f th e i r , ,

panth e on From t he characte r o f th ei r gods from

.
,

t he act i ons and attr i but e s ass i gn e d to th e m from the ,

m at e r i al r e pr e s e ntati ons und e r wh i ch th ey show e d

th e m forth w e must gath e r t he ton e o f th e i r r e l i
,

g i o ns thought t he natur e o f the op i n i ons wh i ch th ey

,

e nt e rta i n e d conc e rn i ng t he myst e r i ous pow e rs abov e

th e m and b eyond th e m , whom th ey r e cogn i z e d as

d i v i n e b ei ngs .

In e ach country at the h ead o f the panth e on stood ,

a god not t he or i g i n o f t he oth e rs nor i n any r e al

, ,

s e ns e t he fountai n o f d i v i n i ty but o f h igh e r rank ,

and d ign i ty than t he r e st pr i m us i n ter p a r es ord i na , ,

l Th e l a t e M r . F ox T al b o t e xp r esse d i n 1 8 73 a s om e w h at dif
fe r e n t o pi n i on .
( S e e th e
“
T r a n sa c t i on s o f t h e S oc i e t y f Bi bl io

c al A r c h aeo l o gy , vo l . ii . p . B ut i t d oe s n ot a pp ea t o m e r

th a t h e m a d e out h i s c ase .

2 Se e th e A uth o r s
’
A n c i en t M o n ar c h i e s , vol . i . p . 1 42 .
 R eli gi on o
f the A ssyri a ns and B a byloni a n s . 37

r i ly nam e d first and ass ign e d t he t itl e s o f gre ate st,

honour and form i ng t he pr i nci pal o r at l e ast t he

,

h igh e st obj e ct of w orsh i p both to t he k i ngs and

p e opl e T h i s d e i ty i s i n Assyr i a A
.

i l ? “ i n Baby , ,
1
lon ia I I o r R a S om e cr i t i cs a re o f Op i n i on that
,
.

t he two gods a r e e ss e nti ally o n e that t he Assyr i an ,

Asshur i s n eith e r more nor l ess than I I o r R a

local i z e d and r e gard e d as t he sp e ci al god o f Assyr i a ,

t he prot e ctor Of t he Assyr i an t e rr i tory and t he tute

lary d i v i n i ty o f the Assyr i an k i ngs But th i s v i e w .

i s not ge n e rally acc e pted and s e e ms to r e s t upon n o ,

sure foundati on T h er e i s a mark e d d iffe re nce o f .

characte r and pos i ti on b e tw ee n t he Babylon i an I I

and the Assyr i an Assh ur I I i n the Babylon i an .

syste m i s di m and shadowy ; his attr i bute s a re com ,

p ar at i ve l
y sp e ak i ng i nd i st i nct ; and h i s v e ry
,
n am e

i s not o f fr e qu e nt occurr e nce 2

Asshur i n the Assy .

r i an syste m i s o f all t he gods by far the most pro

'

, ,

n o u n c e d and prom i n e nt figur e N O nam e occurs so .

ofte n a s his no god has attri bute s so cl e arly mark e d

and pos i ti v e On th e s e grounds i t has bee n ge n e rally
.

h e ld that t he tw o are not to be i d e nt i fi e d but to be

, ,

k ept d ist i nct and to be r e gard e d as r e sp e cti v e ly

,

p e cul i ar to t he t wo nat i ons W e procee d th e re for e, .

,

to sp e ak o f th e m s e parate ly .

I I (o r R a) was as alr e ady r e mark ed a som e what , ,

As M L e o m M nu e l d H i s t oi e A n i e
’
1 t ( S e e hi s
. n r an . e a r c nn ,

vol i i. p .
, .

2 I t h e i A ss y i n vol um e s of R e c or d s o f t h e P t
n s x r a Ifi d as , n

t h n m e of II ( o E 1) o l y f u r t i m e ( vol v pp 21 1 29 ; v l
e a r n o s . .
, .
,
o .

vi i pp 9 5
, I n t w o of t h e p l c e i t s e em s to s t n d for
.
, es a s a

B l wh o i s c al l d B el R l s om eti m e s ( fi n
e , ed vol i p -
. . x .
, .
38 The R eli g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

shadowy b e i ng T h e r e i s a vagu e n e ss about t he

.

”
nam e i ts e lf wh i ch m e ans s imply god and can
, ,

scarce ly b e sa i d to connote any part i cular attr i bute .

T he Babylon i ans n e v e r r epr e s e nt h is form and th e y ,

fr e qu e n tly om i t hi m from l i sts wh i ch s ee m to conta i n

all t he oth e r pr i nc i pal gods 1
Y e t he was c e rta i nly .

r egard e d as t he h e ad o f the panth e on and i n t he ,

most anc i e nt t i me s must hav e b ee n acknowl edge d as

t he tute lary d e i ty o f Babylon i ts e lf wh i ch r e ce i v e d ,

i ts nam e o f Bab i l (i n Accad i an K a — -

ra
) m e an i ng , ,
“ ”
the Gat e o f I I from hi m H e s e e ms to hav e had
,
.

no sp eci al te mpl e b e i ng probably worsh ipp ed i n all

,

te mpl e s by t he fe w p e rsons who w er e hi s vo tari e s .

H is nam e was occas i o n ally but n o t v e ry fr e qu e ntly

, , ,

u s e d as an e l e m e nt i n t he p e rsonal app e llat i ons o f

2
Babylon i ans .

Asshur t he Assyr i an substi tut e for I I or R a was

, ,

pr i mari ly and e sp e ci ally t he tute lary d e i ty o f Assyr i a

and o f the Assyr i an m onarchs T he land o f Assyr i a .

b ears hi s nam e w i thout any mod i ficati on i ts i mb ab i

“
t ants a r e hi s s e rvants o r hi s p e opl e i t s troops
“ ” “
t he arm i e s o f t he god Asshur ; its e n em ies the
”
e n e m i e s o f Asshur As for the k i ngs th ey stand
.
,

conn e cte d w i th hi m i n r e sp e ct of almost e v e ryth i ng

wh i ch th ey do H e plac e s th e m u pon t he thron e
.
,

firmly e stabl ish es th e m i n the gove rnm e nt l e ngth e ns ,

1
A f i st c
s, or nt h t of Ag u k k i m i i n t h e i sc i p t i
an e, a pub
-
a -
r n r on

l i sh d i v l vii
e n o f the . R e c d s pp 7 8 W h e t
. o ge t or ,
.
, , er en r a

g d
o s e um
ar t e d vi
en : An n
er a d A u i t B el a d B e l t i
,
z . an nn ,
n s,

H ea an d D vk i aZi ( Zi na, S i n Sham as

ra nd Me
r d ch , ,
a ro a ,

bu t n m o ti i s m a d e of II
en on .

2 “
R c d f t h P t v l ii i p 1 5 ; vol i p 9 9 ; t c
e or s o e as , o . . . . x . . e .
 R eli gi on o f the Assyr i a ns a nd B a byloni a ns . 39

t he y e ars o f th e i r re i gns pr e s e rv e s th e i r pow e r pro , ,

t e c ts th e i r forts and arm i e s d i r e cts th e i r e xp e d i t i ons , ,

g i v es th e m v i ctory o n t he day o f battl e mak e s th e i r ,

nam e ce l e brate d multipl i es th e i r o ffspr i n g gr e atly

, ,

and the l i k e T o hi m th ey look for t he fulfilm e nt o f

.

all th e i r wi sh e s and e sp e c ially fo r t he e stabl i shm e nt

,
’
o f th e i r sons and th e i r sons so ns o n t he Assyr i an
, ,

thron e to t he r e mote st ag es T h e i r usual phrase .

“ ”
wh e n sp e ak i ng o f hi m i s Asshur my lord T h ey , ,
.

r e pr e s e nt th e ms e lv e s as pass i ng th e i r l i v e s i n his ser

v i ce I t is to spread hi s w orsh i p that th ey carry o n
.

th e i r wars Th ey fight ravage d e stroy i n his n am e

.
, , .

F i nally wh e n th ey subdue a country, th ey ar e care

,
”
ful to s et up t he e mbl e ms of Asshur and to ma ke ,
1
the conqu e r e d p e opl e con form to hi s laws .

T he ord i nary t i tl e s o f Asshur a r e t he gr e at lord , ,

“ ”
t he k i ng o f all t h e gods h e who rul e s supr e m e ,
“
ove r the gods H e i s also call e d occas i onally t he , ,
”
fath e r of th e gods although that i s a t i tl e wh i ch
,

b e longs mor e prop erly to B e l H e i s figur e d as a .

man w i th a horn e d cap and ofte n carry i ng a bow , ,

i ssu i ng from t he m i ddl e o f a w i ng e d c i rcl e and e i th e r ,

shoot ing an arrow o r str e tch i ng forth hi s hand as if

, ,

to a id o r sm i te T he w i nge d c i rcl e by i tse l f i s also

.

us e d as his e mbl e m and probably d e note s hi s ub i qu i ty

,

and e tern i ty as the human form do e s his i nt e ll i g e nce

, ,

and t he horn e d cap h is powe r T h i s e mbl e m w i th .

,

o r wi thout t h e h uman figur e i s an almost i nvar i abl e ,

accompan i m e nt o f Assyr ian royalty T he gr e at k i ng .

1 “ R ec r
o d s of th e P ast , vol . i . p 17 ;
. v ol . iii . pp . 8 6 , 93 , 95,
96 ; vol . v pp. . 1 4, 1 5 , e tc . ; v ol . ix . pp 5 .
, 8, 9 , et c .
40 The R el ig i on s f
o the A n ci en t Wor ld .

w ears i t e mbro id e r e d u pon hi s rob es c arr i e s i t e u ,

grav e d u pon h is s e al o r cyl i nd e r r e pre s e nts i t a bov e ,

h is h ead i n t he roc k tabl e ts wh e re on he carv e s h is

-

i mag e stands or kn e e ls i n ador ,

ati on b efor e i t fights und e r i ts ,

shadow und e r i ts prote ct ion r e ,

turns v i cto r ious plac es i t c o n ,

A SS H U R
s pi c u ous ly u pon his ob e l isks
.

And i n all th es e r e pre s e ntat i ons i t i s r e markabl e ,

ho w he mak e s the e mb l e m conform to t he c ircum

stanc e s i n wh i ch he is hi m s elf e ngag e d at t he t i m e .

W h e re he i s fight ing A sshur too has his arrow , , ,

u pon t he str i n g and po i nts i t aga i nst t he monarch s

’
,

a dv e rsar i e s
‘
Vhen he i s r e turn i ng hom e v i ctor i ous
v.
,

w i th the d isus ed bo w i n hi s l e ft hand and his r i ght ,

ha n d outstr etch e d and e l e vate d Asshu r too has t he , , ,

s am e atti tud e In p eace ful sce n e s the b o w d isapp ears

.

altog e th e r I f t he k ing worsh ips t he god holds out

.
,

hi s hand to a id ; i f he i s e ngag e d i n s e cular acts t he ,

D i v i n e pr e s e nc e is thought to be su ffi c ie ntly mark e d

by t he c i rcl e and t he w i n gs w i thou t t he human
1
fig ure .

In i mm ed iate success ion to Asshur i n Assyr ia and

I I i n Babylon i a w e find i n both countr i e s a tr iad
, ,

con s ist ing o f A n n B e l and H e a o r H oa T h e s e

, ,
.

“ ”2
three a re call ed pa r exc ellen c e the gr e at gods
, ,
.

In e x e crat i ons th ey a re s e parat e d o ff from all t he

oth e r d e i t i es a n d plac e d toge th er i n a clause wh i ch
,

1
S e e th eA ut h o s A n i r
’ “
c e nt M o n a r c hi e s , v ol . 11 . pp . 23 4 , 235 .

9 " R e c ord s of t h e Past ,

”
vol . vi i . p . 1 21 ; vol . ix . pp . 1 00 ,
1 06 , et c .
 R e li g i on f
o the A ssyr i a ns a nd B a bylon i a ns . 41

sta nds at the h ead of t he l ist o f curs e s In i nvoca .

t i ons th e i r nam e s follow for t he most part i mm e , ,

d iat e ly afte r t he nam e o f A sshur ; and th is i s th e i r

usual and prop er pos i t i on i n all compl e te l i sts of t he
ch i e f gods A n n and B e l i n t he Babylon ian syste m
1
.

a r e broth e rs both b e i ng sons of I I o r R a ; but th i s

,

r e lat i onsh i p i s s c arc e ly acknowl e dg e d i n A ssyr ia .

Hoa i n both countr i e s stands apart unconn e cte d ,

w ith t he oth e r two and i nd e e d unconn e cte d w ith , , ,

a n y o f t he oth e r gods e xc e pt w i th such as ar e hi s ,

ofif
s r in
p g .

2
It has b e e n conj e ctur e d that i n th i s tr iad w e hav e
a cosmogon i c myth and that t he three d e i t ie s r e pr e
,

s ent Anu th e pr i mord i al chaos o r matte r w i thout

, , ,

form ; Hoa l i fe and i nt e ll i g e nc e cons id e r e d as m o v

, ,

i ng i n and an i mat i ng matte r ; and B e l t he o rg an is ,

i n g and cr eati ng sp i r i t by wh i ch matt e r was actually ,

brought i nto subj e cti on and t he mate r i al un i v e rs e ,

arrange d i n an ord e rly way But i t may be que s .

t i o n e d wh e th e r t he v e i l wh i ch h i d e s t he e sote r i c
m ean i n g o f t he Assyri an r e l ig ion has b e e n as ye t
su ffi c i e ntly l i fte d to e ntitl e such conj e ctur e s to much
atte nti on Our o w n b e l ie f i s that A n u B e ] and
.
, ,

Hoa w e r e or i g i nal ly t he gods o f t he e arth of t he

, ,

h e av e n and o f t he wate rs thus corr e spond ing i n t he

, ,

ma i n to t he class i cal Pluto Z e us o r Jup i te r and , ,

Pos e idon or N e ptun e who d i vi d e d b e t w e e n th e m t he ,

R e c d s of t h e P s t vol i ii p 8 3 ; vol v p
1 “
or a , . .
. . . . 29 ; vol . vi i .

p 7 ; v l i p 23 t c
. o . x . .
, e .

S 3 L e n m a nt
ee M anuel d H i s t oi r e A nc i e nn e
or ,
“ ’

,
vol . 11 . pp .

1 8 2, 1 8 8 .
42 The R e l ig i ons o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

dom i n i on ov e r t he v i s i bl e cr e ati on But such n oti ons .

b e cam e i n cours e of t i m e ov e rla id to a gr eat e xte nt

, ,

w i th oth ers ; and though Hoa cont i nu e d always mor e

o r l e ss of a wate r d e i ty Anu and B e l c e as e d to hav e
,
“ ”
p e cul iar sph e r e s and b e cam e m e r e ly gre at gods
, ,

w ith a g e n e ral sup e ri nte nd e nc e ov e r t he world and ,

w ith n o v e ry mark e d d iffe r e nce o f pow e rs .

“
A n n i s commonly spok e n of as t he o l d Anu ,
”
t he or i g i nal ch i e f t he k i ng o f t he low e r world
, ,
“ ”
and t he lord of sp i ri ts and d e mons T h e re i s o n e .

“
t e xt i n wh i ch he s ee ms to b e call e d t he fath e r o f
t he gods but t he r e ad i ng i s doubtful W e cannot
, .

i d e nti fy as h i s any o f t he d i v i n e forms o n t he As

syr i an or Babylon i an monum e nts nor can w e ass i gn ,

to hi m any e mbl e m e xc e pti ng that o f the s i ngl e up ,

r i ght w e dg e wh i ch r epre s e nts hi m on the Chald aean

,

n um e rat i on ta bl ets T h i s s i n gl e w e dge has t he

.

num e r i cal powe r o f s i xty and s i xty app e ars to hav e ,

b ee n ass i gn e d to Anu as h is sp e ci al numb e r Though .

“ ”
a gr e at god he was n o t o n e towards whom much
,

pr e fe re nce was shown H is n am e i s scarce ly e v e r .

found as an e l e m e nt i n royal o r oth e r app e llat i ons ;

t he k i ngs do not v e ry oft e n m e nti on h i m and only
1
o n e monarch sp e aks of h i ms e lf a s h i s sp e c i al votary .

T he god B e l fam i l i arly known to us both from

,
3
S cri ptur e and from th e Apocryph a i s o n e of t he
2
,

most mark e d and str i k i ng figure s i n t he panth e on

1 Ti gl a th Pil e s e r I .
( s ee R e c or d s of th e P ast , vol . v p
. .

Ye t e v en he is sti ll m or e d v
e ot e dt A o s s h ur .

2
I sa i a h xl vi . 1 J er l 2 ; l i 44
. . . .

3
S e e t h e h i s t or y of
“
B el a n d t h e D g
ra on .
44 The R eli g i on s of the A nci en t Wor ld .

H eaor Hoa t he th i rd god o f t he first tr iad ranks

, ,

i mme d i at e ly afte r B e l i n t he compl e te l i sts of As

“
syr i an d e i ties H e i s e mphat i call y o n e o f t he gr eat
.

” “ ” “
gods and i s call e d t he ki ng
,
t he gr e at i n v e n , ,
” “
tor and t he d e te rm i n e r o f d e sti n ie s
,
W e hav e .

alr e ady r e mark e d that he was sp e ci ally conn e cte d

“
w ith t he e l e m e nt o f wa te r ; and h e nce he i s the
” “ ” “
k i ng o f t he d ee p t he k i ng o f r i ve rs t he lord
, ,
“
o f founta i n s a n d to a ce rta i n e xte nt t he lord o f
, ,
,
”
t he harv e st In t he l e ge nd o f cr e ati on he i s j o i n e d
.

w ith B e l i n t he o ffice o f guard ian and watch e s ove r

, ,
1
t he r e gular i ty o f th e plan e tary cours e s I n t he .

“
W ar of t he Gods he and B e l plan t he d e fe nce , ,

afte r wh i ch H ea comm i ts the e x e cuti ons o f t he plans

2
mad e to his son Marduk o r M e rodach In t he
,
.

flood l ege nd H e a naturally plays an i m portant part

, .

It i s he who announce s to Has is adra t he Babylon ian -

Noah that a d e lug e i s about to d e stroy m ank ind

, ,

and commands hi m to bu i ld a gre at sh ip i n ord e r ,

3
that he may e sca p e i t It i s he aga i n who oppos e s .

t he w ish o f B e l to mak e t he d e structi on compl e t e ,

and p e rsuad es hi m to l et Has i s ad ra a n d his fam i ly -

4
com e o ut safe from t he ark In t he ta l e o f Ishtar s .
’

’
d e sce nt i nto Hade s H e a s couns el is sought by t he ,

moon go d ; an d by a sk i l ful d e v i ce h e obta i ns t he

-

r e storati on o f t he Qu ee n o f Love to t he upp e r

world ?
Ind eed throughout t he whol e o f t he m y ,

t ho l og y w e find all cl e v e r i nv e n ti ons and w e ll la i d -

1 “R d e c or s of th e P as t , vol . ix . p . 118
2
I bi d . vol . v p 16 5
. . .
3 I bid . v ol . vii .pp 1 3 5 1 3 6
.
, .

I bzd . p . 1 42 .
5 I bi d . vo l . i . pp 1 4 7 1 4 9
.
-
.
 R e lig i o n f
o the Assyr i a n s an d B a bylon i a n s . 45

plans ascr i be d to hi m s o that his h i story qu ite j usti ,

“ ”
fi e s hi s t i tl e o f lord o f d e ep th oughts H e a is .

l
probably i ntend e d by t he 0 6 o f H e l l ad i u s and t he ,

C an n es of B erosus who cam e up o u t of t he P e rs ian

2
,

Gulf and i nstructe d t he first s e ttl e rs o n t he Lowe r

,

Ti gr i s and Euphrates i n l e tte rs sci e nce re l i g i on law , , , ,

and agri culture .

In d ire ct success ion to t he thr ee gods o f t he first

tr i ad Anu B e l and H e a or Hoa w e find a s e cond
, , , ,

sti ll more w id e ly r e cogn i s e d tr i ad compr i s ing t h e ,

—
moon god t he sun god and t he god of th e at -

, ,

m os phe r e T h e r e i s gr e at d i ffe re nc e o f Op i n i on w i th
.

re sp e ct to t he nam e o f t he last god o f th e s e thre e ,

wh i ch i s n e ve r sp e lt phon e t i cally i n t he i nscr ipti ons ,

but only re pre s e nte d by a monogram H e has b ee n .

ca ll e d Iva (or Y av) Vul B in Y e m (or I m ) and , , , ,

r e ce ntly R i mmon 3
W i thout pr esum i ng to d e c id e
.

th i s v e x e d qu e sti on w e propos e to adopt prov i s i on ,

“ ”
ally the r e nd e ri ng Vul as the o n e l ike ly to be ,

most fam i l iar to our r e ad e rs from i ts e mploym e nt ,

by S i r H enry R awl inson Mr G e org e S m i th and ,

.
,

Mr Fox T albot W e shall sp eak th e r e fore o f the

. .

s e cond tr i ad as o n e cons isti ng o f S in S hamas and , ,

Vul t he gods r e sp e cti v e ly of t he moon t he sun and

, , ,

t he atmosph e r e .

It i s v e ry noti ce abl e that i n Assyr i a and Baby

lon i a t he moon god too k pr e c e d e nc e o f t he sun god
- -
.

1Ap P h o t B i bl i t h
. .c l xxx i x p 1 59 4
“
o ec c . . .

2
B p E
e r os u s a b Ch . Ca 1
use c . r on . n .
”
,
s . .

3
T ti f t h S i ty f B i bl i l A h
r a n sa c ons o l o gy
e v l v oc e o ca rc ae o , o . .

p 441 ; R
. d f th P t v l v p 29 ; vol vii pp 1 6 5
“
ec or s o e as , o . . . . . .
,

1 70 ; v l i pp 23 27 e t
o . x . .
, , c.
46 The R eli g i on s f
o the An c i en t lVor ld .

N i ght proba bly was mor e agr eeabl e to t he i nhab i

tants o f thos e hot r e g i ons than day ; and t he cool ,

plac i d t i m e wh e n th ey could fr ee ly cont e mplate t he

h eav e ns an d mak e th e ir ste llar a n d oth e r obs e r
,

v a t i o n s was e sp e c i ally grat e ful to t he pr i e stly astro

,

h om e rs wh o had t he sup e r i nt e nd e nc e and arrang e

m e nt o f t he r e l i g i on S i n t he moon i s thus o n e o f
.
, ,
“
t he l e ad i ng d e i t i e s H e i s call e d . t h e ch i e f o f t he ,
” ”
gods o f h e av e n and e arth t h e k i ng o f t he gods , ,
”1
and e v e n t he god o f the gods T h es e s e e m .
,

howe v e r to be hyp e rbol i cal e xpre ss i ons us e d by hi s

, ,

votar i e s i n t he warmth o f th e i r h e art s wh e n i n t he ,

stage o f r e l i g i on wh i ch Pro fe ssor Max Mull e r has

”2
d es i gnate d H e noth e i sm S i n mor e prop e rly was
.

“ ” “ ” “
t h e br i ll i ant t he i l l u m m at o r
,
h e who dwe lls ,
” “
i n t he sacr e d h e av e ns he who c i rcl e s round t h e
,
” ”
h eav e ns and t he lord o f t he month
,
Aga i n for .
,

som e r e cond i te r e ason wh i ch i s not e xpla i n e d he was

, ,

s el e cte d to pre s i de ov e r arch i te cture and i n th i s con ,

” “
n e c t i on he i s t he support i ng arch i t e ct the
strength e n e r o f forti ficati ons and , mor e ge n erally , ,
’

“ ”
t he lord o f bu i ld i ng .

A clos e bond o f sympathy un it e d S in w i th t he

two oth e r m e mb e rs o f t he s e cond tr i ad W h e n t he .

s e v e n sp i r i ts o f e vi l mad e war i n h e av e n and d i re ct ,

e d th e i r ma i n a ttack upon S i n as t he ch i e f l e ad e r o f ,

t he ang e l i c host S hamas and Vul i nstantly cam e to

,

h i s a i d w i thstood t he sp i ri ts and fight i ng firmly

, , ,

1 In the I n s c i pti
r o n of N ab o n i d us .
( S ee
“
R e c o d s o f t h e P as t
r ,

vol . v pp 1 46
. .
,

2
C n te m p o
o r ar y R e v i ew , N ov . 1 8 78 , pp . 7 22 .
 R el igi on o
f the Assyr i a ns a nd B a byloni a ns . 47

s id e by s i d e with hi m succee d e d i n r e puls i ng th e m , .

1

T he thr ee a r e fr e qu e ntly conj o i n e d i n i nvocat i ons ,

2
e x e crat i ons and t he l i k e ,
In o ffe r i ngs and fe st i vals .
,

howe ve r S i n i s un i t e d w i th S hamas only t he place

, ,

f Vul b e i ng ta k e n by a godd e ss who i s e nti tl e d

p ”3
t he d i v i n e m i str e ss o f t he world .

S in was among t he gods m ost w i de ly and d e voutly

1

worsh ipp ed both i n B abylon i a and Assyr ia

,
H e .

had t e mpl e s at Ur Babylon B ors ippa , , ,

Calah and Dur Sarg i n a

,
T h e th i rd
-
.

month o f t he y ear call e d S i van was , ,

d e d i cate d to hi m In a month n ot so .

d e d i cat e d we find sacri fice to t he moon

pre scr i b e d on n i n e days out o f the th i rty 4
.

H is nam e was w i d e ly us e d as an e l e m e nt
i n royal and oth e r app e llati ons as for , ,

i nstanc e i n t h e w e ll known nam e S e nnach e r i b

,
-

, ,
“
wh i ch i n t he or ig inal i s S i n a khi i r i b, o r S i n has - -

”
mult ipl i e d broth e rs .

S hamas t he s u n g o d occup i e s t he m i ddl e pos i t i on

,
-
,
“
i n t he s e cond tr i ad wh i ch i s e i th e r S i n S hamas
, , ,
” “ ”
Vul o r Vul S hamas Si n though mor e com
, , , ,

m o n ly t he form e r H is t i tl e s ar e e i th e r ge n e ral o r
.
.

“
sp e ci al In a ge n eral way he i s call e d t he e stab
.
,
” “
l is he r o f h e av e n and e arth t he j udg e of h e av e n ,

1
See Rec o d s r of th e Pa st , vol . v pp 1 6 4—1 6 6
. . .

2
I bi d . vol i pp. . . 5 7, 93, e tc .
; vo l v pp 7 1 22
. . .
, ,
1 23 ; vol . ix .

pp . 23 , 1 0 0 , et c .

3 “
R ec d or s of P a t vol v pp 1 5 9 1 6 2 t c
th e s , . 11 . .
, ,
e .

4
S ee t h e c l
a en d f e d t i th e l t n te w h
ar r e e r r o n as o ,
er e s ac r i fi c es

t o Si n ar e p sc i b d f th l t 2md 1 3 th 1 4th
re r e or e s , , , ,
1 8 th , 20 t h ,
21 s t , 22n d , a n d 29 t h d ay s f t he m o t h o n .
48 T he R e l ig i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

” “ ” “
and e arth ,
t he warr i or o f t he world and the ,
”
r e ge nt o f all th ings wh il e w ith d i r e ct r e fe re nc e to
, ,
“ ” “
h is phys ical natur e he i s t he lord of fi re
,
t he ,
” “ ” “
l ig ht o f t he gods
o
t he rul e r of t he day
,
and he ,
”
who i llum i n e s the e xpans e o f h eav e n and e arth .

T he k i ngs r e gard h i m as a fford in g th e m e sp e ci al

he lp i n w a r H e i s t he supr e m e rul e r who casts a
.
,
” “
favorabl e e ye o n e xp e d iti ons t he vanqu ish e r o f ,
’ ” “ ”
t h e k i ng s e n e m i e s t he br e ak e r up o f oppos i t i on
,
-
.

“
H e casts his mot i v e i nflu e nc e ov e r t he monarchs ,
“
and caus e s th e m to ass e mbl e th e i r char iots and
” “
th e i r warr i ors he go e s forth w ith th e i r arm ie s
, ,

and e nabl e s th e m to e xt e nd th e i r dom in i ons ; he

chas es th e i r e n e m i e s b e for e th e m caus es oppos i ti on ,

to ceas e and br i ngs th e m back w i th v i ctory to th e i r

,

o w n country .

B es id e s th i s i n t i m e of p eace he h e lps th e m to
, ,

w ay t he sce ptr e o f pow e r and to rul e ov e r th e i r ,

subj e cts w i th a uthori ty It s e e ms that from o bse r v

.
,

i n g t he man i fe st ag e ncy o f t he mat e r i al sun i n st i m

u la t in all t h funct i ons o f natur t h e A ssyr i ans and
g e e ,

Babylon i ans cam e to t he conclus ion that t he s un god -

e x e rt e d a s i m i lar i nflu e nc e ov e r t h e m i nds of m e n ,

1
and was t he gr e at mot i v e ag e nt i n human h istory .

T he worsh i p o f S hamas was un i v e rsal T he s ev .

c uth month T isr i was d e d i cat e d to h i m and i n t he

, , ,

s e cond Elul he had l i k e t he moon —g o d n in e fe st i

, , ,

vals . H i s e mbl e m app e ars upon almost all t he

r e l ig ious cyl i nd e rs and i n almost all l i sts of th e go ds
,

h is nam e holds a h i gh pl ace S om e t i m e s h e is a

.

A n c i e t M on c h i s v l i p 1 6 0
1 “ n ar e , o . . . .
 R eligi on o
f the Assyr i a n s and B a bylo ni a ns . 49

m emb e r o f a l e ad i ng tr i ad compose d o f h i ms e l f ,
1
toge th e r w i th S i n and A sshur In t he mytholog ical .

l e ge nds he i s not v e ry fr e qu e ntly m e nti on e d W e .

find hi m howe v e r d e fe nd i ng t he moon god i n con

, ,
-

juncti on w i th V ul wh e n t he s e v e n sp i r i ts mak e ,
2
th e i r assault upon h eav e n and i n t he d e lug e tabl e ts
w e a re told that i t was h e who actually mad e the
3
Flood But oth e rw i s e t he mythology i s s i l e nt about
.

hi m o ffe r i ng i n th i s r e sp e ct a r e mark abl e contrast to

,

t he Egypt i an wh e r e t he sun i s t he pr i nc ipal figur e

,
.

Vul t he god o f the atmosph e r e who compl e t e s

, ,

t he s e cond tr i ad has o n t he whol e a pos i t i on qu ite , , ,

e qual to that o f S i n and S hamas whom he occas i on

,

ally e ve n pr e ced e s i n the l i sts 4

S om e k i ngs s e e m to .

place hi m o n a par w i th Anu o r w i th A sshur re c , ,

o n is i n A n n and Vul o Asshur and Vul as

g g r
, ,
“ ”
e sp e c i ally t he gr e at gods and as th eir own p e cul iar ,
5
guard ians In a ge n eral way he corr e sponds wi th
.

“ ”
t he Jup i ter T o n an s o f t he R omans b e i ng t he ,
“ ”
prin ce o f t he pow e r o f t he a ir the lord o f t he ,

wh irlwind and t he t e mp e st and t he w i e ld e r of t he ,

“
thund erbolt H i s most common t i tl e s a re
. t he
” ”
m in i ste r of h eav e n and e arth t he lord o f t he a i r , ,
“ ”
and he who mak e s t he te mp e st to rage H e is .

r egard e d as the d e stroy e r o f crops t he roote r up o f ,

-

1
T hi s i s t h e po s ni o n w h i c h h e h ol d s re g ul l y ar i n th e I n sc r i p
t i on s of As s h u r b an i pa l , t h e s on of E s ar h a dd on .
( S ee
“
R e c or ds
P pp 5 8 , 7 1 , 7 7 , 9 3 —5 , 9 9 , 1 00 , 1 0 3 ,
”
of th e as t , vol . i . . etc ) .

2
See ab o v p 43e, . .

3 “ R e c or d f t h P s t v l vn p 1 3 8
s o e a , o . . . .

4 I bi cl . v l i
o . p 100 x . . .

5 I bi d . vol i i i p 46 ; vol v pp 24—

. . 26 . . . . .
50 The R e li g i on s f
o the A n ci e nt Wor ld .

trees ,
scattere r o f t he harv e st ; fam i n e scarc i ty
th e , ,

e v e n th e i r cons e qu e nc e p e st i l e nc e a r e ass ign e d , ,

to hi m H e i s sa i d to hav e i n his .

”
h and a flam i ng sword w i th wh i ch ,

he e ffe cts his ravag e s ; and th is

”
flam i ng sword w h i ch probably ,

r e pr es e nts l ightn i ng s ee ms to form ,

h is e mbl e m on t he tabl e ts and c y l in

d ers wh e r e i t i s figur e d as a doubl e ,

o r tr i pl e bolt But Vul has also a .

softe r characte r ; as the god o f t he

atmosph e re h e g i v e s t he ra i n ; and
“
h e nce he i s the car e ful and b en e fi
” “
c e nt ch i e f th e g i ve r o f abun ,
“ ”
dance and t he lord o f fe cund i ty
,
In th i s capac .

i ty he i s n aturally chos e n to pr e s i d e ov e r canals t he

, ,

gr e at fe rti l i s e rs i n M e sopotam i a ; and thus w e find

“ “
amo ng his ti tl e s t he l ord o f canals ,
and t he ,
”I
e stabl i sh e r o f works o f i rr i gat i on .

“ ”
T o t he e i ght gr e at gods whos e functi ons hav e ,

b e e n h e r e d e scr i b e d may b e add e d most conv e n i e ntly

,

i n th i s plac e s i x godd e ss e s It was a g e n e ral though

,
.
,

not a un i v e rsal rul e i n t he Assyr i an and Babylon i an ,

mythology that e ach god should hav e a w i fe From

, .

th i s law the h e ads of th e r e sp e ct i v e panth e ons I I ,

2
and Asshur , w e re e x e mpt ; but oth e rwi s e almost all
1 “ A c i t M a hi
n en v l i pp 1 6 4 1 6 5
on rc es, o . . . ,
.

2 I pl I b v
n one m n ti
ace fo g dd A i tu
s er e a e on o a
“
o es s s su r

R d e c or l i p s, w h m i gh t
vo . .m t b . f mi i f m o s ee o e a e n ne or

of A i gi d A hu v I h t A u i tu “ ”
hu
ss B ut t h r . l e or na rea s, ss r a s ar ss r ,

A s u i tu t b m e t i tl of I h t e G
w hi h sh w
c o s s r
( S o e a er e s ar . e .

S mi t h s A n l s of A hu b an i pa p
’ “
n a ss r .
52 The R e li g i on s f
o the An c i e n t Wor ld .

A n un it , w ho was l i k e B e lti s a gre at godd e ss but

, , ,

had a l ess d i sti nct iv e characte r b e ing l i ttl e mor e than

,

a fe mal e S un F i n ally V u l had a w i fe call e d Shala

.
,
“
o r T ala whos e common t i tl e i s s a r r a t
,
Qu e e n but , ,

who i s a colourl e ss and i ns ign i ficant p e rsonage .

On t he s e cond o f t he two gre at tri ads wh i ch hold

so h igh a place i n the Assyr i an and Babylon i an
panth e ons th er e follows a group o f fi ve gods w i th
, ,

an unm i stakably astral characte r T h e s e ar e N i n o r .

Bar M erodach or Marduk N e rgal Ishtar and Ne bo

, , , , ,

who corr e spond r e sp e cti v e ly to t he plan e ts S aturn , ,

Jup i te r Mars V e nus and M e rcury

, , ,
.

N IN .

N in, or Bar who pres id e d ov e r th e most d i stant

,

o f the v is i bl e plan ets, S aturn , was more an obj e ct o f

 R eli g i on f
o the Assyr i a n s an d B a bylon i a n s . 53

worsh i p i n Assyr i a than i n Babylon i a H e has b e e n .

“ ”1
call e d the A ssyr i an H e rcul e s and i n many ,

r e sp e cts r e s embl e s that h e ro o f t he class i cal nati ons .

“ ”
A mong hi s t i tl e s ar e found t he lord of t h e brav e , ,
“ ” “ ” “
t he warl i k e t he champ i on ,
t he warr i or who ,
” ”
subdu e s fo es t he r e duc e r of t he d i sob e d i e nt
,
t he ,
” ” “
e xt e rm i nator o f r e b e ls t he pow e rful lord t he , ,
” “
e xc ee d i ng strong god and h e W hose sword i s ,
”
good H e pr e s i d e s i n a gre at m e asur e both ov e r
.

war and hunti ng Most o f the Assyri an monarchs .

r e pr e s e nt th e ms e lv e s as go i ng ou t to war und e r hi s
ausp i ce s and a scr i b e th e i r succe ss e s ma inly to his
,

i nte rpos i ti on H e i s e sp e ci ally us e ful to th e m i n t h e

.

s ubj e ct i on o f r e b e ls H e also o n som e o c c as i ons i n .

ci te s th e m to e n gage i n t he chas e and a ids th e m ,

stre nuously i n th e i r e ncount e rs w ith w i ld bulls and

l i ons 2
.It i s thought that he was e mbl e mati cally
portray e d i n t he wi ng e d and human h e ad ed bull -

wh i ch forms so str i ki ng a fe ature i n t he arch ite ctural

e r e ct i ons o f t he A ssyr i ans .

A s N i n was a favouri te Assyr i an so M e rodach was ,

a favori te Babylon i an go d Fro m t he e arl i e st ti me s .

t he Babylon i an mona rchs plac e d hi m i n t he h i gh e st

rank o f d e i t i es worsh i pp i ng hi m i n conj uncti on w i th
,

A n n B e ] and H ea th e thr e e gods o f t he first tr i ad

, , ,
3
.

T he gre at te mpl e of Babylon known to t he Gr e e ks ,

1 Ly da ar ,
“
N ine v eh an d B b y l on
a , p . 21 4 ; R ec o d s
r of th e
P a st ,
”
v pp 7 21 23 t c
vol . . .
, , , e .

Se
2 R e c d f t h P t v l v p 21
e or s o e as ,
o . . . .

S e t h e I c i p t i n of Agu k k i m i p u b l i
3 e ns r o -
a -
r , sh e d i n th e “
R ec
or ds f the P s t vol vii p 3 l i
”
o a 5 d 6
, . . . ,
nes an .
54 The R e li g i ons o f the An ci ent Wor ld .

as t heT e mpl e o f B e l w as ce rta inly d edi cate d to ,

1

h im ; and i t would th e re fore s ee m that t he late r

Babylon i ans at any rate must hav e hab i tually ap , ,
“ ”
pl i e d to hi m t he nam e o f Be l or lord wh i ch i n , ,

e arl i e r t i m e s had d e s i gnat e d a d i f fe r e nt m e mb e r o f

’
th e i r panth e on M e rodach s ord i nary t i tl e s ar e , .

“ ” “ ” “ ” “
t he gr e at t he gr e at lord t he pr i nc e
,
t he , ,
“ ”
pr i nce o f t he gods and t he august god H e is ,
.

“ ” “ ” “
also call e d t he j udg e t he most anc i e nt
,
he , ,
” “ ”
who j udg e s t he gods the e ld e st son o f h e av e n , ,
“ ”2
and i n o n e place t he lord o f battl e s Occa si on ,
.

ally he has sti ll h igh e r and s e e m i n gly e xclus i ve

,
”
d e s ignati ons such as t he gre at lord o f e te rn i ty
, , ,
“ “
t he k i ng o f h e av e n and e arth the lord o f all
” “ “
b e i ngs the ch i e f o f t he gods
,
and t he god o f ,
”3
gods But th e s e t i tl es s e e m not to be m e ant e x
.

e lus i v e ly H e i s h e ld i n cons i d e rabl e honour among

.

t he Assyr i an s b e i ng oft e n co u pl e d w i th Asshur o r

4
, ,
5
w i th A sshur and Ne bo as a war god o n e by whom ,
-

t he k i ngs ga i n v i ctor i e s and obta i n t he d e struct i on ,

o f th e i r e n e m i e s But i t i s i n Babylon i a and e sp e .

,

c ia ll i n t h e lat e r Babylon i an Emp i r e und e r N e b u

y
c ha dn e z z ar and N e r i l i s s ar that h i s worsh ip cul
g ,

m i n a te s It i s th e n that all the e p i th ets o f h igh e st

.

honour ar e accumulate d upon hi m and that he be ,

1
H e od 1 1 8 1 1 8 3 ; S t b vi p 1 0 49 ; A i n Exp A l e x
r . .
-
ra . x . . rr a ,
“
. .

vu . 17 .

2 “ d s of t h e P t v l v p 29
R e c or as , o . . . .

3 I bi d v l v pp 1 1 2 1 1 9 1 22 ; v l i
. o pp 9 6 1 06
. . .
, , o . x . .
, .

4 “ R c d f th e P t vol i p 20 ; vol iii pp 5 3

e or s o as , . . . . . .
, 55 ; vol .

v. p 41 ; v l x p 5 3 t
. o . . . , e c .

5 I bi d vol vii pp 25 2. 7 45 e tc . . . , , , .
 R e l igi on f
o the Assyr i a n s an d B a bylon i a n s . 55

com e s an almost e xclus i ve obj e ct of worsh i p ; i t is

“
th e n that w e find such e xpr e ss i ons as : I suppl i
c a t e d t he k i ng o f gods t he lord o f lords i n Bor , ,
”1 “
s ip a t h e c i ty o f h i s loft i n e ss and O od
p , g ,

M erodach gr e at lord lord o f the hous e o f the gods

, , ,

l ight o f t he gods fath e r e v e n for thy h i gh honor

, , ,
”2
wh ich chan g e th not a t e mpl e have I bu i lt ,
.

In his ste llar characte r M e rodach r e pre s e nte d t he ,

plan e t Jup i te r w i th wh i ch he was suppos e d to hav e

,

a v e ry i nt i mate conn e cti on T he e i ghth month .

( M a r c hes va n
) was d e d i cat e d to h i m
3
In th e s e cond .

—
Elul he had thre e fe sti vals on t he th i rd, o n t he
4
s eve nth and on t he s i xt ee nth day
,
.

N e rgal , who pr e s id e d ove r t he plan e t Mars was ,

“
e ss e nti ally a war god H i s nam e s ign i fi e s
-
. t he
” “
great man or t he gr e at h e ro,
and his c o m 5

“ ” “
mon e st ti tl e s ar e t he m ighty h e ro t h e ki ng o f ,
” “ ” “
battl e ,
t he d e stroy e r t he champ i on o f t he ,
” “ ”
gods and the gr eat broth e r
,
H e goe s be fore .

t he k i ngs i n th e i r warl i k e e xp e d i t i ons and h e lps ,

th e m to confound and d e stroy th e ir e n e m i e s Nor .

i s h e abov e l e nd i ng th e m h i s ass i stanc e wh e n th ey

i ndulg e i n t he pl e asur e s o f t h e chas e O n e of his .

”6
t i tl e s i s t he god of hunt i ng and wh i l e or i g i nally ,

subord i nate d to N in i n th is r e lat i on ult i mate ly he ,

outstr ips his r i val and b e com e s the e sp e c ial patron

,

o f hunt e rs and sportsm e n Asshur ban i pal who .

- -

1 “ R e c or d s of t h e P ast , vol . v . p . 1 20 .
2 I bi d . p . 1 42 .

3 I bi d . vol . vi i . p . 169 .
4 I bi d . pp . 1 5 9 , 1 60 and 163 .

5 Sir R awl i n s on i n the A u th o H r s

’
ero d o t us , vol . i . p . 6 55 .

6
Si r H . R awlin son i n t h e A u th o s r
’ “
H ero d ot us ,
”
l . s . c .
56 The R el igi ons f
o the An c i ent Wor ld .

is consp i cuous among t h e Assyr i an k i ngs fo r hi s i n

te ns e lov e o f fi e ld S ports un i formly ascr i b es h is suc ,

c ess es to N e rgal and do es not e v e n j o i n w i th hi m

,

any oth e r d e i ty N e rgal s e mbl e m was th e human

.
’

h e ad e d and w i nge d l i on w h i ch i s usually s e e n as i t

, ,

we r e o n guard at t he e ntranc e o f t he royal palace s

,
.

N E R GA L .

1
Ishta r who was call e d Nana by th e Babylon i ans
, ,

co rr e spond e d both i n nam e and attr i bute s w i th t he

Astarte o f t he Ph oen i c ians and Syr i ans L i k e t he .

Gr ee k Aphrod ite and t he Lat i n V e nus she was t he ,

Qu ee n o f Lov e and B e auty t he godd e ss who pr e s i d e d ,

ov e r the lov es both o f m en and an i mals and whos e ,

1 “ R odec r s of th e P a st , vol . i ii . pp . 7, 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 3 1 4 , . e tc .
;
Vol . v pp 72
. .
, 8 3 , 1 0 2, et c .
 R eli g i on f
o the Assyr i a ns an d B a bylon i a n s . 57

o wn amours we re notor i ous In o n e o f t he Izdubar .

l eg ends s he courts that romant i c i nd i v i dual who

, ,

howe v e r d e cl i n e s her advance s r e m i nd i ng he r that

, ,

he r favour had always prov e d fatal to thos e p e rsons

1
o n whom s he had pr e v i ously b e stow e d he r a f fe cti ons .

T h e r e can b e l i ttl e doubt that i n Babylon at any ,

2
rate s he was w orsh i pp e d w ith unchaste r i te s and
, ,

that her cult was thus of a corrupti ng and d e bas i ng

characte r But b e s i d e s and b eyond th i s soft a n d
.

se nsual asp e ct I shtar had a furth e r and nobl e r o n e

,
.

S he corr e spond e d not to V e nus only but also to

, ,
“
B e llona ; b e i ng call e d the godd e ss o f war and
” “ ” “
battl e ,
t he qu e e n o f v i ctory s he w ho arrang e s ,
” ”
battl e s and she who d e fe nds from atta ck
,
“
T he .

Assyri an k i ngs v e ry ge n e rally un i te her w i th Asshur ,

i n t he accounts wh i ch th e y g i v e o f th e i r e xp e d iti ons ; 3

S p e ak i ng o f th e i r forc e s as thos e wh i ch A sshur and

Ishtar had comm i tte d to th e i r charg e o f th e i r battl e s

as fought i n t he s e rv i ce o f Asshur and Ishtar and
o f th e i r tr i umphs as t he r e sult o f Asshur and Ishtar

e xalt i ng th e m abov e th e i r e n e m i e s Ishtar had also .

som e g e n e ral t i tl e s o f a lofty but vagu e characte r ; S he

“ ” “ ”
was call ed the fortunate , the happy t he gr e at , ,
” “
godd e ss ,
the m i str e ss o f h e av e n and e arth and ,
“ ”
t he qu e e n o f all t he gods and godd e ss e s In her .

ste llar asp e ct S he pr e s i d e d ov e r t he plan e t V e nus ;

,

and t he s i xth month Elul was d e d i cate d to he r ,

4
,
.

Ne bo t he last of t he five plan e tary d e i tie s pr e s id ed

, ,
1 “
R d t h P s t v l i pp 1 25—1 28
e c or f ”
s o e a , o . x . . .

2 S ee H d i 1 9 9 ; f B u h vi 4 3 d St b xvi p 1 0 5 8
er o . . o ar c .
, an ra o, . . .

3 “
Re d s f t h P t v l i pp 6 9 —8 6 ; v l i ii p 4 5 e tc
c or o e as , o . . . o . . .
, .

4
I bi d v l vi i p 1 6 9
. o . . . .
58 T he R eli g i on s f
o the An ci en t Wor ld .

ov e r M e rcury It was hi s sp e c i al functi on to hav e

.

und e r h is charg e l e arn ing and k nowl e dg e H e i s .

“ ”l “
call e d t he god who poss e ss e s i nt e ll ig e nce he ,
” “ ” “
who h e ars from afar h e w ho t e ach e s and he , ,
”2
w ho t e ach e s and i nstructs T he tabl e ts o f t he .

“
royal l i brary at N i n e v e h a r e sai d to conta i n t he
”3 “
w i sdom o f N e bo H e i s also l i k e M e rcury
. t he , ,
”
m i n i ste r o f t he gods though scarce ly th e i r m e ss e n
,

e r an o ffice wh i ch b e longs to Paku At t h sam

g ,
e e .

ti m e as has o fte n b ee n r e mark e d N e bo has l ike

,
4
, ,

many oth e r o f t he Assyr i an and Babylon ian gods a ,

numb e r o f g e n e ral ti tl es i mply ing d i v i n e pow e r , ,

wh i ch i f th ey had b e long e d to hi m alon e would

, ,

hav e s ee m e d to prov e him t he supre m e d e i ty H e 18 .

“ ” “
t he lord o f lords w ho has no e qual i n powe r
,
t he ,
” “ ” “ ”
supre m e ch i ef t he susta i n e r
,
t he supporte r , ,
“ ” “
t he e v e r r e ady the guard i an o f h e av e n and
,
” “ ” “
e arth t he lord o f t he const e llat i ons
,
t he hold e r ,
” “
o f t he sc e ptr e o f pow e r he who grants to ki ngs ,

t he sc e ptr e o f royalty for t he gov e rnance o f th e i r

”
p e opl e It i s ch i efly by his om i ss i on from many
l i sts and by his humbl e place wh e n he i s m e nti on e d
,
5
,
“ ”
tog e th e r w i th t he r e ally gre at gods that w e a r e ,

assured o f his occupy i ng a ( comparati ve ly sp e aki ng)

low pos i ti on i n t he ge n eral panth eon .

1 “ R
d s of th P t vol v pp 1 1 3 1 22 e t c
ec or e as
,
. . .
, , .

2 “ i A
t Mo nc en hi s v l i p 1 77
n ar c e ,
”
o . . . .

3 R
d s of t h P t v l i p 5 8
e c or e as , o . . . .

Si H R w l i th e A u th o s H e d tu v l i p 6 61 ; “
’
4 r n i . a nso n r ro o s, o . . .

A i tM
n c en hi 1 o n ar c es,
”
. s . c .

5 N b p l c e v ie s c omm l y f m th fifth to t h e t hi t e th
e o s
’
a ar on ro e r e n ,
60 The R e l ig i ons f
o the An ci en t Wor ld .

w e ll kno wn d e iti e s No more n ee d b e sa i d o f th e s e

-
.

p e rsonag e s S i nc e t he g e n e ral characte r o f t he r e l ig i on

,

i s but l i ttl e a ffe cte d by t h e b e l i e f i n gods who play e d

so v e ry i ns ign i ficant a part i n t he syst e m .

T he Assyr i ans and Babylon i ans worsh i pp e d th e i r

gods i n shr i n e s or chap e ls o f no v e ry gre at S i z e to ,

wh i ch how e v e r was fr e qu ently attach e d a lofty

, ,

towe r bu i lt i n stage s wh i ch w e r e som e ti m e s as many

, ,
1
as s e ve n The tow e r could be asc e nd e d by st e ps o n
.

t he outs i d e and was usually crown e d by a small

,

chap e l T he gods w e r e re pr e s e nte d by i mag es wh i ch

.
,

w er e e ith e r o f ston e o r m e tal and wh i ch bor e the ,

human form e xce pti ng i n t w o i nstance s N i n and

,
.

N e rg a 1 w e re portray e d as t he J e w s p e rhaps por

0
, , ,

t raye d th e i r ch e rub i m by an i mal forms of gr e at s i z e ,

and grand e ur hav i ng human h e ads and huge o ut ,

?
str e tch e d w i ngs Th er e was noth i ng h i d e ou s or e v e n
grote squ e about t he r e pr e s entati ons o f t he Assyr ian
gods T he obj e ct a im e d at was to fill the sp ectator
.

w i th fee l i ngs of a w e and r e v e re nc e ; and the figur e s

h av e i n fact un i v e rsally an app e aranc e o f calm
, , ,

placi d str ength and maj esty , wh i ch i s most sol e mn

and i m pre ss i ve .

T he gods we r e worsh i pp ed as g e n e rally i n th e a n ,

c i e nt world , by pray e r pra i s e an d sacr i fic e Pray e r , ,

.

was o ffe re d both for on e s e lf and for oth ers T he .

“
S i nfuln e ss of s in was d eeply fe lt and t he D i v i n e ,
“
ange r d epre cate d w i th much e arn e stn e ss O ! my .

1 As at B or s i ppa ( Bi r s i N i mr o
- -
d) , Wher e a po r t i on o f e a c h s t a ge
r em ai n s .

2 E ek x
z . . 8 —22 .
 R eli gi on f
o the Assyr i a ns and B a bylon i a n s . 61

“
Lord says o n e suppl iant my s i ns are many my
, , ,

tre spass e s a r e gre at ; and t he wrath o f t he gods has

plagu ed m e w i th d i s e as e and s i ckn e ss a n d sorrow , , .

I fa i nte d but no o n e stretch e d forth his hand ; I

,

groan ed but no o n e dre w n igh I cr ie d aloud but

,
.
,

no o n e h e ard O Lord d o n o t Tho u a bandon thy

.
,

s ervant In th e wat e rs o f t he gre at storm do T hou

.
,

lay hold o f his hand The s i ns wh i ch he has c o m .

”1
m i t ted do T hou turn to r i ght e o u sn e ss
,
S p e c i al .

i nte rce ss i on was mad e fo r t he Assyr i an k i ngs T he .

“
gods w er e b esought to grant th e m l e ngth o f days ,

a stron g s word e xte nd e d y e ars o f glory pr e — ,

em i ,

n e n c e among monarchs and an e nlarg e m e nt o f t he ,

”2
bounds o f th e i r e mp i r e It i s thought that th e ir .

3
happ i n ess i n a future stat e w as also pray e d for .

Pra is e was e v e n mo re fre que nt than pray e r T he .

gods w e re addr ess e d und e r th e i r var i ous t i tl e s and ,

”
th ei r b en e fits to m ank i nd comm e morat ed O F i re ! .

4
w e r e ad o n on e tabl et Gr e at L ord who art e xalte d , ,

abov e all the e arth ! O ! nobl e son o f h e av e n e xalte d ,

abov e all t he e arth 0 Fi r e w i th thy br i ght flam e .

,
.

thou dost produce l i ght i n t he dark hous e ! Of all

th i ngs that can be nam e d thou dost create t he fabri c ; ,

o f bronz e and o f l e ad thou art t he m e lte r o f s i lv e r ,

and of gold thou art the r e fin e r ; o f

,
thou art
t he pur i fi e r Of t he w i ck e d man i n t he n ight ti m e
.
,
-
,

1 “ R e c o d of th e P s t v l i i i p 1 36
r s a ,
o . . . .

2
1 7 d p 1 33
n . . .

3 F ox T l b t i n th e T an sac ti on s of th e S
a o
“
r oc i e t y of B i bl ic al
A c l ogy v l i p 1 0 7
r h ae o
”
, o . . .

4 “
R c d s of t h e P t
e or v l i i i pp 1 3 7 1 38 as , o . . .
,
62 The R e li g i ons o
f the An c i en t Wor ld .

thou dost r ep e l th e assault ; but the man who s e rv e s

”
h is God thou w i lt g i ve h i m l ight for his act i ons
,
.

S acr i fic e almost always accompan i e d pray e r and

pra i s e Ev e ry day i n t he y e ar s e e ms to hav e b ee n
.

sacr e d to som e d e i ty o r d e itie s and som e sacr i fice o r ,

oth e r was o ffe r e d e v e ry day by t he monarch who 1

,

thus Se t an e xampl e to his subj e cts wh i ch w e may ,

b e sur e t hey w e r e n o t slow to follow T he pr i nc ipal

‘
.

sacri fic i al an i mals w e r e bulls ox e n sh e e p and g a , , ,

z ell e s ?
L i bati ons o f w i n e w er e also a part o f t he
3
r e cogn i s e d worsh i p and o ffe r i ngs m i ght be mad e o f ,

anyth i ng valuabl e .

It i s an i nte re sti ng qu e sti on how far t he Assyr i ans

and Babylon i ans e nte rtai n e d any confid e nt e xp e ct
ati on o f a futur e l ife and i f so what v i e w th ey took , , ,

of it That t he i d e a d id n o t occupy a prom i n e nt

.

place i n th e ir m i nds that th ere was a contrast i n th i s

r e sp e ct b etwe e n th e m and t he p e opl e o f Egypt i s ,

palpabl e from the v ery small numb er o f p assage s i n

wh i ch anyth i ng l i ke an allus i on to a future state o f
e x i st e nc e has b ee n d e te cte d S ti ll th er e c e rta inly .
,

s e e m to be p l ace s i n wh i ch t he conti nu ed e x i ste nc e o f

t he d e ad i s spok e n o f an d wh e r e t he happ i n e ss o f t he ,

good and t he wr e tch e dn e ss o f t he w i ck e d i n t he

future state a r e i nd i cated It has b ee n alr e ady .

noti ce d that i n o n e passage t he happ i n ess o f the k i ng

,

i n anoth e r world s e e ms to be pray e d for In two or .

1
S th e f g m e n t f
ee C l d p ub li h d i n t h e R ec d o f
ra o a a en ar s e or s

th P t vol vi i pp 1 5 9 —
”
e as ,
16 8 . . . .

2
I bi d pp 1 3 7 1 5 9
. d 16 1 ;
. A ci e t M
, , chi e
an vol
“
n n on ar s, 11.

p 27 1
. .

3 R e c o d o f th e P a s t
“
r v l i i i p 1 24 ; v l vn p 1 40
s , o ,
. . o . . . .
 R eli gi on f
o the Assyr i a n s and B a byloni a n s . 63

thr ee oth ers pray e r i s o ffe re d for a d eparti ng soul i n

,
“
t e rms l ike t he followi ng : May t he sun g i v e hi m
l i fe and M e rodach grant hi m an abod e o f hap
,
”1
i n ess or T o t h e sun t he gr e at e st o f t he gods
p , , , ,

may he ascend and may t he sun t he gr e ate st o f t he ,

”2
gods r e c e i v e hi s soul i nto his holy hands
,
T he
c
.

natur e of t he happ i n ess e njoye d m ay b e gath e r e d

from occas i onal noti ce s wh e r e t he soul i s r epre s ente d ,
3
as clad i n a wh i te rad i ant garm e nt as dwe ll i ng i n ,

t he pr e s e nce o f t he gods and as partak i ng o f c e l e st i al ,

food i n t he abod e o f bl ess edn ess On t he oth e r hand , .

Had e s the r eceptacl e o f t he w i ck e d afte r d eath i s

, ,
“ ”
S pok e n o f as t he abod e o f darkn e ss and fam i n e ,
“ ’
t he plac e wh er e earth i s m e n s food and th e i r ,

nouri shm e nt clay ; wh e re l i ght i s not s ee n but i n ,

darkn e ss th ey dwe ll wh e r e ghosts l i k e b i rds flutte r °

, ,

th e i r w i ngs and o n the door a n d t he doorposts t he

,
”4
dust l i e s und isturb e d D i ffe r e nt d egr ee s o f Si nful
.

n ess s ee m to m ee t wi th d iffe r e nt and appropri ate

pun i shm e nts Th er e i s o n e place— appare ntly a
.
,

—
p enal fir e r e s erve d fo r unfa i th ful w i v e s a nd b us
bands and for youths who hav e d i shonor e d th ei r
,

bod i es Thus i t would app e ar that M L en o rm an t

. .

was m i stak e n wh e n he sa i d that though t he A S , ,

syri ans r e cogn i s e d a plac e o f d eparte d sp i ri ts y et i t ,

1
T r a n s ac ti on s o f th e S oc i e t y of B i bl i c al A r c h ae ol o gy , vo l . 1 1.

p . 32 .

2 I bid . p . 31 .

3 “
R e c d s of th e Past
or , vol . ii i . p . 1 35 .

4 “
T an sac ti o s et c
r n , .
, vol . i . p . 113 .
64 The R e li gi ons o f the An c i en t Wor ld .

was o n e i n wh i ch th e r e was no trac e o f a d i stin o

”1
t ion o f r e wards and pun i shm e nts .

T he s u p e rst i ti ons of t he Assyr i ans and Babylon i ans

w e re num e rous and strang e T h ey b e l i e v e d i n charms .

2 3
o f var i ous k i nds ; i n om e ns i n astrology, i n sp e lls , ,

and i n a m i raculous pow e r i nh e r e nt i n an obj e ct

“
wh i ch th ey call e d the Mam i t ”
W hat t he Mam i t .

4
was i s qu i te unce rta i n Accord in g to t he nat i v e .

b e l i e f i t had d e sce nd e d from h e av e n and was a

, ,
“ “ ”
tr e asur e a ,
pri ce l e ss j e w e l i nfin i te ly mor e ,

valuabl e than anyth i ng e ls e upon t he e arth It .

was ord inar i ly k e pt i n a te mpl e but was som e ti m e s ,

bro ught to t h e b eds i d e o f a S i ck p e rson w i th t he ,

obj e ct o f d ri v i ng o u t t he e v i l S p i r i ts to whom his

d is ease was ow i ng and o f so r e cov e r ing hi m , .

Among t he sacr e d l e g e nds o f t he Babylon i ans and

Assyr i ans t he followi ng w er e t he m ost r e markabl e .

T h ey b e l i e v e d that at a r e mot e date b e fore t he cr e a ,

t i on of t he world th e r e had b ee n war i n h e av e n , .

S e v e n S p i r i ts cr e ate d by A n n to b e h is m e ss e n
,

g e rs took couns e l tog e th e r and r e solv e d to r e volt

,
.

Aga inst h i gh h e av e n t he dwe ll ing place o f An u ,

-

t he k i ng th ey plott e d e v i l
,
and un exp e cte dly mad e ,

1 “ Re c d or s of th e P a st , vol . i . p . 1 43 .

2
I bi d . vol . i ii . p . 1 42 .

3 A m o g th e
n A ssy
r e m a i n s of ri an an d B byl
a on ian l i t era t ur e ar e

t abl e s of o m e n s d i v e d f om d
er r r e am s , fr om bi r ths , f r om a n i n s pe c
t i on o f t h e h an d o of th
,
r e e n t r a il s o f a n i m al s , and f
ro m th e
j
ob e c ts a tra v el l e r m e ets wi th on hi s j ou r n e y D g
. o s al on e fu rn i sh

ei gh t e e n om e n s v pp 1 6 9
( I bi d , vol . . .

4
Se p p b y M F T l b t i n th e T
e a a er r . ox a o
“
ra n s a c t i on s o f th e
c i t y o f B i b l i c al A c h ae ol o g y v l ii pp 3 5
”
So e r , o . . .
-
42 .
 R e li g i on o
f the Assyr i a n s and B a bylon i a ns . 65

a fi e rce attack The moon the sun and Vul t he

.
, , ,

g o d o f t he atmosph e r e w i thstood th e m and aft er a

, ,
1
fear ful str uggl e b e at th e m o ff T h e r e w as th e n .

p e ace for a wh il e But once more at a late r date a

.
, ,

fr e sh r e volt bro k e o ut T he hosts o f h e av e n we r e .

asse mbl e d tog e th e r i n numb e r fi ve tho usand and , ,

w e re engage d i n s i ngi ng a psalm o f pra i s e to Anu ,

wh e n sudde nly d i scord arose W i th a loud cry o f .

conte mpt a porti on o f the ange l i c choi r brok e up

”
t he holy song utte r ing w i ck e d blasph e m i e s and
, ,
“
so spoi l i ng confus i ng confound i ng the hymn o f
, ,
”
pra is e . Asshur w a s ask e d to put h i ms e lf at th e i r
”2
h e ad but r e fus e d to go forth w i th th e m
,
Th e i r .

l e ad e r who i s u nna m e d took t he form of a dragon

, , ,

and i n that shap e conte nd e d w i th t he god B e l who ,

prove d v i ctor i ous i n t he combat and sl e w his ad ,

v e r s a ry by m e ans o f a thund e rbolt wh i ch he flung ,

?
i nto the cr e atur e s op e n mouth
’
Upon th is t he ,

e nt i r e host o f the w i c k e d ang e ls took to fl i ght and ,

was dri ve n to the abod e of the s e v e n Sp i ri ts of e v i l ,

wh e re th ey w e r e force d t o r e ma i n th e i r r e turn to ,

h e ave n b e i ng proh i b ite d In th e i r room man was .

?
cre ated
T he Chald ae an l e g e nd o f cr e at i on accord i ng to ,

B e rosus was as follows

,
“
I n t he b e g i nn i ng all was dar k n e ss and wate r ,

an d th e re i n we re ge n e rate d monstrous an i mals o f

1 “ R e c or d s of the P as t , v ol . v pp. . 1 6 3 1 66
-
.

2
I bi d . vol . vi i . pp 1 27 1 28
.
, .

3
I bi d . v ol . ix . pp 1 3 7—1 3 9
. .

4
I bi d . vol . vn . p 1 27
. .
66 T he R e li g i ons o f the A n c i ent Wor ld .

strange and p e cul i ar forms Th e re w e re m e n w i th .

two w i ngs and som e e v e n w i th four and w i th t w o

, ,
’
face s ; and oth e rs w i th two h eads a man S and a w o ,
’
man s o n o n e body ; and th er e w e r e m en w i th t he
,

h e ads and horns o f goats and m en w i th hoofs l i k e ,

hors e s ; and som e w i th t he u pp e r parts o f a man

j o i n e d to the lowe r parts o f a hors e l i k e ce ntaurs ,

and th e r e w e r e bulls w i th human he ads dogs w i th ,

’
four bod ie s and w i th fish e s ta i ls ; m e n and hors e s
w i th dogs h e ads ; cr e ature s w i th t he h e ads and
’

bod ie s o f hors e s but w ith t he ta i ls o f fish ;

,

and oth e r an i mals m i x ing t he forms o f vari ous

b easts Mor e ov e r th e re w e r e monstro u s fish e s and
.
,

re pt i l e s and s e rp e nts and d iv e rs oth e r cr e atur e s

, ,
’
wh i ch had borrow e d som e th i ng fro m e ach oth e r s
S hap e s o f all wh i ch t he l i k e n e ss e s a r e st i ll pr e s e rv e d
,

i n t he t e mpl e o f B e lus A woman rul e d th e m all

.
,

by nam e O m o r ka wh i ch i s i n Ch ald ee T halath and

, ,

i n Gr ee k T halassa ( or t he T h e n B e lus ap
‘

e ar e d and S pl i t th e woman i n twa i n ; and o f t he

p ,

o n e half o f h e r he mad e the h e av e n and of t he oth e r ,

half t he e arth ; and t he b easts that w e r e i n he r he

caus e d to p e ri sh And he S pl i t t he darkn e ss and d i
.
,

v i d e d t h e h e av e n and t h e e arth asund e r and put t he ,

world i n ord e r and t he an i mals th at could n o t b e ar

,

t he l i ght p e r i sh e d B elus u pon th i s s e e ing that t he

.
, ,

e arth w as d e solat e e t t ee m i ng w i th product i v e o w

y , p
e r s command e d o n e o f t h e gods to cut o f
,
f h is h e ad ,

and to m i x t he blood wh ich fl owe d forth w i th e arth ,

and form m e n th e r e w i th and b e asts that could b e ar ,

t he l i ght S o man was mad e and was i nte ll i ge nt

.
, ,
68 T he R e li g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

dw ell i ngs Of Bel and H e a ; and he Op e n e d gre at

gate s o n all s i d e s mak i ng strong t he portals o n t he,

l e ft and o n t he r ight Mor e ov e r i n t he ce ntre he .

,

place d lum i nar i e s T he moon h e s et o n h i gh to c i r

.

c l e through t he n i ght and mad e i t wand e r all t he ,

n ig ht unti l t he dawn i n g O f t he day Each month .

w i thout fa i l i t brought tog e th e r fe stal ass e mbl i e s i n

t he b e g i nn i ng O f t he month at th e r i s i ng O f t he ,

n i ght shooti ng forth i ts horns to i llum i nate t he

,

h e av e ns and o n th e s e v enth day a holy day appo i nt

,

i n g and command i ng o n that day a c e ssati on from

,

all bus i n e ss And he (Anu) s e t t he sun i n his place

.

”I
i n t h e hor i zon O f h e av e n .

T he follow i ng i s t h e Chald aean account O f t he

D e luge as r e nd e r e d from t he or ig inal by the late
,
2
hI r G e org e S m i th :
.

“
H e a spak e to m e and sa i d S o n Of U ba rat u tu ,

mak e a sh i p afte r th i s fash i on fo r I d e stroy

t h e s i nn e rs and l i fe and cause to e nte r i n all
t he s ee d Of l i fe that thou may e st pr e s e rv e th e m
, .

T he sh i p wh i ch thou shalt mak e cub its shall ,

b e t he m e asur e Of t he l e ngth th e r e of and ,

cub i ts th e m e asure O f t he bre adth and h e ight the 1 e of;

and i nto t he d ee p thou shalt launch i t ’
I und e r .

stood and sa i d to H e a my Lord H ea my Lord

, , , ,

th i s wh i ch Thou command e st m e I w i ll p e rform ,

1 “ Re d s of the P s t v l i pp 1 1 7—1 1 8
c or a , o . x . . .

M S m i th p p e d on D e c 3 1 8 72 w fi s t p ubli h e d
’
2 r s a r , r ea
. .
, , as r s

in th e T “
ti f t h S oc i t y o f B i b li c l A h
r an s a c on s o l gy e e a rc ae o o ,
”

in 1 8 74 It w . ft w d vi d a d p b l i h d i t h e
as a er ar s re se n re u s e n

R d f t h P s t v l i i pp 1 35 —1 4 1 Th e t an sl ati on i s
,

“ ”
e c or s o e a , o . x . . . r

t ak n m i l y f m t h i s s e c o d v
e a n i
ro n e r s on .
 R eli gi on f
o the Assyr i a n s and B a bylon i a n s . 69

e d e r i d e d] both by young and Old i

[ though I b t ,

shall be don e H ea Op e n e d hi s mouth and spak e—l

.
’
,

T h i s shalt thou say to th e m ( h i atus Of si x

‘

l i n e s) and e nte r thou i nto the sh i p and shut ,

t o t he door ; and br i ng i nto t he m i dst O f i t thy gra i n ,

and thy furn i tur e and thy good s thy w e alth thy
, , ,

s e rvants thy fe mal e slav e s and thy young m e n

,
.

And I w i ll gath e r to th ee t he b e asts Of the fi e ld and ,

t he an i mals and I w i ll br i ng th e m to th ee ; and

,
.

’
th ey shall b e e nclos e d w i th i n thy door H as i s a dra .

hi s mouth op e n e d and spak e and sa i d to H ea hi s , ,

Lord—J T h e r e was not upon the e arth a man who

could mak e the S h i p strong [planks] I
brought o n t h e fifth day i n i t s ci rcu i t
fourtee n m e asur e s [i t m e asure d] ; i n i ts s i d e s fourt ee n
m e asure s it m e asur e d and upon i t I place d i ts
roof and clos ed [t he door] On t he s i xth day I e m .

bark e d i n i t : o n t he s e v e nth I e xam i n e d it w i thout

On the e ighth I e xam i n e d i t w i th i n ; planks aga i nst
t he i nflux Of t he wat e rs I place d : wh e r e I saw r e nts
and hol e s I add ed what was r e qu i r e d T hr ee m e as
,
.

ure s o f b i tum e n I poure d ov e r t he outs i d e : three

m easure s Of b itum e n I pour e d ov e r t he i ns id e
( fi v e l i n e s Obscur e and mut i lat e d
) W i n e i n

re ceptacl e s I coll e cte d l ike the wate rs O f a r i v e r ;

,

also [food] l i k e the dust O f the e arth I coll e cte d i n

, ,

box e s [and stor e d up ] An d Shamas the mate r i al Of

.

t he sh i p compl e t e d [and mad e i t] strong And t he .

r ee d c ars of the S h i p I caus e d th e m to bri ng [an d

place] abov e and b e lo w A l l I posse ss e d O f
.

s i lv e r all I poss ess e d O f gold , all I poss ess e d O f t he

,
70 The R e li gi ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

s ee d O I caus ed to asce nd i nto t he sh ip All

f l i fe , .

m y mal e s e rvants all my fe mal e s e rvants all t he

, ,

b e asts O f t he fi e ld all t he an i mals all t he sons O f the

, ,

p e opl e I caus e d to go up A flood S hamas mad e

,
.
,

and thus he spak e i n t he n i ght : I w i ll caus e it to ‘

ra i n from h e av e n h e av i ly Ente r i nto t he m i dst O f

.

t he sh i p and S hut thy door

,
.

T he command O f S hamas i s ob ey e d a n d th e n ,

T he rag i n g O f a storm i n t h e morn i ng aros e from ,

t he hor i zon O f h e av e n e xt e nd i ng far and w i d e Vul .

i n t he m i dst Of i t thund e r e d : N e bo and S aru w e nt

i n front : t he thron e b e ar e rs sp e d ov e r mounta i ns
-

and pla i ns : t he d e stroy e r N e rgal ov e rturn ed : N i n i p

, ,

w e nt i n front and cast down : the sp i ri ts spr e ad

abroad d e structi on : i n th e i r fury th ey sw e pt t he
e arth : t h e flO O d Of Vul r e ach e d to h e av e n T he .

’
bri ght e arth to a waste was turn e d : t he storm O er
i ts sur fac e sw e pt : from the face Of t h e e arth was l i fe
d e stroy e d : the strong flood that had wh e lm e d man
k i nd r e ach e d to h e av e n : broth e r saw not broth e r ;
t he flood d id n o t spar e t he p e opl e Eve n i n h e av e n .

t he gods fe ar e d the t e mp e st and sought r e fug e i n ,

t he abod e o f A n n L i k e dogs t he gods crouch ed

.

down and cow er e d tog e th e r S pak e Ishtar l ik e a

,
.
,

i —
ch ld u tte r e d t he gr e at godd e ss he r sp ee ch : W h e n ‘

t he world to corrupt i on turn ed th e n I i n t he pr e s ,

e nc e Of t h e gods proph e s i e d e v i l W h e n I i n t he .

pre s e nce O f the gods proph e s i e d e v i l th e n to e vi l ,

w e r e d e vote d all my ch i ldr e n I t h e moth e r hav e .

, ,

g i v e n b i rth t o m y p e opl e and 10 ! now l i ke t he,

’
young Of fish e s th ey fill the s e a T he gods w e r e .
 R e li g i on f
o the A ssyr i a ns a nd B a bylon i a n s . 71

w eep i ng for t he S p i ri ts w i th he r ; th e gods i n th ei r

se ats w e r e s i tti ng i n lam e ntati on cov e r e d w e r e th e i r
l i ps on account O f t he com i ng e v i l S ix days and .

n i ghts pass e d ; t h e w i nd t h e flood t h e storm ov e r

, ,

wh e lm e d On t he s e v e nth day i n i ts cours e was

.
,

calm ed t he storm ; and all the t e mp est wh i ch had ,

d e stroye d l i k e an e arthquak e w as qu i e te d T he ,
.

flood H e cause d to dry ; t he w i nd and t he d e luge

e nd e d I b e h e ld t he toss i ng Of t he s ea and man
.
,

k ind all turn e d to corrupt i on ; l i k e r e e ds t he corps e s

floate d I Op e n e d t he w i ndo w and t he l ight broke
.
,

ov e r my face It pass e d I sat down and w e pt ;

. .

ov e r my face flow e d my te ars I saw the shor e at .

t he e dg e Of t h e s ea ; for tw e lv e m e asur e s t he land

ros e T O t h e country of N i z i r w e nt t he sh ip : t he
.

mounta i n Of N i z i r stopp e d the sh ip : to pass ov e r i t

was not abl e T he first day and t he s e cond day the
.

mounta i n Of N i z i r the sam e ; t he th i rd day and the

,

fourth day t he mounta i n Of N i z i r t he sam e ; t he ,

fifth and s i xth the mounta i n Of N i z i r the sam e ; i n ,

t he cours e of t he s e v e nth day I s e nt o ut a dov e and ,

i t l e ft The dov e w e nt to and fro and a r e sti ng

.
,

place i t d id not find and i t r e turn e d I s e nt forth

, .

a s wallow and i t l e ft t he swallo w w e nt to and fro

, ,

and a r e sti ng place i t d i d n o t find and i t r e turn e d

-

, .

I s e nt forth a rav e n and it l e ft ; t he rav e n w e nt and

, ,

t he corps e s o n t he wat e rs i t saw and i t d id e a t : i t

,

swam and wand e r e d away and r e turn e d not I

, , .

s e nt the an i mals forth to the four w i nds : I poure d

o ut a l i bat i on : I bu i lt an altar o n t he p e ak Of t he

mounta i n : s e ve n j ugs of w i n e I took ; at t he bottom

72 The R eli g i on s o
f the A n ci ent Wor ld .

I place d r ee ds p i n e s and sp i ce s T he gods coll e cte d

, ,
.

to t he burn ing : t he gods coll e ct e d to t he good burn

ing .L i k e s nmpe ( ) ov e r t he sa cr i fice th ey gath
2

e r ed .

O n e mor e e xampl e must conclud e o ur sp e c i m ens

O f t he l e g e nds curr e nt among t he Assyr i ans and

Bab y lon ians i n anci ent t i m e s As the pr e c ed i ng .

passage is myth bas e d upon h i story the conclud i ng ,

O n e shall be tak e n from that port i on O f Assyr i an lor e

wh i ch is pure ly and wholly i maginati v e T he .

d e sce nt o f Ishtar to Had e s p erhaps i n s ear ch of ,

Tammuz i s r e late d as follows ,

1

T O t he land O f Had e s t he land O f her d e s i re , ,

Ishtar daughte r Of the Moon —good S i n turn ed her

, ,

m ind T he daughte r O f Si n fix e d her m i nd to go t o

.

t he Hous e wh e r e all m e e t t he dwe ll i ng o f t he god ,

I s ka lla to t he hous e wh i ch m e n e nte r but cannot

, ,

—
d e part from the road wh i ch m en trav e l but n e ve r ,

e —
r trace t he abod e o f darkn ess and O f fam i n e wh e re ,

ea rth i s th e i r food th ei r nouri shm e nt clay— wh e re

,

l ight i s not se en but i n darkn e ss th ey d we ll wh e re

,
-

ghosts l i k e b i rds fl utte r th e i r w i ngs and O n t he

, , ,

door and the door posts the dust l i e s und isturb ed -

.

“
W h e n Ishtar arr i v e d at t he gate Of Had e s to ,

t he k e e p e r O f t he gat e a word s he spak e : O k e e p e r

Of the e n trance Op e n thy gate ! Op e n thy gate I
, ,

say aga i n that I may e nte r in ! If thou Op e n est

,

1 Th e t ra n sl at i on of T
M r F ox
. a l b o t , asgi v en i th e T a sac n r n

c i t y f B i bl i c l A l gy v l i ii pp 1 1 9 —1 24
”
t i on s O f th e S o e o a r c h ae o o , o . . . ,

and a g ai n in Re c o d s o f th e P
r as t ,
”
v l i pp 1 4 3 —1 4 9 i s h e e
o . . . ,
r

f ll
o owe d .
 R e li gi on .
o
f the Assyr i a n s a nd B a bylon i a n s . 73

n ot thy gate i f I do not e nt e r i n I wi ll assault t he

, ,

door t he gate I wi ll br e ak down I wi ll attack the

, ,

e ntrance I w i ll spl i t Op e n t he portals

,
I w i ll ra is e .

t he d e ad to b e the d e vour e rs o f t he l i v i ng !
,
Upon
’
t he l i v i ng the d e ad S hall pr e y Th e n t he porte r .

Op e n e d his mouth and spak e and thus he sai d to , ”

great Ishta r : S tay lady do not shak e down t he ‘

, ,

door I w i ll g o and i nform Qu ee n N i n ki gal SO - -

.
’

t he porte r w en t i n and to N i n k i gal sa i d : T hese - -

curse s thy s i ste r Ishtar utte rs ; ye a she blasph e m e s ,

’
th e e w ith fea rful curs es And N i n ki gal h ear i ng .
- -

t he words gr e w pal e l i k e a flow e r wh e n cut from

, ,

t he st e m ; l i k e t he stalk Of a r e e d s he shook And ,

.

s h e sa d
i i
I w ll cur
,
e h e r —
rage I w i ll sp ee d i ly cur e
her fury H e r curs e s I w i ll re pay
. L ight up con .

sum in
g flam es ! L i ght up a blaz e Of straw ! B e

her doom w i th the husbands who l e ft th e i r w i ve s ;

be her doom w ith t he w i v e s who forsook th ei r lords ;
b e he r doo m w i th t he youths O f d is honor ed l i v e s .

GO porte r an d op e n t he gate for he r ; but str i p he r

, , ,
’
as som e have bee n stri pp ed e re n o w The porte r .

w e nt and Op e n e d t he gate Lady Of T ig gab a e u .

‘
,
’
t e r he sa id : Ente r It i s p e rm i tted T he Qu e e n
‘
. .
,
’
Of Had e s to m e e t thee come s S O t he first gat e l e t .

he r i n but s he was stopp ed and th e re the gr e at

, ,

crown was tak e n from he r h ead K ee p er do not .

‘
,

tak e O ff from m e t he crown that is on my h e ad .

’

Excus e i t lady t he Qu ee n Of t he Land i ns is ts upon

, ,

i ts r e moval T he n e xt gat e l e t he r i n but s he was

’
.
,

stopp ed and th e re t he e ar r i ngs w e r e tak e n from her

,
-

e ars . K ee p e r do not tak e O ff from m e t he ea r

‘
,
74 The R e li g i on s f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

’
ri ngs from my e ars Excus e i t lady the Qu ee n .
‘
, ,
’
Of t he Land i ns i sts upon th e i r r e moval T he th i rd .

gate l et her i n but s he was stopp e d and th e re t he

, ,

pr ec i ous ston e s w e r e tak e n from he r h ead K e ep e r .

,

do n o t tak e O ff from m e the g e ms that adorn my

h e ad .
‘’
Excus e i t lady t he Qu ee n Of the Land , ,
’
i ns i sts upon th e i r r e moval T he fourth gate l e t her .

i n but S he was stopp e d and th e r e th e small j e we ls

, ,

w e re tak e n from h er brow K e e p e r do not tak e .

,

Of f from m e t he small j e w e l s that d e ck my brow ’

.

Excus e i t lady t he Qu ee n Of t he Land i ns ists upon

, ,

th e i r r e moval ’
T he fifth gate l e t h e r i n but s he
.
,

was stopp e d and th e r e t he g i rdl e was tak e n from

,

he r wa i st K e e p e r do n ot tak e O ff from m e t he
.
‘
,

g i rdl e that g i rds my wa i st Excus e i t lady t he .

’
, ,
’
Qu ee n O f t he Land i ns i sts upon i ts r e moval T he .

s i xth gate l e t her i n but s he was stopp e d and th e re , ,

t he gold r i ngs w e r e tak e n from he r hands an d fe e t .

K e ep e r do not tak e O ff fro m m e t he gold r i ngs Of

,
’
my hands and fe e t Excus e i t lady t he Qu ee n O f
.
, ,
’
t h e Land i ns i sts u pon th e i r r e moval T he s e v e nth .

gate l et he r i n but S he was stopp e d and th e r e t he

, ,

last garm e nt was tak e n from he r body K ee p e r .

‘
,

do not ta ke O ff, I pray t he last garm e nt from my ,

’
body . Excus e i t lady the Qu e e n Of the Land
‘
, ,
’
i ns i sts upon i ts r e moval .

“
A fte r that Moth e r Ishtar had d e sce nd e d i nto
Had e s N i h ki gal s a w and d e r i d e d he r to her
,
- -

face Th e n Ishtar lost he r r e ason and h eap e d curs e s

.
,

upon the oth e r N i n ki — gal h e re upon op e n e d he r

.
-

mouth and spak e ,

GO Namtar and br ing
° ‘
, ,
76 The R e li g i on s f
o the An ci en t Wo r ld .

Ni h ki gal op e n e d he r mouth and spak e ; to her

- -

m e ss e nge r Namtar commands s he gav e GO N a m

, , ,

ta r the T e mpl e Of Just i ce adorn ! D e ck t he i mag e s !

,

D e ck t he altars ! Bri ng o ut A n un n ak and l et hi m ,

ta k e his s eat o n a thron e O f gold ! Pour out for

Ishtar t he wate r O f l ife ; from m y r ealms l et he r
d epart .
’
Namta r ob ey ed ; he ad orn ed the Te mpl e ;
d e ck e d the i mag e s d e ck e d t he alta rs ; brought o ut
,

A n un nak and l et hi m ta k e his se at on a thron e o f

,

gold ; poure d ou t for I shta r t he wate r O f l i fe and ,

suffe re d he r to d e part Th en t he first gate le t he r

.

ou t ,
a nd gav e her back t he garm e nt o f he r form .

The n e xt gate l et he r o ut and gav e he r back t he

,

j e we ls fo r her han ds and fee t T he th i rd gate l e t.

he r o ut and gav e her b a ck t he g i rdl e for he r wa i st

, .

The fourth gate l et he r o ut , and gav e he r back the

s mall g e ms s he had worn upon he r bro w T he fi fth .

gate let her o ut a nd gave her b ack the pr e ci ous

,

s to n e s that ha d be e n upon he r h ead The s i xth gate

.

l e t he r ou t and gav e he r back t he ea r r ings that

,
-

w ere take n from her e ars A n d t he s e v e nth gate

.

l e t he r o u t and gave he r back the crown s he had

,

”
c arr i e d on he r h e ad .

SO e nd s th i s cur i ous l e g en d and w i th it the l i m its

,

o f O u r spac e r e q u i r e t hat w e should te rm i nate th i s

not i ce of t he re l ig i on O f the Assyr i ans and Baby

lon ians .
 CHAPTE R III:

TH E RE L IGIO N OF TH E AN C IE N T IR AN IA N S .

"
Apt o r o r éhng gt no i di m Ka l ( 1 5 i
’
i ‘ -
1 o l y r va l ( i pxag, dya flbv da i/i ova
m a in: da iyova .
—
D I O G L aer t P r oem, . . p . 2 .

HE Iran i ans w e re i n ancie nt t i m e s the dom i nant

race throughout the e nt i re tract lyi ng b e twe e n
t he S ul i man mounta i ns and t he Pam i r ste pp e o n t he
o ne hand and t h e gr e at M e sopotam i an vall ey o n the
,

oth e r Inte rm i x e d i n porti ons O f t he tract w i th a

.

Cush i te o r N i gri ti c and i n oth ers w ith a Turan i an ,

e l e m e nt th e y poss e ss e d n e v e rth e l e ss upon t he whol e

, , , ,

a d e ci d e d pr e pond erance and t he tract i ts e l f has

“ ”
b ee n known as Ar i ana o r Iran at any rate , ,

from t he ti m e Of Al e xand e r the Gre at to t he pre s e nt

1
day ! The r e g i on i s o n e i n wh i ch e xtre m e s a re
brought i nto sharp contrast and force d o n human ,

obs e rvat i on t he summ e rs b e i ng i nte ns e ly hot and t he

, ,

w i nte rs p i e rc i ngly cold t he more favour e d port i ons ,

luxuri an t ly fe rti l e t he r e ma i nd e r an ar i d and fr ight

,

ful d es e rt If as s e e ms to be now ge n e rally th ought

.
,

1
S tr ab o , w h o i s th e e a r li e s t O f ex ta nt w r it x
s to
i
us e
“
A ri ana

i n t hi s b r o a d se e p ns , r ob a bl y ob t a n e i d th e te r m f om
r th e c on t e m

of Al x d y us e d '

po r ar i e s e an er . I t wa s c e r ta i n l by ApO l l o d o r u s O f
Ar te n nt a ( ab . B . C .
78 The R e li g i ons f
o the An c i en t Wor ld .

1
by t he b e st i nform e d and d eep e st i nv e st igators t he ,

l ight o f pr i m e val r e lati on v e ry e arly fad e d a w ay i n

As i a and r e l ig i ons th e r e w e r e i n t he ma i n e laborate d
,

o ut Of t he work i ng upon t he c i rcumstanc e s Of h i s e n

“
v ir o n m e n t O f that r e l i g i ous faculty wh er ew i th
,

Go d had e ndow e d mank in d w e m ight e xp e ct that i n ,

th i s p e cul i ar r eg i on a p e cul i ar r e l i g i on should d e v e lop

—
i ts e lf a r e l i g i on O f strong anti th e s e s and sharp con
t r a s ts unl i k e that O f such homog e n e ous tracts as t he
,

N i l e vall ey and t he M e sopotam i an pla i n wh e r e c l i ,

mate was almost un i form and a monotonous fe rt i l i ty ,

S pr e ad around un i v e rsal abundanc e The fact a n .

s w e rs to o u r natural anti c i pat i on At a t i m e wh i ch .

i t i s d i fficult to dat e but wh i ch thos e b e st sk i ll e d i n ,

Iran i an anti qu i t i e s ar e i ncl i n e d to place b e for e the

b i r th Of Mos e s th e r e gre w up i n the r eg i on wh e re o f
2
, ,

w e a r e sp eak i ng a form O f r e l i g i on mark e d by v e ry

,

sp e c i al and unusual fe ature s v e ry unl i k e the r el i g i ons ,

o f Egypt and Assyr i a a th i ng qu i t e s a i g en er i s o n e , ,

v ery worthy Of t he atte nti on o f thos e who a re i nte r

e s t e d i n t he past h i story O f t he human rac e and ,

mor e e sp e ci ally O f such as w i sh to study t he h i story

O f r e l i g i ons .

Anc i e nt trad i ti on associ ates th i s r e l ig i on w i th the

nam e Of Zoroaste r Zoroaste r o r Z arat hrust ra a o .
, ,
3 4
cord i ng to the nati v e sp e ll i ng was by o n e account , , ,

a M e d i an k i ng who conqu e r e d Babylon about B C . .

1
Se M e M llax I t o d c t i t t h e S c i e n c e O f R el i g i o n
u er , n r u on o ,

L t 1 pp 4 0 4 1
e c ur e . .
, .

2
H g E y n th R l i gi o t c o f th P s e e p 25 5
au ,
“
ss a s o e e n, e . ,
e ar s
,
. .

”
3 See Z e n d a ve s t a , p a ss i m .

4
Be r os u s a p Sy n c ell
.
“
C h r on og r a phi a , . p . 147 .
 The R eli g i on o
f the An c i e n t I r a n i a n s . 79

24 5 8 By anoth e r wh i ch i s mor e probabl e and

.
, ,

wh i ch r e sts mor e ov e r o n b e tte r author i ty he was a

, , ,

B ac t ri a n who at a date not qu i te so r e mote cam e

l
, , ,

for w ard i n t he broad pla i n Of t he m i ddl e Oxus to

i nsti l i nto t he m i nds of hi s countrym e n t he doctr i n e s
and pr e cepts Of a n ew r e l ig i on Cla i m i ng d i vi n e ih .

S p i rat i on and profe ss i ng to hold ffo m t i m e to t i m e

,

d i re ct conv e rsati on w i th t he S upr e m e B e i ng he d e l i v ,

e r e d hi s r e v e lat i ons i n a myth i cal form and Obta i n e d ,

th e i r ge n eral acce ptance as d i vi n e by t he Bactr i an

p e opl e H is r el i g i on gradually Spr ead from happy
.

” ”2
Bactra Bactra Of the lofty bann e r
,
first to t he ,

n e ighbouri ng countr i es and th e n to all t he num e rous ,

tr i b e s Of t he Iran i ans unti l at last i t b e cam e t he es ,

t ab l i s he d r e l i g i on O f t he m i ghty e mp i r e o f P e rs i a ,

wh i ch i n t he m iddl e O f the s i xth ce ntury b e for e o u r

,

e r a e stabl i sh e d i ts e l f on t he ru i ns o f t h e Assyr i an and

,

Babylon ian k i ngdoms,and shortly afte rwards ov e rran

and subdu e d the anci e nt monarchy Of t he Pharaohs .

In Pe rs i a i t ma i nta i n e d i t s ground d e sp i te the shock s ,

O f Gr e c i an and Parth i an conqu e st unt i l M o h a m m e ,

dan i ntol e rance drov e i t o ut at the poi nt Of t he sword ,

and force d i t to s e e k a r e fuge furth er e ast i n t he ,

p e n i nsula O f H i ndustan H e r e i t sti ll cont i nu es i n .

,

Guz e rat a nd i n Bombay t he cre e d Of that i nge n i ous ,

and i nte ll i ge nt p e opl e known to Anglo Ind i ans —and -

‘

may w e n o t say to Engl i shm e n g en e rally — as Par

s ee s .

1 H e r m i pp . ap . Ar n ob .
“
Adv G e nt e
. s, i . 52 ; J u s ti n ,
i . 1;
Am m .M xx i i i 6 ; M
ar c . os e s C h or c n .
“
H is t . A rm en .
”
i 5 . .

2 “
V n di d d Fa g i i
e a ,
”
r . . 8 . 7 .
80 T he R eligi ons o
f the An ci en t Wor ld .

T her e l ig i on Of t he Pars e e s is conta i n e d i n a vol

u m e Of som e s i z e wh i ch has r e c e i v e d t he nam e Of ,
”1
the Z e n da vest a S ubj e cte d fo r t he last fifty y e ars
.

to the s earch i ng analys i s Of firs t rate or i e ntal ists -

B ur n o uf W e ste rgaard Brockhaus S p i e g e l Haug

, , , , ,

W i d sch a ,
n i m n n H ii b s c h m a n n — th i s work has b ee n
found to b e long i n i ts var i ous parts to v e ry d i ffe r e nt
2
date s and to adm i t O f b e i ng SO d iss e cte d as to r e v e al
,

to us not Only what are the t en e ts Of t he mod e rn

,

Pars ee s but what was t he e arl i e st form Of that r e l i

,

g i on wh er e of th e i rs i s t he r e mote and d e ge n e ra te de
s c e n da n t S i gns o f a gr e at ant i qu i ty a r e found
.

to attach to the language O f certa i n rhythm i cal

compos i ti ons call e d Gathas or hymns ; and t he
,

r e l ig i ous i d e as conta i n e d i n th e s e a re fo und to be at

once harmon i ous and also o f a s i mpl e r and mor e ,

pr i m i ti ve characte r than thos e contai n e d i n t he r est

Of t he volum e From the Gathas ch ie fly but als o to .
,

som e e xte nt from oth e r appar e n tly v e ry an c i e nt por , ,

t i ons Of t he Z e n dav es ta t he characte r i sti cs Of t he ,

e arly Iran i an r e l i g i on hav e b ee n drawn o u t by var i

o us scholars part i cularly by Dr Mart i n Haug ; and

, .

i t i s from t he labours Of th e s e wr it e rs i n t he ma i n , ,

1 An q u e t i l D d u c e d th e s a c e d b o k o f t h e P a e e s
u pe rr o n i n tr o r o rs

t th k
o ewl dg no f Eu p e u de O t hi s n m ; a d t h w o d
ro e an s n er a e n e r

thu i t o d uc d c
s n r sc c el y b e
e n o w d i s pl
an d O th w i e
ar ac e . er s
“
Av t Z d m i gh t b e c om m n d d s t h m e p p t i tl
es a -
en
”
re e e a e or ro er e .

Av s t e m ns a te xt a d
ea Z nd me s mm
,
”
t n e an
“
co en .

Av e t u Z e d T x t a d C m m e t i s t h p p e t i tl
” “
s a o n ,
r e n o n e ro r e,

wh i h i s t h e c on t a c t e d i n to
c n Av e t Z e n d
r
“
s a- .

H2
g E
an s y ,
pp“
1 3 6
s a s,
”
—1 3 8 ; M a x M ull e I n tro d u ti on
. r,
“
c

t t h e S c i n c e o f R e l i g i on
o e pp 26 —29 ,
. .
 The R el ig i on f
o the A n c i ent I ra n i a ns . 81

that w e shall be conte nt to draw o ur p i cture O f t he

r e l ig i on i n qu esti on .

T he most str i k i ng fe ature o f t he re l ig i on and that ,

wh i ch is ge n e rally allow e d to b eats l e ad i ng characte r

i s ti c is t he ass e rt i on of D ual i sm
,
B y Dual i sm w e .

m e an t he b e l ie f i n t w o or i gi nal uncr e ate d pr i nc ipl e s ,

a pr inci pl e Of good and a pri nc i pl e O f e v i l T h i s .

cr ee d was not p e rhaps conta i n e d i n t he t each ing o f

1
Zoroaste r h i ms e lf but i t was d e v e lop e d at so early 3
,
.

date o ut o f that te ach i ng that i n tr e ati ng g e n e rally

2
,

Of the Iran i an r e l ig i on w e must n ece ssar i ly r e gard

D ual is m as a part O f i t T he Iran i ans o f h i stori c .

ti m e s h e ld that fro m all e te rn ity th e r e had e x iste d

t wo m i ghty and r i val b ei ngs t he authors o f all oth e r ,

e x i st e nc e s who had b ee n e ngag e d i n a p e rp e tual con

,

t est e ach s ee k i ng to i nj ure baffl e and i n e v e ry w ay

, , ,

annoy and thwart the oth e r Both pr i nci pl e s we r e .

r e al p e rsons poss ess ed Of w i ll i nte ll ige nc e powe r,

, , ,

consc i ousn e ss and oth er p ersonal qual it i es To t he

,
.

o n e th ey gav e t he nam e Of Ahura Mazda to th e oth e r -

that O f A ng rO M a i nyus -
.

H e r e l et us paus e for a mom ent and c ons i dgl the ,

‘

i mport o f th e s e two nam e s Nam e s Of d e i tie s as .

,

Professor Max M ulle r has w e ll po i nte d o u t a r e 3

,

among t he most i nte re sti ng o f stud ie s and a prop e r

und e rstand i ng o f th e i r m e an ing throws fre qu e ntly
1
S e t h A u th A ie t M ”
v ol i ii pp 1 0 4 1 0 5
“
’
e e hior s nc n o n ar c es , . . . . .

2 Th e S d F g d f t h V d i d d whi h f m i t
e c on ar ar O e l en a ,
c ro n er na

e vi d en
c m y be p
e u c d e
a li th C 8 00 i s a s t
r on o n e gl y
ar er an B . . , s r on

D u l i ti
a s y th
‘

c as an p ti f th e v l m o er or on o o u e.
3 “
I d u ti n to t h e S c i c e of R el i g i o
t n ro c o
”
L e c tu e 1 1 1 pp
en n, r . .

171 et s e gq .

6
82 T he R e li g i on s o f the An ci en t Wor ld .

ve ry cons i d e rabl e l i ght o n t he nature and characte r

o f a r e l i g i on
—
Now A hura Mazda i s a word com ,
.

“ ” “ ” “ ”
pos e d o f thr ee e l e m e nts : A hura maz da , ,
.

T h e first Of th es e i s prop e rly an adj e ct i v e s ign i fy i ng , ,

”
l i v i ng i t corr e sponds to asura i n Sansk r i t and ,

l i k e that pass e s from an adj e cti val to a substanti val

“ ”
force and i s u s e d for l i v i ng b e i ng e sp e c i ally fo r
, ,

l i v i ng b e i n gs sup e ri or to man P e rhaps i t may b e .

“ ”
b e st e xpr e ss e d i n Engl i sh by t he word sp i r it only ,

that w e must not r e gard absolute i mmate r i al ity as i m

” “
pl i e d i n i t Maz i s cognate to t h e maj i n maj or
.
,
“ ” ” “ ”
and the mag or m eg i n magnus and y e ya g i t ’

” ” “ ”
i s an i nt e ns i t i v e and m e ans much ,
Da or dao .

i s a word o f a doubl e m e an i ng ; i t i s a parti c ipl e o r ,

“ ”
v erbal adj e cti v e and s ign i fi e s e i th e r g iv ing o r ,
“ ” “ ”
k now i ng b e i n g conn e cte d w i th t he Lati n do
, ,
” “ ”
dar e ( Gr e e k dedw juc) to gi v e and w i th t he Gre e k
’

, ,
“ ”“ ”
dot/ja w da g/ra w to k n ow
,
k now i ng,
T he e nt i r e ,
.

” “
word ,
Ahura Mazda thus m e ans e ith e r -
t he , ,
” ”
much knowi ng sp i ri t o r t he m uch g i v i ng sp i ri t,
-
,
-

” “ ” 1
t he all bount i ful o r t he all w i s e
-

,
-
.

A n g r O M a in yu s conta i ns two e l e m e nts only an

-

,
“ ”
a dj e ct i v e and a substa nt i v e A ng ro i s ak i n to .

“ ” “ “ ”
n i g e r and so to n e gro i t m eans s i mply black
,
“ ” ”
or dark M a i ny u s a substanti v e i s t he e xact
.
, ,
”
e qu i val e nt o f t he Lati n m e ns and t he Gre e k ,
” “ ”
ué uo q It m e ans m i nd i nt e l l i g e nc e T hus
j .
,
.

A n grO —
”
M a i n yu s i s t h e black or dark i nt e ll ige nce .

1 S e e H an g ,
“
E ssa y s, p . 33 ; B roc kh aus , V di d d S de
“
en a -
a ,
”

pp . 347 and 385 : an d Sir H . P i V b l y

e r s an oc a u ar ,

a d voc “
Aur a m a z d a
‘

. .
84 The R eli g i on s o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

A ng r O M a i n yus ,
-
on t he
oth e r hand was t he cre a ,

tor and uphold e r O f e v e ryth in g that was e v i l O p .

pos e d to A hura Mazda from t he b eg i nn i ng he had

-

b ee n e ngage d i n a p e rp etual warfar e w i th h i m .

W hat e ve r good th i ng A hura Mazda had cr e ate d -

A n g r O M a i nyus had corrupte d and ru i n ed i t

-
1
Moral .

and phys i cal e v i ls w er e al i k e at his d isposal H e .

could blast t he e arth w i th barre nn e ss o r mak e i t ,

produce thorns th i stl e s and po i sonous plants ; his

, ,

w e re t he e arthquak e t he storm t he plagu e O f ha i l

, , ,

t he thund e rbolt ; he could caus e d is e as e and d e ath ,

’
s we e p O ff a nati on s flocks and h e rds by murra i n o r ,

d e populate a conti n e nt by p esti l e nce fe roci ous w i ld

b easts s e rp e n ts toads m i c e horn e ts m usq u ito es
, , , , , ,

w e r e h is cre at i on ; he had i nve nte d and i ntroduce d

i nto t he world t he S i ns o f w i tchcra ft, murd e r u n b e ,

l i e f cann i bal i sm ; he e xci te d wars and tumults con

, ,

t i n u al ly st i rr e d up t he bad aga i nst t he good and ,

laboure d by e ve ry poss i bl e e xp e d i e nt t o make v i ce

tri umph ov e r v i rtu e Ahura—Mazda could e x e rc i s e
.
”

no control ove r hi m ; t he utmost that he could do

was to k ee p a p erp etual watch upon his r i val and ,

s e e k to baffl e and d e fe at him T h i s he was n o t .

always abl e to do ; d e sp i te his b e st e nd e avours ,

A n g r O M a i n y us was not unfr e q u e ntly v i ctor i ous

-
.

The two gr e at b e i ngs who thus d i v i d e d b e twe e n

th e m t he e mp i re O f the un i v e rs e we r e n e i th e r of th e m
,

conte nt to b e sol i tary Each had call e d i nto e x ist

.

e nc e a numb e r Of i nfe r i or sp i r i ts who acknowl e dg e d ,

1 S ee th e S c e d F g d f th e V en d id d whi h i s g i v en
on ar ar o
” “
a , c

a t l e ng th i th e ab ov e m e ti on e d wo k v l ii i pp 23 8 —
n -
n r 240, o . . . .
 The R e li gi on o
f the An ci en t I r a n i a ns . 85

th e i r sov e re ignty fought o n th ei r s i d e and sought to , ,

e x e cut e th e i r b e h e sts At t he h e ad Of t he good .

S p i r i ts subj e ct to Ah ura Mazda stood a band o f s i x -

d ign i fi e d w i th t he t i tl e O f A m es ha Spe n tas o r I m -

,
”
mortal Hol y O n e s t he ch i e f ass i stants O f the Pr i n ,

c i pl e o f Good both i n couns e l and i n act i on T h e se .

“ ”
we re Vohu mano o r Bahman t he Good M i n d -

, ,
“
Asha va hi sta o r A rd i b ehe sht the H igh e st Tru th ;
-
, ,

K s a
h h t h r a —
v a i rya o r S ha hra var the g e n i us o f w e alth, ,

S p e nta A r m ai t i ( Island a r m at ) t he g e n i us o f t he
- -

Earth : H aurvat a t (Khordad ) t he ge n i us Of H e alth ,

and A m e re tat (A m er dat) t he g e n i us o f Immortal i ty ? ,

In d i re ct anti th e s is to th e s e stood t he band l ik e w ise ,

o n e o f S i x wh i ch form e d t he co unc i l and ch i e f sup

,
“
port o f A n g rO M a i nyus nam e ly A ko m a n o -
t he , , ,

Bad M i nd Indra the g o d o f storms : S au r va ,

2
N ao n ha itya : Tar i c : and Zari c B e s i d e s th e s e .

l e ad ing Sp i r i ts th e re was marshall e d o n e i th e r s i d e an

i nnum e rabl e hos t o f l e ss e r and subord i n ate on e s ,

c all e d re sp e cti v e ly d ha r a s and d eva s who c o n s t i t u ,

t ed t he arm i e s O r atte ndants o f the two gr e at po w e rs

and w e r e e mploy ed by th e m to work o ut th e i r pur
pos e s T he l ead e r O f t he ang e l ic hosts o r a hu r a s
.
, ,
3
was a glori ous be i ng call e d S raosha o r S e rosh ,
“
t he good tall fa i r S e r os h ,
who stood i n t he Z O
, ,

r o as t r i a n sys te m wh e r e M i cha e l t he Archa n g e l stands

1
H an g ,
“
E ssay s , p . 263 ; P us e y ,
“ L e c t ur e s on Da n i el ,
”
pp .

5 36 , 5 3 7 .

2
H g an , l . s . c .
; Wi n di s c h ma n n ,
“
Zo o r a s tr i s c h e d
Stu i e n , p . 59 .

3
O n S e r o sh , s ee the A u th o ’
r s
“
Anc i en t M on a rc hi es ,
”
vol . i ii .

pp . 9 9 , 1 12 .
86 The R eli g i on s o
f the An ci en t Wor ld .

i n t he Chr i st ian T he arm ie s Of A ng rO M a i ny us

.
l -

had no such s i ngl e l e ad e r but fought und e r t he ,

ord e rs Of a numb e r Of c O e q ual capta i ns as D rukhs -

, ,
“ ” “ ”
d e structi on : A eshe m o rap i n e D a i vi s de , ,
” ”
c e it D ri w is pov e rty and oth e rs
,
O ffe ri ng .

an un i nterrupte d and dogg e d r e s istanc e to t he army

Of Ahura Mazda th ey ma i nta i n e d t he struggl e on
-

som e th ing l i ke e qual te rms and S howe d no S ign O f ,

any i nte nti on to mak e th e i r subm i ss i on .

N e ith e r Ahura Mazda nor t he A m esha Spenta s - -

w e r e r e pr e s en te d by t he e arly Iran i ans und e r any

m at e r i al forms T he Zoroastr i an syste m was mark
.

e dly ant i i dolatrous : and t he utmost that was a l

-

W IN G E D C IR C L E .

lowe d the worsh i pp e r was an e mbl e mat i c r epre s e nta

t i on Of t he S uprg n e B e i n g by m e an s O f a w i nge d
c i rcl e w i th wh i ch was occas i onally comb i n e d an ln
,

compl e te human figure rob e d and w e ari ng a t iara , .

1
I t is no d oubt t r ue , as D r. Pu y se O b ser ves (
“ L ec t u r e s on
”
D a n i el , p . tha t t h e c har a c te r of t h e Am e s h a S pe n t a s , a n d
-

o f t h e o th e r g r ea t s pi r i t s or g e n ii o f t h e Z e n d a ve s t a , i s al t o gethe r

b e l ow t h a t of t h e h ol y an g el s ,
”
an d t h a t t h e t er m “
ar c h a n g el,
”

if a pp d l ie to a ny of th e m , i s “
a m i s n om e r ”
p( I bi d . B ut .

s t il l the r e i s fi c i e n t r e s em b l a
s uf n c e t o m a k e t h e c om p ar i son n at u

r al a n d n o t im p op e
r r .
88 The R e li g i on s f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

A fou r w inge d figur e at Murgab t he anc i e nt Pasar

-
,

g a d ae i s also
,
poss i bly a r e pr e s e ntat i on Of S e r o s h
;
but oth e rw i s e t he Obj e cts Of th e i r r e l ig i ous r e gards
w er e not e xh ib i te d i n mate r i al shap es by t he e arly
Iran i ans .

Among t he ange l i c b e i ngs r e v e re nce d by t he

Iran i ans lowe r than t he A m esha—Spen t as but sti ll o f ,

a v e ry h igh rank an d d ign i ty , w e r e M i thra t he ,

g e n i us o f l i ght e arly i d e nt i fi e d w i th t he sun T i s trya

, ,
1
t he Dog star ; A i rya m a n a g e n i us pr e s i d i ng ov e r
-

,
2
marr i age ; and oth e rs M i thra was ori g i nally n o t .

h e ld i n v e ry h igh e stee m ; but by d e gr ee s he was

advan ced and ulti mate ly cam e to occupy a place only
,

a l ittl e i nfe r i or to that ass ign e d from the first to Ahura

Mazda D a ri us the s on O f H ystaspes plac ed t he
.
, ,

e mbl e ms o f Ahura Mazda and O f M i thra i n e qually -

consp i cuous pos iti ons o n t he sculptur e d tabl e t abov e

his tomb ; and hi s e xampl e w as follow e d by all
t he late r monarchs of h i s rac e whos e s e pulchr e s a r e
?
st ill i n e x i ste nce Artax e rx es Mn e mon place d an
i mag e o f M i thra i n t h e t e mpl e attach e d to t he royal
?
palace at S usa H e also i n hi s i nscr i pt i ons un i te s
M i thra w i th Ahura—Mazda a nd prays for th e i r c o n ,

j o int prot e cti on ?

Artax e r xe s O c hus do e s t he sam e
a l i ttl e late r ; an d t he pract i ce i s also Obs e rv e d i n
6

1 “
Z e n d a ve s ta , i i i 7 2 ( S pi e
. g el s e
’
diti n )o .

2
H ang , Esy p “
s a s,
”
.

S e e t h e A u th A c i nt M “
vol iv p 3 34 , an d
’
3
s or n e on a r c h i e s , . . .

F la n di n, Vyg e P
“
pl
o a e n ers e ,
”
s . 1 6 4 b i s , 1 6 6 , 1 7 3 —1 7 6 .

4
L ftus C hal d ae d S u i
o ,
“
a an s an a , p . 3 72 .

5 .
I bi d .

6 Sir H . R awl i n s on “
C f
u n e i or m I n sc ri p ti on s , vo l . i . p . 3 42 .
90 T he R e li g i ons o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

port i ons o f t he Z en da ves ta compos e d abou t th i s pe

riod
1
. Ahura Mazda and M i thra ar e call e d t he two
-

” “ ”2
gr e at on e s t he two gr e at i mp e r i shabl e and pur e
, , ,
.

T he pos it i on O f man i n t he cosm i c sch e m e was

d e te rm i n e d by t he fact that he was among the cre a
t i ons Of Ahura Mazda Form e d and place d o n e arth -
.

by t he Good B e i ng he w as bound to r e nd er h i m ,

i m pl i c i t ob e d i e nce and to Oppos e to t he utmost ,

A n g r O M a i nyu s and h is cr e atur e s H is dut i e s m i ght

-
.

b e summ e d up und e r t he four h e ads Of p i e ty pur i ty , ,

i ndustry and v e rac i ty,

P i e ty was to be sho w n by .

a n acknowl e dgm e nt o f Ahura Mazda as t he O n e -

Tru e God by a r e v e re nti al r egard for the A m esha

,

Spe n tas and t he I z eds or lowe r ang e ls by t he fr e , ,

qu e nt Offe ri ng o f praye rs pra i s e s and thanksg i v i ngs , , ,

t he r e ci tat i on Of hymns t he occas i onal sacr i fic e Of ,

an i mals and t he p e rformance from ti m e to t i m e Of a

,

curi ous ce r e mony known as that o f the Haoma or

Homa Th i s consi ste d i n t h e e xtracti on o f the j u i ce
.
e

O f t h e Homa plant by th e pr i e sts dur i ng t he r e c i ta

ti on o f pray ers , t he formal pre s e ntati on o f t he l i qu i d

e xtracte d to t h e sacr i fic i al fir e t he consumpt i on o f a ,

small porti on of i t by o n e O f the O ffic i ati ng m i n iste rs ,

and the d i v i si on o f t he r e mai nd e r among the w o r

sh ipp e rs ? In sacr i fice s the pri e sts w e re also n e cessary
g O b e tw e e ns
-
T h e most approv
. e d v i ct i m was t h e
4
hors e ; but i t was l i k e wi s e allowabl e to Offe r ox e n ,
1 Ya sn a i 3 4 ; i i 4 4 ; i i i 48 ; M ih Y h t 1 1 3
“
, . . .
“
r as ,
”
.

2 S e e P us e y s L c tu r e s on D n i e l p 5 4 2 ot 3
’
e a ,
”
.
, n e .

3 S e H ng
e E ssay s
a ,p 23 9 “
,
”
. .

4 “
Y n as x v 8 C om p ar e X en C yr op vi ii 3 Q 24 ;
l ia, 1
” “ . . . . .
,

a nd O vi d F s ti i 3 8 5
“ ”
, a , . .
92 The R e li g i ons o
f the An c i en t Wor ld .

“
bound to furth e r t he works o f l ife by advancin g
t i llage .

T he duty o f v erac i ty was i nculcate d p e rhaps m or e

str e nuously than any oth e r T h e P e rs ian youth .

” l “
a r e taught s ays H erodotus
,
thre e th i ngs and , ,

thr ee th i ngs only : t o r i d e to draw t he bo w an d to , ,

” “
sp ea k t he truth Ahura Mazda was t he true
.
-

Sp iri t
”2
and the ch i e f o f t he A m esha Spe n tas w as
,
-

“ ” “ ”
Asha vahi st a the b est tr u th Druj fals e hood i s
-

,
.
, ,

h e ld up to d e te stat i on al i ke i n t he Z e n daves ta an d ,

i n t he P e rs i an cun e i form i n scr i pti ons as t he bas est,

3
,

t h e most conte mpt i bl e , and t he most p e rn i c i o us o f

V i ce s .

I f i t be ask e d what Op i n i ons w e r e e nt e rta i n e d by the

Zoroastr i ans conc e rn i ng man s ulti mate d est i ny , the ’

answe r would s e e m to b e that th ey w e re d evo ut and ,

e arn e st b e l i e v e rs i n t h e i mmortal i ty o f t he soul a n d ,

a consc i ous futur e e x i ste nce It was ta ught that i m .

m e d iat e ly afte r d e ath t he souls o f m en, both good

and bad proc ee d e d tog eth e r along an appo i nted path
,
“
to the br i dge o f t he gath e r e r Th e r e was a nar
row road conduct i ng to h e av e n , o r parad is e ov e r ,

wh i ch t he souls of t he good a l on e coul d pass wh i l e ,

t he w i ck e d fe ll from i t i nto t he gul f b e l ow wh e r e ,

th e y found th e ms e lv es i n t he place o f pun i shm e nt .

T he p i ous soul was ass i ste d across t he bri dg e by t he

“
ang e l S e rosh t he happy , w e ll form ed , swift, ta ll
,
-

1 H er o d . i . 1 36 .

2 “
Y as n a , xxxv . 3 .

3 Sir H R. a wl i n s on ,
“
C unei form I ns cri p ti ons , vol . i . pp . 20 0 ,
24 4 , 245 , e tc .
 The R e li g i o n o
f the An c i e nt I ra n i a ns . 93

”
S erosh, who we nt o ut to m eet the w eary wayfar e r ,

and susta i n e d hi s steps as he e ffe ct e d t he d ifficult

passage T he pray e rs o f hi s fri ends i n th i s world
.

much avai l e d t he d e c eas e d and h e lp e d h i m forward ,

gre atly o n his j ourn ey As he e nter e d t he ange l .

Vohu— mano ros e from his thron e and gr ee te d hi m ,

w ith t he words H o w happy art thou who ha st ,

com e h e re to us e xchang i ng mortal i ty for i mmortal i

,

ty T h e n t he good soul w e nt j oy fully onward to

t he gold e n th ron e to parad i s e As fo r the wi ck ed
,
.
,

wh e n th ey fe ll i nto t he gulf th ey found th e ms e lv e s ,

i n oute r darkn e ss i n t he k i ngdom o f A n g r o Ma i n

,
-

yus wh er e th ey w e re forc e d t o r e mai n i n a sad and

,
1
wr et ch e d cond i ti on .

It has b ee n ma i ntai n e d by som e that t he e arly

Iran i ans also h e ld t he doctr i n e o f t he re surre cti on o f
t he body
2
S uch a doct r i n e i s c e rta i nly conta i n e d i n
.

t he mor e r e ce nt porti ons o f t he Z e n dav es ta and i t i s

argu ed that th ere are e xpress i ons i n the more anci e nt
parts o f that work wh i ch i mply i t i f th ey d o not ,

actually asse rt i t But a care ful e xam i nat i on o f t he

.

passage s add uce d mak es i t e v i d ent that no more i s ,

i n r e al ity ass e rt ed i n th e m than t he conti nu e d e x i st

e nc e of t he soul ; and S p i e g e l com e s to t he conclus i on
”
that e v e n so late as t he ti m e wh e n the V e nd idad
,
“
w as wr i tte n t he r e surr e ct i on o f t he body was not
,
”3
e t known to t he Pars ee s o r P e rs i ans
y ,
.

T he or i g i nal r e l ig i on o f t he Iran i ans was Dual i sm

V di d d i ; H ug Esy 3 0 —3 2 p
1 “ “
en a ,
x x . a
,
s a s, . 1 56 .

2
H ug E y s p 26 6
a ,
“
ssa ,
”
. .

3 Sp i e g l Av es ta vol i i p 248 249

e ,
“
, . . .
, .
94 T he R eli gi ons o
f the An ci en t Wor ld .

of a v ery pronounce d typ e ass ign i ng as i t d id to , , ,

A n g ro M a i nyus compl e te i nd e p e nd e nc e o f Ahura

-

Mazda and e qual e t e rn i ty w i th hi m w i th almost

, ,

e qual po we r It v e rg ed upon polyth e i sm by t he

.

v e ry i mportant pos i ti on wh i ch i t ass i gn e d to c e rta i n

o f t he a hu r as or ang e ls whom i t coupl e d w i th t h e ,

Pri nci pl e o f Good i n a way wh i ch d e rogate d from

l
h is supr e m e and unri vall e d d i gn i ty In i ts moral i ty .

i t ma i nta i n e d a h igh ton e ; but i t i mpos e d o n i ts

followe rs a burd e nsom e yok e o f ce re mon i al o bs er
vance s It taught a futur e l i fe w i th happ i n e ss fo r
.
,

t he good and m i s e ry for t he w i ck e d ; but u n fo r t u

n at e ly i ncl i n e d to i d e nt i fy goodn e ss w i th orthodoxy ,

and w i ck ed n e ss w i th a r ej e cti on o f t he doctri n e o f

Zoroaste r .

It may h e lp the r e ad e r t o un d e rstan d t he i nn e r

sp ir i t o f t he r e l i g i on i f w e g i v e on e o r t w o sp e ci m e ns
,

o f t h e hymns wh i ch co nst i tute d so i mportant a part

o f t he Zoroastr ian worsh i p T he follow i n g i s o n e .

o f th e Gathas an d i s by som e as s i gn e d t o Zoroast e r

,
?
h i ms el f ?

“
I s p e a k a n d p oc l a i m t o al l w h o h a v e c o m e t o l i s t e n
N ow wi l l r

Th y p i s e A h u
ra M a d a n d t hi n e O Vohu m n o
,
r a- z a, ,
-
a .

A h ! I k th t t hy g a c e may pp e ar i n th e li gh t o f h e v e n
s a as a r a s a .

H e ar wi th y ou r e ar s W hat i s b e st , pe r c e i ve wi th y ou r min d s W h at
is pu r est ,

1
Pu y se ,
“
L e c tur e s on D a n i el , p . 5 3 5, n ot e 9 .

2 H ii b s c h m an n , “
E in Zo r oa s t r i s c h e s L ie d ,
m it R u ck s i c h t a u f

di e T d i ti
ra on , fi b e r s e t zt und e r kl éi r t .
”
M ii n c h e n , 1 8 7 2 . C om
p ar e M ax M ull e r,
“
L e c t ur e s on th e S c i e n c e of R el i g i on , pp .

28 7—23 9 .
96 The R e li gi ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor l d .

Th en in d e e d sh
f l l f p e i i u s f l s eh d ;
al l be se en th e a o rn c o a oo

B ut i t h e h e wh e d w ll V hu m M d nd A ha e o an o , az a, a s
-
n ou s er

B uti ful h u s e —s hal l b e g th e e d f v e s uc h as a e wo thy

ea o a r or e r r r .

0 m e n , i f y ou b u t c l i n t o th e g p r ec e p ts M d az a ha s gi v e n,

P p
r e c e t s , whi c h to th e ba d a r e a t orm e n t , b ut joy to th e ri gh t e ous ,

Th e n s h al l y ou o n e d ay fi n d y ou r s el v es vi c t o r i o us th r o u h t h e m g .
”

“
Our oth e r sp e ci m e n is tak e n from the Y asna o r ,
”
Book on S acr i fice and is probably som e c e nturi e s ,

late r than t he gre at bulk o f t he Gathas z

l

We w o r s h i p A h u r a M a z d a th e -
, pu re, t h e m as t e r of p u i ty r

W e w or s hi p t h e Am e sh a S pe n t a s -

, po s s e ss or s an d g i v er
s o f bl es s

in gs
We w or s h i p th e W h ol e c r e a t i o n T of H im who i s rue , th e h e a v en l y ,

W i th th e t e r r e s tr i a l , a l l th t pp t t h g d
a su or s e oo c r e a t i on ,

Al l t h a t fv a ou r s t he s p d f th e g o d M d y
r ea o o az -
asn a 2 r el i g i on .

We pr a i s e w h a t eve r i s g o o d i n t h u gh t i w d o o , n or ,
r in a c ti on

P a st or fut u re ; we a l so ke p cle wh t v
e i e xc an a e er s e l l e nt .

0 Ah u ut u e an d h a ppy b ei n g !
r a- m a z da , th o r

We s t i v e b o t h t o t h i k n d t o s p e k a d t o d o w h at e v e r i s fi t t e s t
r n ,
a a ,
n

B oth o u l i v e s t o p e s e v e a n d b i n g th e m b o t h t o p e fe c ti on
r 3 r r ,
r r .

H ol y Spi ri t of E th ar , fo r ou r b e s t w or k s
’
4
sa ke , we e n tr e a t th e e ,
G tur an s bea u ti f l f u e r ti l e fi el d s — a y e , g r a nt th e m to al l men,
B el i v e er s and u n b el i e ve rs , th e
“

w e al th y an d t h os e th a t ha ve
n ot h i n g .
”

1 H au g
E ay pp 1 6 2 1 6 3 ,
“
ss s, .
, .

2
M dy s m A hu —m d w o shi pp i g
az -
a na
”
eans ra az a r n . M a z das n
'

wa s u d m m l y t d i g t th
se th d x u d
co on o es na e e or o o ,
n er th e S a ss a
h i an s .

3 Th e t w o l i ve s ar e
“
th e l i f e of th e s o ul and
“
th e l i fe of th e
bo dy ”
( H g E y
au ,
“
ssa s, l . s .

4 i . e .
“
o ur a g r i c ul t u r al l a b o ur s t i lu d
) .
 The R el ig i on f
o the An ci e n t I r a n i a ns . 97

T he r el i g i on o f the e arly Iran i ans b e cam e corrupte d

afte r a t i m e by an adm i xtur e of for e ign sup e rsti ti ons .

T he follow e rs o f Zoroaste r as th ey spre ad th e ms e lv e s

,

from th e i r or ig i nal s eat upon t he Oxus ov e r the

r eg i ons ly i ng south and south w e st of t he Casp i an
-

Se a w e r e brought i nto contact w i th a form o f fa i th

,

cons id e rably d i ffe r e nt fro m that t o wh i ch th ey had

pr e v i ously b ee n attach ed yet we ll adapte d fo r bl e nd
,

F IR E AL T AR S .

i ng w ith it Th i s w as M ag i sm o r the worsh i p o f

.
,

t he e l e m e nts . T he e arly i nhab i tants o f Arm e n i a ,

Cappad oci a and t he Z ag ros m ounta i n rang e had

,
-
, ,

und e r c i rcumstance s that a r e un k no wn to us d e v e l ,

Op e d th i s form o f r e l i g i on and had assoc iate d w i th

,

i ts te n e ts a pr i e st caste cla i m ing pr O phe t i c pow e rs

-

, ,
98 The R e li g i on s f
o the An c i e n t Wor ld .

and a h ighly sac e rdotal characte r T he e ss ent i als o f .

t he r e l i g ion w e r e th e s e : t he four e l e m e nts fi r e a i r , , ,

earth and wat e r w e r e r e cogn i s e d as t he only prop e r

, ,

obj e cts o f human r e v e re nc e P e rsonal gods and .

,

toge th e r w i th th e m te mpl e s shr i n es and i mage s , , ,

w e r e r ej e cte d T he d e vot i on o f t he worsh i pp ers was

.

pa id not to any pow e rs pre s id i ng ov e r the const i tue nt

,

parts of nature but to th os e consti tu e nt parts t he m

,

s e lv e s F i r e as t he most subtl e and e the re al pr i n

.
,

c i pl e and aga i n as t he most po we rful ag e nt attract e d

, ,

e sp e c i al r e gard and o n t he fire altars o f t he Mag i ans -

t he sacr e d flam e g e n e rally r e gard e d as k i ndl e d from

,

h e av e n was k e pt un i nterrupt edly burn i ng from y e ar

,

to y e ar and from ag e to ag e by bands o f pr i e sts

, , ,

whos e sp e c i al duty i t was to s e e that the sacr ed spark

w a s n e ve r e xt i ngu i sh e d To d e fil e t he altar by .

’
blowi ng t h e flam e w i th on e s bre ath was a cap i tal
o ffe nc e and to burn a corps e was r egard e d as e qually
,

od i ous W h e n v i cti ms w e re o ffe r e d n oth i ng but a

.
,

small porti on o f t he fa t was consum e d i n t he flam e s .

N e xt to fir e wate r was r e v e re nce d S acr i fice was

,
.

offe r ed to r i v e rs lak e s and founta i ns t he v i ct i m

, , ,

b e i ng brought n ear to th e m and th e n sla in wh il e ,

t he utmost car e was tak e n that no drop o f th e i r

blood should touch t he wate r and pollute i t No .

r e fu s e was allo w e d to be cast i nto a r i v e r nor was ,

’
i t e ve n lawful to wash on e s hands i n o n e R e ve r .

e nc e for e arth w a s s h own by sacr i fic e and by abst e u

1
t i on from t h e usual mod e of bury i ng t he d ead .

1 Th e c hi e f au th or i t i e s fo r t hi s de s c ri pti on ar e H er o d o tu s ( i .

S tr a b o ( xv . 3, Q Q
‘

18, an d Ag a t h i as ( ii .
1 00 The R e l igi ons f
o the An c i en t Wor ld .

and i mpos e d o n by th e cla i ms to sup e rnatural powe rs

wh i ch t he Mag i put for ward pai d th e m a w i ll i ng
,

homag e ; the k i ngs and ch i e fs consulte d th e m ; and

M AGIAN P R I E ST .

w h e n t he Iran ians pr e ss i ng w e stward cam e i nto

, ,

contact w i th t h e race s profe ss i ng t he Mag i an r e l ig ion,

—
th ey found t he Mag i an pr ie st caste all pow e rful i n
-

most o f t he w e ste rn nat i ons .

Or i g i nally Zoroastr i an ism had b e en i ntol erant an d

 The R e lig i on o f the A n c i e n t I r a ni a n s . 101

e xclus i ve Its first profe ssors had look e d with

.

av e rs i on and conte mpt o n t he cr ee d O f th e i r Ind i an

br e thre n th ey had b ee n fi e rce Oppon e nts O f i dola try ,

and absolute ly hosti l e to e ve ry form O f r e l ig i on e x

c ept that wh i ch th ey had th e ms elv e s work e d o ut .

But w ith t he laps e Of t i m e th e s e fe el i ngs had grown

w e ake r T he O l d r el ig i ous fe rvour had abate d An
. .

i mpr e ss i bl e and i m i tati ve sp i r i t had d e v e lop e d i ts e lf .

W he n the Zoroastr i ans cam e i nto contact w i th Mag

is m i t i mpr e ss e d th e m favourably
,
Th e re was no .

contrad i cti on b e twe e n i ts mai n t e n e ts and thos e O f

th e i r O l d r e l i g i on ; th ey we re compat i bl e and m i ght ,

r e ad i ly be h e ld toge th e r ; an d the re sult was that , ,

w i thout gi v i ng up any part O f th ei r pr e v i ous cr eed ,

t he Iran i ans adopte d and add e d o n to i t all t he pr i n

c ipa l po i nts O f t he Mag i an b e l i e f and all t he mor e ,

r e markabl e O f the Mag i an r el i g i ous usages Th i s .

r e l igi ous fus i on s ee ms first to hav e ta k e n place i n

M ed ia The Mag i b e cam e a M e d i an tr i b e
.
1
and ,

w er e adopte d a s the pri e st caste o f the M e d i an na -

ti on El e m e ntal worsh ip di vi nati on by m e ans o f

.
,

t he barsom dr e am e xpound i ng i ncantat i ons at t he

,
-

fir e altars sacr i fic e s wh e r eat a Magus o ffic i ate d w e r e

-
, ,

add e d on to t he Old d ual i s m and qual i fi e d worsh ip O f

t h e A m e s ha Spe n t as O f M i thra and Of t he oth e r
-

, ,

ahura s ; and a m i x e d o r mongr e l r e l i g i on was thus

form e d wh i ch long struggl e d w i th and ulti mate ly

, ,

preva i l e d ov e r pure Zoroastr ian i sm ,

2
The P e rs i ans .

1 H od i 10 1
er . . .

2
S e W te g a d
e es I nt d uc ti o t o t h e Z en d ve t p 1 7 ;
r a r
’
s
“
ro n a s a, .

d c m p a e t h A utho E say n th R l i g i f th A i nt “
’
an o r e r s s o e e on O e nc e

P ers i a ns i n hi H d ot us v l i pp 4 1 4—
”
s
“
41 9 3 d e d i t i o n
er o ,
”
o . . .
,
r .
1 02 The R eli g i ons o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

a fte r a t i m e cam e i nto th i s b e l i e f acc e pte d t he Magi ,

fo r th e i r pr i e sts and atte nd e d t he c e r e mon i e s at t he

,

fir e altars
-
.

The adopt i on o f e l e m e ntal worsh i p i nto t he Ira

n i an s yst e m produc e d a curi ous pract i c e w i th r e gard

to d e ad bod i e s It b ecam e unlawful to burn th e m

.
,

s i nce that would be a pollut i on Of fire ; o r to bury

th e m th e r e by polluti ng e arth ; o r to thro w th e m i nto
,

a r i v e r th er e by polluti ng wate r ; o r e ve n to place

,

th em i n a s epulchral chamb e r o r a sarcophagus s inc e , ,

that would cause a polluti on o f ai r W hat th e n .

, ,

was to b e don e w i th th e m In what way we r e th ey

to be d i spos e d Of ? S om e race s o f m e n probably ,

mov e d by th e s e scr upl e s adopte d the practi ce wh i ch , ,

th ey r egard e d as e m i n e ntly p i ous Of k i ll i ng thos e ,

w ho th ey susp e ct e d w e r e about to d i e and th e n

, , ,

e at i ng th e m
1
But t he Iran i ans had r each e d that
.

stage o f c i v i l i sati on wh e n cann i bal i sm i s h e ld t o be

d isgusti ng D i s i ncl i n e d to d e vour th ei r d e ad th e m
.

s e lv es th ey hit O n an e xp ed ient wh i ch , w i thout re

,

q u i r i ng th e m to do what th ey so much d i sl i k e d had ,

t he sam e r e sult— trans fe rr e d that i s t he bod i e s O f , ,

th e i r d eparte d fri e nds i nto thos e Of oth e r l i v i ng o r

a n i s m s and so avo i d e d t he polluti on o f any e l e m e nt
g ,

by th eir d e cay ing r e ma i ns Imm ed i ate ly a fte r d e ath .

th ey re move d t he bod i e s to a sol i tary plac e and l e ft ,

th e m to be d e voure d by b easts and b i rds O f prey ,

crows rav e ns vulture s wolv e s j ackals and fox e s

, , , , ,
.

2
Th i s was the orthodox practi ce was e mploy e d by ,

1
H er o d . i 21 6 ; i ii 9 9
. . .

2
S t r ab o , xv 3 , é 20
. . C om p a re H er o d . i 1 40
. .
1 04 The R el ig i ons f
o the An ci en t Wor ld .

ce nce o r to l e n d stre ngth to a gov e rnm e nt bas ed o n

,

t he pr i nc i pl e s O f A s i at i c d e spot i sm Mag i sm fur

.

n i s he d a h i e rarchy to support t he thron e and ad d

S pl e ndour and d i gn i ty to t he court wh i l e i t ov e raw e d

t he subj e ct class by i ts suppos e d poss e ss i on Of sup e r

n atural powe rs and Of t he r ight o f m e d i at i ng b e t we e n

man and Go d It suppl ie d a p i ctur e squ e worsh ip

.
,

wh i ch at onc e grat i fi e d t he s e ns e s and e xc i ted the

’
fancy . It gav e scop e to man s pass i on fo r the mar
ve l l o u s by i t s i ncantat i ons i t
,
s d i v i n i ng —
rods i t s ,

o m e n r ea d i n g and i ts dr e am e xpound i n g It grat i

‘ -

,
.

fie d t he r e l ig i ous scrupulos i ty wh i ch finds a pl e asur e

i n mak i ng to i ts e lf d ifficult ie s by t he d i sallo wance O f
,

a thousand natural acts and t he i mpos i ti on o f n u m

,

b e r l ess rul e s for e xte rnal pur i ty At t he sam e t i m e

.

i t gav e no O ffe nce to t he anti i dolatrous sp i r i t i n -

wh i ch the Iran i ans had always glori e d but uph e ld ,

and e ncourage d t he i conoclasm wh i ch th ey had pr e

v i o usly pract i s e d It thus bl e nd e d e as i ly wi th t he
.

pr e v i ous cr ee d O f t he Iran i an p e opl e and produc ed an ,

amalgam that has shown a surpr is i ng v ital i ty hav i ng ,

—
laste d abov e two thousand y ars fro m t he t i m e O f
e

f i H —
X e rx e s t,
he s o n o Dar us y s tas
p (
is B 0 4 8 5 4.6 5 ) .

t o the pr e s e nt d ay .
 CHAPTE R IV .

TH E RE L I G IO N O F TH E E A R L Y S A N S K R I T I C IN D I A N S .

“
Le pa n th é i s m e n a t u r a li s t e e t l e pol y th e i s m e , sa c on s eq u e n c e
i n evi t abl e , s
’
é t ai e n t g d
ra u e ll e m e n t i n tr o u i t s d d
a n s l es c r o a n c e s y
des A y as
r .
—
”
L E N O R M AN T, M a nu el d H i s toi r e A nc i enne
’
, v ol . i ii . p . 30 9 .

H E
T
r e l i g i on o f t he e arly Ind i ans l i k e that Of ,

t he Egypti ans and l i ke that Of Assyr i ans and

,

Babylon i ans was an e xte ns i v e polyth ei sm but a

, ,

polyth e i sm O f a v e ry p e cul i ar charac te r T h e r e lay .

b e h i nd i t at i ts first formati on no consci ous mono

, ,

th ei sm no conce pti on Of a s i ngl e supr e m e powe r

, ,

from whom man and natur e and all t he forc e s i n ,

nature hav e th ei r or ig i n I f w e hold as I b e l i e v e

,
.
,

w e do r i ght to hold that God r e v e al e d H i ms e l f to

,

t he first par e nts O f t he human race as a s i ngl e per

sonal b ei ng and so that all race s Of m en had at t he
,

first th i s i d e a as an i nh e ri tanc e hand e d down to th e m

trad i ti onally from th ei r anc e sto rs ye t it would s e e m ,

c e rtai n that i n Ind i a b efore the r e l ig i on wh i ch w e

,

find i n t he V edas aros e th i s b e l i e f had compl e te ly ,

fad ed away an d d isapp ear e d t he noti on O f God

“
had pass e d i nto t he not i on Of gods a r e al poly
th ei sm un i v ersally pr e va i l ed e v en w i th t he h igh e st ,

1 05
106 The R e l ig i ons o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

1
class Of i nte ll e cts ; and wh e n i n t he cours e O f t i m e , ,

monoth e i sti c i d eas show e d th e ms e lve s th ey sprang ,

up i n i nd i v i dual m i nds as the r e sults O f i nd i vi dual

2
S p e culat i on and w e r e utte r e d te ntat i ve ly not as doc
, ,
”
'

t ri n es b ut as hypoth e s e s as t i m i d
,
gu e ss e s at truth , ,

o n t h e part O f thos e who confe ss e d that th e y kn e w

l i ttl e o r noth i ng .

If i t b e ask e d h ow th i s forg e tfuln e ss cam e about ,

how t he i d e a O f o n e God once poss e ss e d could e v e r , ,

b e lost p e rhaps w e may find an ans w e r i n that fact to

,

wh i ch t he trad it i ons Of t he rac e and som e o f th e i r

3
p e cul i ar e xpr e ss i ons po int back that for many c e n ,

t u r i es th e y had b ee n locat e d i n o n e o f t he cr u e ll e st
r e g i ons Of t he e arth a r eg i on w i th t e n months o f ,
”4
w i nte r and t w o months O f summ e r wh e r e t he ,

struggl e for e x i ste nce must hav e b e e n t e rr i bl e i nd ee d ,

and all th e i r e n e rg ie s all th e i r t i m e all th e i r thought , , ,

must hav e b ee n sp ent on t he sat i sfacti on Of thos e

phys i cal n e eds for wh i ch prov i s i on must b e mad e b e
for e man can occupy h i ms el f w i th t he r i ddl e Of t he
u n i v e rs e At any rate how e v e r w e may account fo r
.
,

i t or wh e th e r w e can account for i t O r n o t he fact

, ,

r e ma i ns ; som e ho w o r oth e r the S anskr i ti c Ind ians

“
had c e as e d to r e ta i n G o d i n th ei r knowl edge
1 S M
ee M ii l l r An c i t S k i t Li t tu
ax e , pp 5 28 5 29
“
en ans r era re, .
, .

2 I bi d p 5 59 . . .

3 A t h e xp s i n
s e h u d d wi t
re u dfr h d d
s o , a n re n ers , se o a un re

ye ar s .
( S H H W i l
ee I t d u ti n t o t h e R i g V d
. . s on s
’
“
n ro c o -
e a,

v l i
o . p xl ii )
.
. .

4S eeth d i p t i o f A y an m v j
e escr th O l d h om e
on f “
r e ae o -
e o

th A y — i t h Fi s t F g d o f t h e V e n d i d d A n c i e nt
” “
e r an s n e
( r ar ar a

M on ar chi l ii p es , vo . . .

5 R o m a n s i 28 . .
 The R e li g i on s o
f the A n c i e n t Wor ld .

n umi n a , b e ings qu ite d ist inct from the Obj e cts th e m

s e lve s pr e s i d i ng Ov e r th e m d i re cti ng th e m rul i ng
, , ,

th e m but hav i ng a s eparate and anoth e r k in d O f

,

e x ist e nc e .

And now the polyth e i sm already su ffi ci e ntly e x ,

te ns i v e through t he multi pl i ci ty Of th i ngs natural ,

took a fre sh start T he nam e s hav i ng b e com e pe r .

,

sons t e nd e d to float away from t he Obj e cts and t he

,

Obj e cts r e ce i v e d fr e sh nam e s wh i ch i n th e i r turn ,

w e re e xalte d i nto gods and so sw e ll e d t he panth e on ,

.

W h e n first t he i d e a Of counti ng the gods pr e s e nte d

i ts e lf to t h e m i nd Of a V e d i c po e t and h e subj e ct e d ,

th e m to a formal ce nsu s he fou n d th e m to amou n t to ,

1
no more than th i rty thre e But i n cours e Of t i m e -
.

th i s small band sw e ll e d i nto a multi tud e and V i sv a ,

m i tra a som e what late po et, states t he numb e r at

,

O ne O f t he
fe ature s most cl e arly pronounce d i n the
V e d i c polyth e i sm i s that wh i ch has b e e n alr e ady
noti ce d as Obta i n i ng to a cons i d e rabl e e xt e nt both i n
t he Egypt i an and A ssyr i an r e l i g i ons 3
t he fe atur e ,

wh i ch has b ee n call e d Kath e noth e i sm o r H e no

”4
th ei sm A V e d i c worsh ipp e r for t he most part
.
, ,

wh e n he turn e d his r e gards towards any i nd i v i dual

d e ity forgot for the t i m e b e i ng that th e re was any
,

oth e r and address e d the i mm e d i ate Obj ect o f his

,

1
R i g Ve d v ii i 30 ( S e e M a M ii l l s A n c i ent S n k i t '
a, “
x er
-
. . a s r

L it t u
era p re, .

2 R ig V d S hit ( n sl t i on o f H H W il o n p
e t a an a
) v l i i
ra i 7 a s
-
o . .
, . . . .

3 S b v
ee a pp 40 a d 5 6
o e, . n .

4 M M ll
ax C hi p fr m a G erman W or k shop vol 1 p 28 ;
u er ,
“
s o , . . .

S i e n c e f R el i g i on
c
”
o p 141 , . ,
 R eli g i on f
o the E arl
y S a n s kr i ti c I n d i a ns . 109

adorati on i n te rms Of as absolute d e vot i on as i f he

w e r e t he sol e God whom he r e cogn i se d t he o n e and ,
“
Only D i v i n e B e ing i n t he e nt ir e un i v e rs e In t he .

first hymn o f t he s e cond Mandala t he g o d Agn i i s ,

’
call e d t he rul e r Of the un i ve rs e t he lord O f m e n , ,
’

t he w i s e k i ng t he fath e r t he broth e r t he son t h e

, , , ,

fr ie nd Of man nay all the pOw er s and n am e s O f ,

”
t h e oth e r gods a re d i st i nctly ass i gn e d to A gn i .

S i m i larly i n anoth e r hymn Varuna i s

,
t he w i s e ,
‘

’
god t he lord O f a ll t he lord of h e av e n and e arth
,
’ ‘
, ,
’

t he uphold e r O f ord e r
’
he who g i v e s to m e n glory 2
,

It s i t h e i —
sam w th Indra he i s th e rul e r Of all
e
‘

’
that mov e s the m ighty o n e he to whom th e re i s
,
‘ ‘
,
’

3 “ ”
non e l ik e i n h e av e n o r e arth : t he gods it is ’
,
“
sa i d
,
do not re ach th e e In dra n o r m e n ; thou , ,
”
o ve r c o m e s t all cre ature s i n stre ngth T he b e st .

“
author ity t e lls us that i t would be e asy to find i n ,

t he num e rous hymns O f t he V e da passag e s i n wh i ch ,

almost e v e ry i mportant d e i ty i s r e pre s e nt e d as s u

”4
pre m e and absolut e At the sam e ti m e t h e r e i s no
.

r i valry n o compari son Of o n e god w i th anoth e r n o

, ,

confl i ct Of Op i n i on b etwe e n t he votar i e s of d i ffe r e nt

d e iti e s ; e ach i s supr e m e and absolut e i n his t ur n ,

“
s i mply b e caus e all t he r e st d i sapp e ar fo r a mom e nt
from t he v i s ion O f t he po e t and he only w ho i s to ,

fulfil th e i r d e s ir e s stands i n full l i ght b e fore t he ey es

”
O f t h e worsh i pp e rs
5
.

C hi p 1
1 “ s, . s . c .

2A i t S k i t Li t t e pp 5 36 53 7
nc en an s r er a u r , . ,

I bi d p 6 4 6
3 . . .

C hi p f om a G e m W o k sh op p 28
4 “
s r r an r , . .

5 I bi d .
1 10 The R e li gi ons o f the An c i en t Wor ld .

Among the var i ous d e it i es thus i n a ce rta i n s ens e , ,

e qual i s e d th e r e a re thr ee who may be sa i d to occupy

, ,

i f not t he ch i e f at any rate t h e old e st place s i nc e , ,

th e i r nam e s hav e pass e d o ut Of t he sph e r e O f m e r e

app ellati v e s and hav e b e com e prop e r nam es t he
, ,

d e s ignat i ons Of d i sti nct p e rsons T h e s e a re Varuna .

,

hI i tr a and Indra — or i g i nally the S ky t he S un and

, , , ,

t he S torm ( or p e rhaps t he Day ) ,

but i n th e V e d i c ,
-

hymns only sl i ghtly conn e cte d w i th any part i cular

,

asp e cts of natur e and not mark e d o f by any strong ,

d iffe re nce s t he o n e from the oth e r Indra i nd e e d i s .

, ,

t he ma i n obj e ct O f adorat i on ; m or e than o n e th i rd -

Of t he hymns i n t he e arl i e r part O f the R i g V e da a r e -

1 “
addr e ss e d to hi m H e is th e sov e r e i gn Of t he
.

” “ ” “ ” “
world ,
th e all w i s e t he abod e O f truth -
t he , ,
” ” “
lord of the good t he an i m ator O f all ,
t he sho w ,
” “
e r e r Of b e n e fits t he ful fil l er Of t h e d e s i r e Of h i m
,

who O ffe rs pra i s e 2

and w i th more o r l e ss O f r e fe r ,
“ ”
e nc e to h i s or i g i nal characte r t he s e nd e r Of ra i n , ,
“ ” ”
t h e g i v e r Of food t he lord O f opul e nc e and , ,
”3
t h e w i e ld e r O f t h e thund e rbolt Varuna i s mor e .

spari ngly addr e ss e d but wh e n addre ss e d i s put , ,

qu ite u pon a par w ith Indra j o i n e d w i th h im i n such ,

“ ” “
phras e s as sov e r e ign Indra and Varuna Indra ,
” “
and Varuna sov e r e ign rul e rs ,
d i v i n e Indra and ,

1
F or t yfi -
ve i n the fi rst As t a k a , o ut of 1 21 ; 3 9 i n t h e s e c on d ,

o ut of d
1 1 8 ; 4 8 i n t h e t hi r , o u t O f 1 21 ; a n d 4 6 i n o u r t h , o u t f of

1 40 — g
a l t o e t h e r 1 7 8 o u t O f 50 2 S e e th e
“ ”
I d
( n tr o uc ti on . of

P f H H Wi l
ro . . . s on to his “
T r a n s l a ti o n O f th e R i g -
V d e a S a n hi t a
”
)
R i g Ve d
2
v
-
a, ol . ii . pp . 36 , 145 , 28 3 ; vol i ii . . pp . 1 5 7, 1 5 9,
and 166 .

3 [ b id vo l . ii . p . 28 3 ; vol . iii . pp . 157 an d 1 60 .

112 The R e li g i ons o f the An ci ent Wor ld .

b e com e a god who susta i ns the sun and who has a ,

ge n e ral pow e r ove r t he e l e m e nts H i s place as t he .

actual sun god has b ee n ta ke n by anoth e r and d is

-

t i nct d e ity Of whom mor e w i ll be sa i d pr e se ntly

, .

N e xt to th e s e three gods whos e characte r i s rath e r ,

g e n eral than sp e c ial , mus t be plac e d A gn i the -

i —
Lat n ig n i s who i s d i sti nctly t he god Of fire F ire .

pre s e nte d i ts e l f to t he e arly Ind i ans und e r a twofold

1
asp e ct ; first as i t e x i sts o n e arth o n t he h e arth o n
, , ,

t he altar a nd i n t h e c o n fl ag ra t i o n ; s e condly as i t
, ,

e x i sts i n th e s ky i n t he shap e Of l i ghtn i ng m e te ors

, , ,

stars co m e ts and l ight g e n e rally so far as that is

, , ,

i nd e p e nd e nt Of t he sun T he e arthly asp e ct O f fir e .

i s most d w e lt upon T he V e d i c po e t s e e s i t l e ap i ng
.

forth from darkn e ss o n t he rap i d fr i cti on O f two

st i cks i n the hands Of a strong man It i s greedy .

fo r food as i t ste ps forth out Of i ts pr i son i t snorts ,

l i k e a hors e as w i th loud crackl e i t s e i z e s and spre ads

among t he fu e l Th e n for a mom e nt i ts path i s .

dark e n e d by gr e at folds Of smo k e ; but i t ove rcom e s ,

i t tr i umphs a n d mounts up i n a br i ll iant column of

,
2
pure cl ear flam e i nto t h e sky A s cul i nary fir e .
,

Agn i i s t he supporte r O f l i fe th e g i v e r Of str e ngth ,

a n d v i gour t he i mpart e r Of a pl e asant flavour to

,

food t he d iffus e r Of happ i n e ss i n a dwe ll i ng

,
3
As .

sacr ific i al fire he i s t he m e ss e nge r b etwe e n t he oth e r

,

1
Wil s y
s on th f l d p c t ( I t du ti t R ig
a s
“
a ree -
o as e
” “
n ro c on o

V d v l i p xxv ii d i t i g i hi g b t w t h g i
e a,
”
o . . . f th s n u s n e e en e re on o e

i
a r an d th t f th a ky ; b u t t h V d i p t
O e el y m k
s t hi e e c o e s s c ar c a e s

d i t i ti
s nc on .

2
S ee M M ul l
ax A c i t S k i t L i t er atu e p 5 4 7 n ot e
er ,
“
n en an s r r , . , .

3 R ig Ved -
vo l i ii pp 1 8 4 24 7 e t c
a, . . .
, , .
 R e l ig i on f
o the E a r ly S a n skr i ti c I n di a n s . 113

gods and man ; the i nte rpr e te r to t he oth er gods O f

—
human w ants ; t h e all w i s e who knows e ve ry thought ,

Of t he worsh ipp e r ; t he b e stowe r of all bl e ss i ngs on

m e n s inc e i t i s by h is i nt e rv e nt i on alon e that th e i r
,

O ffe r i ngs are conv eye d and th e i r wi sh e s mad e kno w n ,

“
to any d e i ty A s c on flag ra ti o n Agn i i s t he c o n
.
,

sum e r of fore sts t he dar k path e d t he br i ght sh i n ,

-

,
-

i ng .
”1
W h i te hu ed , voc i fe rous ab i d i ng i n t he
-

fi rm a m e n t w i th t he i mp e r i shabl e r e sound i ng w i nds ,

t he young e st Of t he gods Agn i pur i fy i ng and most , ,

vast proce e ds fe e d ing u pon nu m e rous and s ubs ta n

, ,

t ial fore sts H i s br ight flam es fann e d by t he w i nd

.
, ,

spre ad w i d e i n e v e ry d i r e ct i on consum i ng abundan t ,

fu e l d i vi n e fr e sh r i s i ng th e y play upo n t he woods

,
-

, ,
”2
e nv e lop i ng th e m i n lustr e Occas i onally i nste ad .
,

Of consum i ng forests he d e vours c iti e s w i th th e i r i n ,

hab i tants W h e n t he Aryan Ind ians pre va i l ove r

.

th e i r e n e m ie s and g i ve th e i r d w ell i ngs to t he flam e s ,

i t i s A gn i who d e stroys t he anc i e nt towns o f the

”3
d isp ers ed and consum e s v i ctori ous all the c i t i e s
,
”4
Of t he foe and th e i r pr e c ious th i ngs H e nce he i s .
,

constantly i nvok e d aga i nst e n e m ie s and e xhorte d to ,

ov e rthrow th e m to g i v e th e i r c i t i e s t o d e struct i on to
, ,
“ ”5
burn th e m d own l i ke p i e ce s Of dry t i mb e r to ,
”
chasti s e th e m and consum e th e m e nt i r e ly In his .

c el e sti al characte r A gn i o n the oth e r hand i s com , , , ,

a ra t i ve l sp ak i ng but rar ly r cogn i z d S t i ll

p y e e e e , .
,

1
R ig -
V d pe a, . 39 1 .

2
I bi d . vol . iii . C o m p a e pp r , 1 36 , 25 4 , 3 8 5 , etc .

3
I bi d . p . 388 .

1
I bi d . p . 16 .
5 I bi d . p . 1 26 .

8
1 14 The R eli g i o ns o
f the A n c i en t lVor ld .

h is fr e qu e nt assoc i at i on w i th Indra po ints to th i s 1

asp e ct Of hi m Both he and Indra ar e w i e ld e rs O f .

”2
t he thund e rbolt ; th ey occupy a common car ; 3

“
th ey a re j o i nt slay e rs Of V i tra and Agn i i s d e 4

scr i b e d i n once p l ace as t he ag itator O f t he

’
clouds wh en t he ra i n i s pour e d forth he who , ,

movi ng w i th t he sw i ftn ess O f th e w i nd sh i n es w i th ,

a pure rad iance whos e fall i ng ravs accompan i e d ,

by t he mov i ng storms str i k e aga i nst t h e cloud , ,

wh i ch th er e upon roars afte r wh i ch t he showe r ,

com e s w i th d e l i ghtful and sm i l ing drops t he ra i n ,

”5
d e sce nds t he clouds thund e r ,
.

Afte r A gn i w e may place i n a s i ngl e group Dyaus , ,

“ “
the h e ave n S urya or S av i tri t he sun S oma , , ,
“
the moon Ushas t he dawn Pr i th iv i t he , ,
“
e arth Vayu t he w i nd A p t he wate rs N adi , , ,
“ ”
t he r i v e rs and t he Maruts the stor m s T h ese ,
.

a r e all natur e gods Of a v e ry pla i n and s i mpl e k i nd

-
,

corre spond i n g to t he Gr e e k Uranus H e é li o s S e l e n e , , ,

E os Ge o r Ga i a e t c an d to t h e R oman C cel u s
, , ,
.
, ,

Apollo Luna Aurora T e llus E olus e t c

,
Of all , , , ,
.

thes e t he Maruts are t he most favour i te Obj e cts O f wor

sh ip hav i ng twe nty four hymns d e vote d to th e m i n
,
-

t he first s i x Mandalas O f t he R ig V e da
6
N e xt to -
.

1 M d an al a i . 21 , 1 0 8 ; M nd a al a i ii 1 2; . M d al a v
an . 1 4 ; M an
d al a vi . 59 ; et c .

2
R ig V d v -
e a, ol . i ii . p . 500 .

3
I bi d p 5 0 1 . . .

4
I bi d . vo l . iii . pp . 111 , 503 , e tc .

5 I bi d . v ol . i . p . 20 2 .

6
W
Se e ils on
’

s
“
I n tr o du c t i on s t o th e se v er al vol um e s o f th e

R i g Ve d S
-
a a n h i t a , vol . i p . . 15 ; vol . ii i . p . 7 .
 1 16 The R e li g i o ns o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

w ith the e v e n i ng tw i l i ght awa ite d e ach morn i ng the ,

com ing Of t he rosy fin g e r e d dawn o r t he e cstati c j oy -

w i th wh i ch th ey saw t he darkn e ss i n t he e aste rn sky

fad e and l i ft b e fore t he soft approach Of som eth i ng
t e nd e r e r and lov e l i e r than day .

”
S urya t he sun do e s n o t play a prom i n e nt part
, ,
l
i n t he V e d i c po e ms Out Of t he five hundr e d .

hymns i n W i lson s coll e cti on only S ix a re d e vote d ’

,

to hi m e xclus i v e ly ?
H is pr e s e ntat i on i s n e arly that
Of H e é l i os i n t he Gre e k and Ph oebus Apollo i n t he ,

R oman mythology Br i ll i ant, many ray e d adora .

-

b l e he yok e s e ach morn i ng h is two

,
3
o r s e ve n , ,
4

s w i ft cours e rs to his car and mounts up t he st ee p ,

i ncl i n e O f h e av e n follow i ng Ushas a s a youth pur , ,

sue s a ma i d e n and d e stroy i ng he r 5

J o ur n eym g,
.

onward at i ncr e d i bl e sp e e d b e twee n t he two r e g ions

6

W il so
1
I t d u c t i o n t R i g V d vo l i p
n,
“
n ro u o -
e a,
”
. . . xxx .

M d l i S uk t 5 0 d 1 1 5 ; M d l a i i S uk t 3 8 ; d
2
an a a . as an an a . a an

M d l v S uk t 8 1 d 8 2 S u y h l
an a a . as p ti M d l a n . r a as a so a ar n an a a

i S u k t 3 5 ; M d l a v S uk t a s 4 0
. a n d 45 ; a n d M n d l
an a vi . a a a a .

S u k t 50 a .

R ig V d vol i p 9 8
‘3 -
e a, . . . .

I b d p 1 33
4 z . . .

I bi d p 3 04
5
C m p e M M ii ll A n c i nt S k i t “
’
. . . o ar ax er s e an s r

L i t tu er a pp 5 29 5 3 0 w h t h f l l w i g m m e t f
re ,
”
. , , ere e o o n co n O an

I din i ti i q t d — I t i f b l d t h t P j p t i t h L d
an c r c s uo e “
s a e a ra a a , e or

O fC tir ea di d vi l on , t h i d u gh t B t wh t do en c e it m ? o s a er . u a oe s e an

P j p t i th L d f C t i i s
ra a a , e m e f th
or u ; o d h i r ea on, a na o e s n an e s

ca ll d e b u
so h p t t ec a ll t se
s H i d ught e Uh ro ec s a c r e a ur e . s a er, s as ,

i th D w
s e A d wh
a nit i , id th t h w n i l v w i th h en s sa a e as n o e er ,

th i s ly m on s th t t su i
ean th su u s ft t h d w
a , a nr s e , e n r n a er e a n,

t h d w b i g t t he
e a n m t i m e c ll d th d u gh t
e n a O f t he u sa e a e e a er s n,

b ec au h i e wh
se s h pp h
e r s s en e a r oa c es .
”

I b l vol i p 1 3 2
‘1
u . . . . .
 R e li g i o n o
f the E ar ly S a n skr i ti c I ndi a n s . 1 17

of h e av e n and e arth h e pours down h is qu i ck e n ing , ,

l i fe b e stowi ng pur i fy i ng rays o n all d i sp e ls d i s e as e s

-
,
1
, ,
?
g i v e s fe rti l i ty and multi pl i e s w e alth ,
Havi ng a t
ta i n e d t he summ i t Of t he s ky he comm e n c e s hi s ,

d e sce nt and trav e ll ing o n a downward path c o n

, ,

ducts his car wi th safe ty to t he far l i m i ts O f t he w e st o

,

car ry i ng O ff w ith hi m all t he d iffuse d rays Of l ight 3

,
4
and d i sapp e ari ng no o n e knows wh i th e r ,
.

”
Vayu t he w i nd ge n e rally coupl e d w i th Indra
, , ,
5
as a god Of h e av e n has only two whol e hymns and , ,

parts Of fiv e oth e rs d e vote d to hi m i n W i lson s c o l ,

’

l e ct i on W hat i s ch ie fly c e l e brate d i s his swi ftn ess ;

.

and i n th i s conn e cti on he has som eti m e s n i n ety n i n e -

,
6
som e ti m e s a hundr e d so m eti m e s a thousand ste e ds 7
, ,
8
o r e v e n a thousand char i ots ass ign e d to hi m The ,

colour O f hi s hors e s i s r e d o r purpl e 9

H e i s s w i ft .

” “ ” “
as thought he has a thousand e y e s and i s t he
, ,
” 10
prote cto r Of p i o us a cts A s o n e Of t he gods who .

” 44
s e nds ra in he i s i nvok e d fr e qu e ntly by t he i h
,

hab i tants o f a country wh e re want o f ra i n i s e qui va

l e nt to a fam i n e .

Dyaus and Pri th i v i h e av e n and e arth a re , ,

1 R ig V d
-
v l i pp 9 9
e a, d 134 o . . . an .

2
I bi d v l i i pp 3 0 7 3 09 e t c
. o . . . , ,
.

3
I bi d v l i p 30 5
. o . . . .

4
I bi d p 9 9
. . .

5 M an d l i i S k t 1 3 4 ; d M n d l a vi Su k ta 4 8
a a . u a an a a . .

6 R ig V d
-
v l i ii p 21 1
e a, o . . . .

7 I b i d pp 21 0 d 21 2 C m p e vol i i p 4 9 an o ar
. . . . . . .

3 I bi d v l i i p 3 1 3
. o . . . .

9 I bid p 4 6
. . .

10
I bi d v l i p 5 5
. o ,
. . .

11
I bi d v l i i i p 4 8 7
. o . . . .
118 The R e li g i ons o
f the A n c i e n t l Vor ld .

mostly coupl e d toge th e r and addre ss e d i n the same ,

hymns ; bu t b es id e s t he j o i nt addr e ss e s Pr i th i v i i s
, ,
1
som e ti m e s t he sol e subj e ct Of a sacr e d poe m Dyaus .

“ ”2
has occas i onally t he e p i th e t of pi ta r o r fath e r , ,

and thus so far as the nam e go e s undoubte dly cor

, ,

r e sponds w i th t he Jup i te r o r D i e S pi te r Of the R omans .

“ ”
But he i s ce rta i nly not i n the sam e way t he fath e r ,

o r cr e ator O f t h e oth e r gods

,
R ath e r som e i n d i .
,

v i dual po ets i n th e i r cravi ng afte r d iv i n e sympathy

,

and commun i on hav e v e nture d to b e sto w o n h i m the

,

n am e O f fath e r e xc e pti onally not w i th any i mte n ,

t i on Of mak i ng hi m t he h e ad O f t he Panth e on but ,

as cla i m i ng to th e ms e lv es a share i n t he D i v i n e na
ture and e xpr e ss i ng t he sam e fe e l i ng as t he Gre e k
,
“ ”3
po e t wh e n he sai d For w e a re also h is offspri ng ,
.

It i s unn e cessary to d e ta i n t he r e ad e r w i th a com

l e t e account O f t he r e st Of t he th i rty thr e e gods
p
-
.

S om e as Ad i t i Pushan Bra hm aspat i B r i haspat i

, , , , ,

Pa nja n iya s ee m to be m e r e dupl i cate o r tri pl i cat e

,

nam e s of d e i ti e s alre ady m e nt i on e d Oth e rs as the .

,

A s w i n s A ryaman R udra V i shnu Y ama b e long to

, , , , ,

a low e r grad e b e i ng rath e r d e m i gods o r h e ro e s than

,

actual d e i t i e s Oth e rs aga i n a r e i nd isti nct and o f

.
, , ,

l i ttl e i mportance as S araswat i Bhaga T w a shtr i Par

, , , ,

vata H o tra B harati Sad i V ar ut ri a n d D his han a

, , , , ,
.

S p e ci al atte nt i on must how e v e r be call e d to S oma , ,

.

By a prin c i pl e Of comb i nati on wh i ch i s qu it e i h

scrutabl e S oma r e pr e s e nts at onc e t he moon or moon
,

1
M d l v Su kt 8 3
an a a . a .

2 M M ull
ax S i f R li g i
er ,
“
p 1 72
c en c e O e on , . .

3 A c ts xv ii 28 S t P a ul a s i s we l l k n o wn q u ot e d A ra tus
. . .
, ,
.
1 20 The R e li g i ons of the A n c i ent Wor ld .

s om e t i m e s s e v e n at oth e r t i m e s as many as s i xte e n , .

l

It was not n e c e ssary for t he worsh ipp e r to app ear

p e rsonally o r to tak e a ny part i n t he c e r e mony ;
,

e nough was don e i f he prov i d e d t h e chamb e r t h e ,

alta r and the Offe r i ngs T he chamb e r had to b e

,
.

spre ad w i th t he K a s a or sacr e d rush e s ; the fire had ,

to be l ighte d upon t he altar and th e n t he worsh i p

2

comm e nce d Pri e sts chante d i n turn t h e v e rs es Of

.

t he JlI a n tr as o r sacr e d hymns wh i ch comb i n e d ,

pray e r w ith pra i s e and i nv i te d t he pre s enc e O f t h e ,

d e i ti e s At t he prop e r mom e nt wh e n by c erta i n

.
,

mysti c s i gns the pri e sts kn ew the god or gods i h

v o ke d to hav e arr i v e d ? t he O ffe r i ngs w e r e pr e s e nt e d ,

t h e d i v i n e favour s e cur e d t he pray e rs r e c i te d an d , ,

t he c e r e mony brought to a clos e by som e part i c ipa

t i on Of t he m i n i ste ri ng pr i e sts i n t he Offe r i ngs .

The prai s e s w i th wh i ch t he hymns g e n e rally com

,

m e nc e d e scr i b e t he pow e r t he w i sdom t he grand e ur

, , , ,

t h e marv e llousn e ss t he g e n e ros i ty t he goodn e ss o f , ,

t he d e i ty addre ss e d add i ng i n som e i nstanc e s e n ,

4
c o m i u m s o n hi s p e rsonal b e auty and t he spl e ndour
O f hi s dr e ss and d e corat i ons
?
Occas i onally his ,

S e e W il I t d u ti t o v ol i p xx i v
“
’
1 s on s n ro c on . . .
.

2
It h b q u t i d w h t h th fi w
as een t k p t bur i g
es on e e er e re as n o e n n

c on t i u al l y
n s i th e P i ,
Fi aT e m p l ( Wi l
n I t du ers an re es son ,
“
n ro c

to v l i of R ig V e d p
”
ti no o . . b t t h e c n ta t l l u s i on
-
a, . u o s n a s

t t h p d u c ti
o e Offi
ro by f i t i m k i t cl
on th t di i ly
re r c on a e e ar a , or n ar ,

a f h fi w s k i dl d
re s re a n e .

H u g E s y s t h S c d L n gu g e t c f t h e P e
3
a ,
“
sa on e a re a a e, .
, O ar s e s,

p 24 8
. .

Wil on I t o d u ti on vol i p xx i v Se e al so M an d l a i
4 s ,
n r c , . . . . a .

S uk t 9 3 3 ; S k t 4 2 3 1 0 ; tc
a , u a e .

Rig V d
5 v l 1 p 223
-
e a, o . . . .
 R eli g i o n f
o the E arl
y S a ns/
cr i ti c I n di a ns . 1 21

gr eat actions a re d e scr i b ed e i th e r i n ge n e ral t erms , ,

o r w i th S p e c i al r e fe r e nc e to c e rta i n e xplo i ts ascr i b e d

to hi m i n t he mythology l
W h e n he has b ee n thus .

'

r end e re d favourabl e and t he O fleri n g s hav e b ee n ,

m ad e i n t he cu stomary way t he charact e r Of t he ,

hymn chang e s from pra i se to pray e r and the god i s ,

i mplor e d to b e stow bl e ss i ngs o n t he p e rson who has

i nst itute d t he c e r e mony and som e t i m e s but not so , ,

commonly o n t he author or r e c i te r O f the pray e r

, .

It i s noti ce abl e that t he bl e ss i ngs pray e d for ar e ,

predom i nantly o f a te mporal a nd p e rsonal d es c ri p

,

t i on ?
The worsh i pp e r asks for food l i fe str e ngth , , ,

h ealth poste r i ty ; for we al th e sp e c ia l ly i n cattl e

, , ,

hors e s and cows ; for happ i n e ss ; for prote cti on

,

aga i nst e n e m ie s for v i ctory ov e r th e m and som e , ,

t i m e s for th e i r d estructi on part i cularly wh e r e th ey ,

a r e r e pr e s e nt e d as h e r e t i cs Prote cti on agai nst e v i l .

S p i r i ts i s also occas i onally r e qu e ste d T h e re i s .

,

comparat i ve ly sp e ak ing l i ttl e d e mand for moral ,

b e n e fits for d isce rnm e nt o r i mp rov e m e nt O f charac

, ,

te r o r forg i v e n e ss o f S i n o r r e p e nta nc e o r p e ac e Of
, , ,

m i nd o r str e ngth to r e s ist te mptati on T he s ens e

, ,
.

“
O f gu i lt i s sl i ght
?
It is only i n som e fe w i nstance s
1 T h i i s p c i l l y th e c s e i n h y m n s dd es e d t I d
s s e e a a a r s o n r a.

( R i g V -
d v el i pp 8
a, 5 —9 3o 1 3 6
.
—1 3 9. .
, ,

2
Wi l n I t od t i n t v l i f R i g V e d p xxv ; M
so , n r uc o o o . . O -
a, . . ax

M ll
u C hi p f m G m W o k h op v l i p 27
er ,
“
s ro
”
a er an r s ,
o . . . .

3 W il 1s on , M M ii l l r s y
. s . 0 . th th hax d th t e a s, on e o er an ,
a

t f tu l i gi
'
th i u
e c on s c o f in i p i
s n e ss o i th s f s a r o rn n en ea re n e re on O

th V d v l i p p b bl y
”
e e a H m o . . . e eans , ro a , a n o~

ticea bl f t u e n o t p m i n e n t i n t h e s e n e o f i t
e ea r , c curoi g f e s s o rr n r

q u tl y
en .
1 22 The R eli g i ons o f the An ci en t Wor ld .

that hatre d O f untruth and abhorr e nce Of s i n are

e xpr e ss e d and a hop e u tt e r e d that t he latte r may
,
”1
b e r e p e nt e d O f o r e xp i a te d S t i ll such e xpr e ss ions .

do occ ur T h ey a re not wholly want ing as th ey

.
,

a re i n t he utt e ranc e s o f t he anc i e nt Egypt ians .

“ ”
D e l i v e r us th i s day O gods from h e i nous s i n i s , , ,
“
t h e conclud i ng p e t i t i on Of o n e S ukta
?
May o ur
”
s i n be r ep e nte d o f i s t he burth e n O f anoth e r ?
,

Absolv e us from t he s i ns Of o u r fath e rs and from ,

thos e wh i ch w e have comm i tte d w i th o ur o w n

” 4
bod i e s i s th e pray e r O f a th i rd
,
Varuna i s m e r .

”
c i fu l e v e n to h i m who has comm i tte d s i n
,
i s t he ,

d e clarat i on Of a fourth ?
N O W and th e n w e e v e n
s ee m to have b efor e us a brok e n h earte d p e n i te nt -

o n e who truly fe e ls l i k e Dav i d o r t he Pu bl i can the , ,

d e pth to wh i ch he has fall e n and w ho o ut O f the , ,

”6 “
d e pths cr i e s to God for forg i v e n e ss
,
L et m e .

”
not ye t O Varuna e nte r i nto t he hous e O f clay
, , ,
7 “
i e th e grav e says a V e d i c worsh i pp e r ;
. .
,
have
m e rcy alm ighty hav e m e rcy I f I go along tre m
, ,
.

bl i ng l ike a cloud dri v e n by the w i nd have m e rcy

, , ,

alm ighty hav e m e rcy Through want Of stre ngth

,
.
,

thou strong and br ight god hav e I gon e wrong ; ,

have m ercy alm i ghty have m e rcy T hi rst came , ,

. .

1
Th es e ar e P f W ilro . s on s
’
w or ds ; an d the y ar e q ui t e b o r ne
o ut by t h e t e t x f t he R i g
O -
V e da .

2
M an d al a k i S u ta 1 1 5 ,
.
3 6 .

3 M an d l i S uk t 9 7
a a . a .

4 M a nd l vii S u k t 8 6 3 5
a a . a , .

5 M a nd l vii S uk t 8 7 Q 7
a a . a ,
.

6 Ps a .
xxx 1
c . .

7 M ax M ii l l e A n c i en t Sans k ri t L i teratur e
r,
“
,
p . 5 40 .
 The R eli g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

j u ice and to t he d e l ight an d aston i shm e nt wh ich

,

t he d iscov e ry O f th e m e xc i t e d i n s i mpl e m i nds 1

.

But e xh i larati on i s a v e ry d iffe re nt th i ng from

drunk e nn e ss ; and though Or ie ntals do n ot Ofte n
,

draw t he d i st i ncti on w e a r e scarce ly j usti fi ed i n

,

conclud in g w ithout b e tte r e v i d e nce than any wh i ch

,

has b ee n adduce d as yet that t he S oma c e r e mony ,

Of t he H i ndoos was i n t he e arly ag e s a m e re

Bacchanal i an orgy i n wh i ch t he worsh i pp e rs i n
,

t o x i c at ed th e m s e lv e s i n honour Of approv i ng d e i ti e s .

Exh i larati on wi ll su ffic i e ntly e xpla i n all that i s sa i d

O f t he S oma i n t h e R i V da and i t i char i tabl
g e ; s e
-

to suppos e that noth i ng more was a i m e d at i n th e

S oma ce r e mony .

T he O ffe r i ngs o f pra i s e an d sacr i fice and es p e c i ally ,

t he O ffe r i ng of t he soma j u i ce w e r e cons i d e r e d not ,

m e re ly to pl eas e t he g o d w ho was t he Obj e ct O f th e m

, ,

but to lay h im und e r a bi nd in g Obl igat i on and a l ,

m ost to comp e l h i m to grant t he r e qu e sts o f t he

“
worsh ipp e r . T he morta l who i s str e nuous i n wor
2 “ ”
sh i p i t i s sa i d
,
acqu i r e s a n authori ty ov e r t he
,

Obj e ct Of hi s r e l i g i ous r e gards— a n authori ty wh ich

i s so compl et e that he may e v e n s e ll t he god s favour
’

to anoth e r p e rson i n ord e r t o e nabl e h i m to atta i n

,

t he obj e ct Of his d e s i r e s
“
W ho buys th i s—4 ny .

“
In d ra says V a m ad eva a V e d i c po e t? w i th t e n
, ,

m i lch k i n e ? W h e n he shall hav e sla in hi s fo e s ,

th e n l e t the purchas e r g i v e h im bac k to m e aga i n ;

1 W i l s on , “
I n tr o d u c ti n p o , . x x x vn .

2 M d
an al a iv . S u k t 15 3 5 a , .

3
I bi d i v S u t a
. . k 10 .
 R e li gi on the E ly S a ns kr i ti c I n d i a ns
f
o ar . 1 25

wh i ch t he comm e ntator e xpla i ns as follows 4

Vam
a d e va , ha vi ng by m uc h pr a i s e g o t I n dr a i n to hi s pos
or s ub ug a ti on , propos e s to mak e a barga i n
s e ss i on j
wh e n about to d i spose Of hi m and so he O ffe rs for
t e n m i lch k i n e to hand h i m ov e r te mporar i ly appa ,

re n t ly to any p e rson who w il l pay t he pr i ce w i th e ,

’
t he prov i so that w h e n Indra has subdu e d t he p e rson s
fo es he is to be r e turn e d to t he v e ndor !
,

T h e s ubj e ct of a fu tur e l i fe s ee ms scarce ly to hav e

pre s e nte d i ts elf w i th any d i sti nctn e ss to t he thoughts
Of t he e arly Ind ians Th e re i s not t he sl ighte st ap.

r a n c e i n t he R i V e da Of a b e l ie f i n m e t e m psy
p ea
g
-

c h os is ,
o r t he tr a nsm i grat i on O f human souls afte r

d e ath i nto t he bod i e s o f an i mals ?

T he ph e nom e n a
Of t he pr e s e nt world what th ey see and h e ar and ,

fee l i n i t i n t he rush i ng O f the w i nd t he howl i ng O f

, ,

t he storm t he flash i ng Of t he l i ghtn i ng from cloud

,

to cloud t he S pl ash O f the ra i n the roar Of t he s w ol

, ,

l e n r i ve rs t he qu i ck chang e s from day t o n i ght and

, ,

fro m n ight to day from storm t o calm and from ,

cal m to storm from luri d gloom to sunsh in e and

,

from sunsh i n e to luri d gloom agai n ; t he i nte re sti ng

bus i n e ss o f l i fe t he k i ndl i ng O f fire t he l i ghti ng up
, ,

Of the h e arth ; t he p e rforma n ce O f sacri fice ; t he work ,

agr i cultural pastoral , o r oth e r to be don e dur i ng

, ,

th e day t he stor i ng up Of food t he acqu i r e m e nt o f

, ,

r i ch e s t he tra i n ing O f ch i ldr e n ; war t he attack O f

, ,

fo e s t he crash Of arms t he fl ight t he pursu i t t he

, , , ,

i h
burn ng Of towns t e carry i n g O ff O f booty th e s e
,
—
1
W il s on R i g V e d vol 1 p 1 70 t e 2
,
-
a, . 1 1. . , no .

2
M ax M ul l C hi p s f m G e m n W o k sh p vol i p 45
er, ro a r a r o , . . . .
1 26 The R eli g i ons o
f the An c i e nt Wor ld .

th ings and such th ings as th e s e so occupy an d fill

, ,

t h e m i nds O f th i s pr i m i t i v e rac e that th ey hav e i n ,

g e n e ral no room for oth e r S p e culat i ons no ti m e o r ,

thought to d e vote to th e m It i s only occas i onally .

,

i n rar e i nstance s that to th i s o r that po e t t he i d e a

,

s ee ms to hav e occurr e d Is th is world t he whol e o r , ,

i s th e r e a h e r e afte r ? A r e th e r e such th i ngs as hap

i n e s s and m i s e ry b e yond t he grav e ? S t i ll t h
p e ,

R ig V e da i s not altog e th e r w i thout e xpr e ss i ons

-

wh i ch s e e m to i nd i cate a hop e of i mmortal ity and O f

future happ i n e ss to be e nj oy e d by t he good n or e n ,

t i r e ly d e vo i d o f phras e s wh i ch may allud e to a plac e

“
Of future pun i shm e nt for t he w i ck e d H e who .

” 1 “
g i v e s alms says o n e po e t
,
go e s to t he h igh est ,

place i n h eave n ; he goe s to t he gods Thou A g n i , ,

hast announce d h e av e n to Manu says anoth e r ; ,

wh i ch i s e xpla i n e d to m e an that Agn i r e v e al e d t o ,

Manu th e fact that h e av e n is to b e ga i n e d by p i ous

,
? “ ”
works P i ous sac ri fic e rs procla i ms a th i rd ? ,
“
e nj oy a r e s i d e nc e i n t he h e av e n O f Indra ; p i ous
”
sa c r ific e rs dwe ll i n t h e pr e s e nc e o f t he gods Con .

“
v e rs e l y i t i s sa i d that
,
Indra casts i nto the pi t thos e
”4 “
who Offe r no sacri fic e and that the w i ck ed who , ,

are fals e i n thought and fals e i n sp e e ch a r e born for ,

”5
t he d e e p abyss o f h e ll In the followin g hymn .

1 M d an k
al a 35 i S u t a 1 25 ,
. .

2 Wil o s R ig V d
n,
“
v l i p 80 -
e a, o . . .
, n ot e a .

3
I bi d vol i i p 4 2
. . . . .

4 M d l i S k t 1 21 3 1 3
an a a . u a , .

5
Wi l s s R i g Ve d
on
’ “
v l i ii p -
a,
”
o . . . 129 , c om p a re d w i th Max
M ull er Chi p s vol i p ,
”
. . .
1 28 The R e lig i ons o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

l i fe t he blood t he soul o f t he world 2 W ho s e nt t o

, ,
‘

ask th is from t he s ag e that kn e w i t ? Immature i n

und e rstand ing und i sce r n ing i n m ind he go e s on to
, ,

say I i nqu i re afte r thos e th in gs wh i ch a re h idd e n

,

e v e n from t he gods Ignorant I i nqu i re

.
,

Of t he sag e s who know who i s the Only O n e who ,

u ph e ld t he sph e r e s e r e th e y w e r e cr e ate d Afte r a

m ult i tud e O f sp e culat i ons he conclud e s T h ey call ,

h i m Indra M tra Var una Agn i th e n he 18 t he

i — ,
“

, ,

b e auti ful w inge d h eav e nly Garu t m at : that wh i ch i s

-

o n e t he w i s e g i v e i t many nam e s — th ey call i t Agn i

, ,
”4
Y ama M a ta ri s va n
,
Anoth e r i s st i ll bold e r an d
.
,

plung e s h e adlo n g i nto t he d ee p e st vorte x o f m e ta

phys i cs T he follo wi ng i s a m e tri cal v e rs i on O f h is
.

2
po e m
A t i m e t h e e w a w h e n n ot h i g th at n o w i s
r s, n

Ex i t d— n t h t w h i h n ow i n t ;
s e no , or a c s o

T he w re ky t h e e w n
as n o s fi m am e t ,
r as o r n .

W h t w i t th t t h c v d up n d h id
a as a en o ere a

Ex i t ? I wh t ef g di d i t li e ?
s en c e n a r u e

W w t t h e n t h d p n d v s t by ss
as a er e ee a a a ,

Th h i w hi h ll w
e c a os w l l w d u p?
n c a as s a o e

T h w n D th — a d t h f e n u gh t i m m o tal
er e as o ea n e r e or o r .

Th w er e difl e b tw
as n o i gh t d d yer nce e een n an a .

Th e l e on b th d b t hl s by i ts el f
a on e rea e rea e s

N h oru gh t l xi t d v s i c
as a e se e s e e er n e .

D k ar w p d o d ; l l t hi g w e v e il e d
n e ss as s r ea ar un a n s re

I n t hi k t gl m l i k oc
c es w i t h t l i gh t
oo ,
e e an ou .

Th e g m t h t i er h u ky h ll l y h i d
a n a s s e a ,

B u t i t l i f by i t own i t e h t
rs n o e s n na ea .

1
MaxM ll C h i p f m G m W k h p v l i p 29
u er , s ro a er an or s o , o . . . .

I h v f ll w e d
2 a e ol ly op s i bl t h p e t n l t i o f
a s c os e as o s e e r os ra s a on

M a M ull
x gi v wi t h i t m i x d m m t i hi s H i s to y
er , en an n er e co en n
“
r

f A c i e t S n k i t L i t e at u e pp 5 5 9 —5 6 3 ”
o n n a s r r r , . .
 R e li g i on o
f the E ar l
y S a n skr i ti c I n di a n s . 1 29

T h fi t m L ov e up o i t b o O f m i d
en rs ca e n , rn n ,

W hi h t h w i m
c e f ld h v se ll d th b n den o O a e ca e e o
’
Twi x t t d d
un c rea e e t d thi g an cr a e n s .

C m thi b i ght y f m h v
a e s r f m b l w?
ra ro ea e n , or ro e o

F m l
e d m l
a e an pp d d N tu e w ou gh t
a e a e ar e , an a r r

B l w b v w ou gh t Wil l Wh t ul y k w
e o ,
a o e r . o r no s,

Wh o h p l i m d i t t o u s wh
as roc a t hi s w l d
e , enc e or

C m i t b i g ? Th g t g d t h m s l v s
a e n o e n e rea o s e e e

W l t b
ere Wh o k o w t h
a er or n .wh i t c am e ? n s en enc e

Th e O v s t h t d w el l i h i g h t h v e
er e e r , a s n es ea n,

H e u l y k o w s i t wh th e H H i m l f
s re n ,
e r e se

Wa o w s, t t h e m k e O f th e wh l e
r as n o , a r o ,

y t h t e v n H e k n w s n ot ?
”
O sh l l w
r a e sa , a e o

Th i s po e m and t he oth e r pray e rs abov e quoted

, ,

ar e su ffic i e nt to S how that among the V e d i c po e ts

’
th e r e w e re at any rate som e who by God s grace , ,

had ra i s e d th e mse lve s abov e the murky atmosph e r e

i n wh i ch th e y w e r e born had sought t he Lord and , ,

”4
fe lt afte r H i m had struggl e d o ut O f polyth e i s m
,

i nto a consc i ous monoth e i sm and although th e y , ,

could not w i thout r e v e lati on solve t he probl e m o f

e x i st e nc e had gon e far to r e al i s e t he ma i nt po i nts O f
,

tru e r e l igi on ; t he ex iste nce Of o n e e te rnal and per

fe c t B e i ng t he d ep e nd e nc e O f man on H i m t he n e
, ,

c es s i t Of m l e ad i ng holy l i v e s if th e y would
‘

en
y
pl eas e H i m and t he n eed wh i ch e ve n t he b est man
, ,

has Of H is m e rcy and forgi v e n e ss

,
.

1 A c t s x vn . 27
 CH APTE R V .

TH E RE L I G IO N O F TH E P H CE N I C I A N S AN D C AR

T H A GI N I A N S .

“
Le d i eu d s Ph é n i c i e n
e s , c om m e d e t ou s l e s p an th é i s m es a s i a

ti que s, é t it a l
a fi ua o s n et p l us i eu rs .
”
— L E N O R M A N T M a nuel ,
’
d H is toir e A n ci enn e, vol . i ii . p . 1 27 .

I
Nd i scuss i ng t he r el igi on O f t he Ph oen i ci ans and
Carthag in i ans w e hav e to d e al w i th a probl e m
,

far mor e d iffi cult than any wh i ch has ye t occup i e d

“ ”
us .N O sacr e d book l i k e t he R ig V e da the ,
-

”
Z e n d a v e s t a o r th e R i tual o f t he D e ad h e re ,

spr e ads b e for e u s its stor es o f knowl e dg e r e qu ir i ng ,

l i ttl e more than pat i ent study to y i e ld up to us t he

s e cr et s wh i ch i t i s t he Obj e ct O f, O u I i nqu i ry to d is '

cov e r N O e xte nsi v e range Of sculptur e s o r pa i nt

.

i ngs e xh i b i ts to o u r ey e s as i n Assyr i a Gr ee c e and , , ,

Egypt t he outward asp e ct Of the worsh i p the forms

, ,

Of t he gods th e mod e s O f approach i ng th e m t he

, ,

ge n e ral charact e r o f t he c e r e mon i al N or has e v e n .

any anc ie nt author e xce pti ng o n e tre ate d e xpr e ssly

, ,

Of t he subj e ct i n qu e st i on o r l e ft us anyth ing that ,

can b e call e d i n any s ens é an account Of t he r e l ig i on .

“
It i s tru e that w e do poss e ss i n t he Evange l i cal ,
”
Pre parati on o f Eus e b ius a numbe r O f e xtracts ,

1 30
1 32 The R e li g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

be u e s d w ith t he u tmost cauti on w e are r e duce d to ,

dra w o ur knowl edge Of t he Ph oen i ci an and Car

t ha g i n i a n r e l i g i on fro m scatt e r e d and i nc id e ntal
not i ce s O f var i ous k i nds— from t he allus i ons mad e
to t he subj e ct by the wr it ers O f port i ons O f the Old
T e stam e nt from casual state m e nts occurr ing i n clas
,

s i c al authors from i nscr i pt i ons from t h e e tymology

, ,

o f nam e s ,
and from occas i onal r e pr e se ntat i ons a c
compan y i ng i nscr i pti ons upon ston e s o r co i ns S uch .

“ ” 1
source s as th e s e r e qu i r e as has b e e n w e ll sa id , ,

t he gr e ate st car e b e for e th ey can be prop e rly s i fte d

and succe ssfully fitte d toge th er and th e y constitute
at b e st a scanty an d unsat isfactory foundat i on for a
portra i tur e wh i ch to have any value must be drawn
, ,

w ith som e sharpn ess and de fin i te n ess .

O n e O f th e most str i k i ng fe ature s o f t he Phoen i

c i an pol yth e i sm— e sp e ci ally str i k i ng wh e n w e com

pare i t w ith t h e syst e ms wh i ch lay ge ograph i cally

t h e n e ar e st to i t thos e o f Egypt and Assyr i a — i s i ts
,

comparat i v e narrown e ss If w e mak e a coll e ct i on .

Of t he d i vi n e nam e s i n u s e e ith e r i n Phoe n i ci a Prop e r

o r i n t he Phoen i ci an colon i e s w e shall find tha t alto ,

g e th e r th ey do not amount to tw e nty Baal Ash .

,

t o r e t h M e lka r th Moloch Ado n i s Dagon E s h m un

r

, , , , , ,

Hadad El E l i un B aal t is Onca S hamas S adyk

, , , , , , ,

t h e Kab i r i e xhaust pr e tty n e arly t he l i st Of t he na

,

t i v e d e itie s ; and i f w e add to th e s e the d i vi n iti e s

adopte d from fore ig n countr i e s T a n i th Hammon , , ,

(z A m m on
) and O,
s ir
( O s i ris
z
) w e S ha l l st i ll
,
find
t he numb e r O f d i st i nct nam e s not to e xce e d e ight ee n .

1 M ax M ii ll e S c i e n c e O f R e l i g i on
r,
“
pp 1 1 7—1 1 8 ,
”
.
.
 The R e li g i on of the P hoeni c i a n s . 1 33

Th i s is a small numb e r compar e d e v e n w i th the

panth e on Of Assyr i a ; compar e d wi th that O f Egypt ,

i t i s v e ry r e markably scanty .

It may be add e d that th e r e a re grounds fo r doubt

i n g wh e th e r e v e n t he e ight e e n nam e s abov e g i v e n
w e re r egard e d by t he Ph oen i ci ans th e ms e lv es as de
s i n a t i n g r e ally so man y d e i ti e s
g W e shall find as .
,

w e procee d r e ason to b e l i e v e o r to susp e ct that i n

, , ,

more than o n e cas e i t i s the v e ry sam e d e i ty who i s

d es ignate d by two o r mor e O f t he sacr e d name s .

The ge n e ral charact e r o f t he nam e s th e ms e lv e s i s

r emarkabl e A large proporti on O f th e m a r e honor
.

i fic t i tl e s only appl i cabl e to r e al p e rsons and i nd i ca

, ,

t i ve O f the fact that fro m t he first t he Ph oen i ci an peo

l e l i k e most oth e r S e m i t i c rac e s d i st i nctly a
p , ppre ,

h e nd e d the p ersonal i ty o f t he S upr e m e B ei ng and ,

i nte nd e d to worsh i p not nature but Go d i n natur e , , ,

not plan ets or e l e m e nts o r storm o r cloud o r dawn

, , , , ,

o r l i ghtn in g but a b e i ng or b e i ngs abov e and b eyond

,

all th e s e pr es id i ng ov er th e m p e rhaps and work i n g

, , ,

through th e m but qu i te d i sti nct from th e m poss e s

, ,

s ing a r e al p ersonal characte r El s ign i fi e d t he .

“ ”4
strong o r t he po w e rful
,
and i n t he cognate H e ,
“
brew took t he arti cl e and be came ha E l the Strong ,
-

,
”
O n e H e who alon e has tru e str e ngth and powe r
, ,

and who th e re fore alon e d e s erv es to be call e d strong

” “ ” “
or m ighty El i a n i s t he Ex alte d
. t he Most ,
”
H igh and i s so translate d i n our author i s e d v e rs i on
,

Of G en e s i s (x i v wh e r e M e lch i z e d e k K i n g o f
.
,

S al e m t he w e ll k nown typ e Of o u r bl e ss e d Lord i s

,
-

,
2

M 1M ll axS i f R l i gi
u p 1 77
er ,
“
c en c e O e on , . .

2 S e e Ps a . ex . 4 ,
H eb . vi i . 1 —24 .
1 34 The R e l ig i ons o f the A n c i e nt World .

“
sa i d to hav e bee n the pr ie st o f t he m os t H ig h God ,
“ ”
wh i ch is i n t he ori g i nal pr ie st o f E l E l i un Aga in , ,
-
.

” “ ”
S ady k i s t he Just t he R ight e ous and i s i den t i
, ,

cal w i th the Z ede k occurr i ng as t he s econd e l e m e nt i n

M e lch i z ed e k wh i ch S t Paul i n t he Ep i stl e to t he
, .
,
“
H e br e ws ( vii translates by K i ng Of r ighte ous
.

” “ ” “
n e ss . Baal i s Lord o r Maste r an e qu ival e nt , ,

o f t he Lat i n d om i n u s a n d h e nc e a t e r m wh i ch natur ,

ally r e qu i re s anoth e r afte r i t S i nce a lord must be ,

lord of som e th i ng H e nce i n Phoen i c ian i nscr ipti ons .

1

“ ”
w e find B a a l Ts a r Lord O f T yre B a a l Ts i don
-

, ,
-

,
“ ” ”
Lord o f Z idon B a a l Ta r s , Lord o f T arsus and ,
-

t he l i k e H e nc e also w e m e et w i th such words as 2

.

“ ” “
B a a l ber i th
-
Lord of treat ie s B a a l peo r Lord o f
, ,
-

,
” “ ”
P e or (a mounta i n ) B a a l zebu b Lord o f fl i es and ,
-

,
“
B e el s a m in ? Lord o f H e av e n
-
Adon i s o r mor e .
,

prope rly Adon i for the S i s m e rely t he Gr ee k nom i ,

n at i va l e nd i ng has n e arly t he sam e m e an i ng as Baal

, ,

b e i ng t he Ph oen i c i an e qu i val e nt o f t he H e br e w
“ ”
A d o n a i t he word ord in ari ly r e nd e r e d Lord i n o ur
,

v e rs i on O f t he Old T e stam e nt Adon i howe v e r .

, ,

tak e s no adj unct S i nce i t i s m ost prop erly translate d ,

” “ ”4
m y lord lord Of m e ,
and th us con ta ins i n i ts el f ,
“
t he Obj e ct O f t h e lordsh i p Moloch i s m eleh k ing .
, ,

t he i n i t i al e l e m e nt i n M el ch i z e d e k ; and i t i s th i s
sam e word wh i ch app e ars a s e cond t i m e w i th an a d ,

1
Ge s e i u s n S c i p t u es L i g u ee q u e Ph oe i c i ae M on u m e n t
,
“
r r n n a,

pp 9 6 27 7 e t c
.
, , .

2 N u m xxv 3 5 ; J u dg v i i i 3 3 ; i
. . 4 ; 2 Ki g i 3 6
,
. . x .
n s .
, .

3 P h i l Byb l i s i t h e F ag m e n ta H i s t o i c o u m Graec orum

o u n r r r ,

vol i ii p 5 6 5
. . . .

4
Ge e n i us p 400
s , . .
 1 36 The R eli g i ons f
o the Anc i ent Wor ld .

to t he r e l ig ion from t he v e ry e arl i e st t i m e to wh i ch

w e can trac e i t back and B aa l t i s b e i ng plac e d by ,

t he s i d e O f Baal appar e ntly as a d i st i nct and s e parat e

,
“
p e rsonage B u t i t has b ee n argu e d that the or i g i
.

nal conce pti on o f fe mal e d e it i e s d iffe rs among S e m i

”
t i c and Aryan nat i ons and that the fe m in i n e forms ,
“
among the S e m i te s w e r e at first i nte nd e d only to
e xpr e ss t h e e n e rgy o r t h e coll e ct i v e pow e rs Of t he
”4
d e i ty not a s eparat e b e i ng l e ast Of all a w i fe
, , .

And th i s v i e w i s confirm e d by passage s in anci e nt

i nscr i pt i ons wh i ch s e e m to i d e nti fy Phoen i c i an gods
and godd e ss e s as o n e i n t he i nscr ipti on Of M e sa
, ,

wh i ch sp e aks O f Ch e mosh Ashtar as a s i ngl e d e ity -

anoth e r i n an i nscr i pti on from Carthage i n wh i ch

“ ”
T a n i th i s call e d P e n Baal o r t he fac e Of Baal -
, ,
2

and a th i rd o n t he tomb Of E sh m u n a z a r K i ng O f
, ,

S i don wh e r e Ashtore th h e rs e l f i s t e rm e d S hem B a a l

,
-

,
“ ”3
t he nam e Of Baal I f Ashtor e th and T a n i t h .

w e re m e r e ly asp e cts Of Baal i f the Ph oen i c i an S u ,

”4
pre m e Go d was androgynous t h e fact that t he ,

r e l ig i ous syste m Of t he p e opl e adm itte d godd e ss e s as

w e ll as gods w i ll not m i l i tate aga i nst i ts or i g i nal
,

monoth e i sm .

A mor e v i tal Obj e cti on may be tak e n from t he two

nam e s E s hm u n and Kab i r i T he Kab ir i w e re t he
,
.

c h ar a c t er wh e r e t h e y ar e m e n t i on e d i J u dg en s 11 . 13 ; x6 . . Th y e

app e ar a s S yi r an g d o s i n the h ie ro gl yp h i l i ca p
n s c r i t i o n s as e
arly
as R am e s e s II .
( a b ou t B . C .

1
M ax M ul l e r ,
“
Sc i en c e O g
f R el i i on , p . 183 .

2
D e V o gu e, i n t h e “
J o ur n al A s ia t i qu e
”
fo r 1 8 6 7 , p . 138 .

3 M ax M ll S iu er ,
“
c e nc e of g
R el i io n ,
”
p . 184 .

4
S p eak e C om m y i p 732
’
r s en t a r ,
v ol . . . .
 The R eli g io n f
o the P hoeni c i a ns . 1 37

sons O f S adyk ; th ey w e r e s e ve n i n n umb er ; th ey 1

w e re actual d e i t i e s t he sp e ci al gods O f sai lors ; ,

i mag e s Of th e m adorn e d t he prows o f v e sse ls And .

E s hm u n t he nam e Of th e i r broth e r i s a word s ig n i

, ,
“ ” “ ”
fyi n g e i ght or t he e i ghth
,
It se e ms cl e ar .

from th i s that t he Phoen i c i an s ult i mate ly r e cogn i s e d

at l e ast e ight gods ; and i f S O we must pronounce ,

th e m po lyth e i sts .

At any rate wh eth e r o r no th ey we re polyth ei sts

,

fro m t he first i t cannot be doubte d that th ey b e cam e

,

such W h e n t he Carthagi n i an i ntroduce d by Plautus

.

”
i nto h is P cen ul u s comm e nce s his sp e e ch w ith
2

“ ”
t he words Y th alon i m v a l o n uth s i c c ar thi wh i ch ’
,

Plautus r ightly re nd e rs by D e os d e as que ve n e ro r ,

“ ”
or ,
I worsh i p t he gods and godd e sse s he e xpr e ss e s ,

a ge nu i ne Ph oen i c ian s e nt i m e nt Baal and Ash .

t o r e th i f or i g i nally O n e w e r e soon d i vi d ed w e r e
, , ,

r epre se nte d und e r d iffe r e nt forms and we r e worsh i p ,

e d s e parat e ly El E l i u n S adyk Adon i s M e l ka r th

p .
, , , , ,

dr ifte d o ff from th e i r or i gi nal moor i ngs and b e cam e ,

d isti nct and s eparate gods som e t i m e s with a local ,

?
characte r Dagon E shm un S hamas had p e rhaps , , ,

b ee n d i st i nct from th e i r first i ntroducti on as had ,

b e e n t he Kab i r i and p e rhaps som e oth e rs Thus a

,
.

small panth e on was form e d amounti ng e ve n i n , ,

clud ing t he Kab i r i to no mor e than about fifte e n o r ,

t w enty d i v i n i t ie s .

1 “
P hil o Byb l i us c 5 Q 8 ; D am sc i us ap Ph ot B ibl i oth e c
, .
”
, a . .
“
.

p 5 73
. .

P l ut Pce ul Ac t v 3 1
2
a .
“
n . . .

3
M l h b m th e s p e c i l g d O f th e A mm o i tes ; H d ad of
o oc eca e a o n a ,

t h e Sy i r ans .
1 38 The R e l ig i o ns f
o the A nc i e nt Wor ld .

At h e ad O f all cl e arly stood Baal and Ash

t he
t o re th t he gr e at mal e and t he gre at fe mal e pr i n
,
“ ”
c i l es Baal t h e Lord a r exc ellenc e was
p .
p , pe r ,

haps som e ti m es and i n so m e place s tak e n to be t he

sun ; but th i s was c erta i nly not t he pr e dom i nant
1

i d e a Of any p e r i od ; and i t may b e qu e sti on ed wh e th e r

i n t he or i g i nal s e ats Of the nat i on i t was e v e r e nt e r
t a in e d unt i l afte r t he R oman co n qu e st As B e l i n .

Babylon i a was compl e te ly d i sti nct from S hamas? so

was Baal in Ph oen i c ia ?
T he Gr ee ks r e nd e r e d B e l
and Baal not by Apollo b ut by Z e us ; and th ei r
,
4
,

r end e r i ng was approv e d by Ph i lo Bybl i us who i f 5

, ,

a Gr ee k by e xtracti on was w e ll v e rs e d i n Ph oen i c i an ,

-

lor e and a nati v e O f By bl us a Ph oe n i ci an town

, ,
.

Baal s ee ms r e ally to hav e b e e n t he S upre m e God .

H is ch i e f t itl e s w e r e B a a l s ha ma yi n “t he Lord O f -
,
” “ ”
h eav e n B a a l ber ith t he Lord Of tre at ie s cor
,
-

, ,
”
r e spond ing t o t he Gre ci an Z e us O r kios and B el ,
6 ”
i tha n t he ag e d Lord
,
w i th wh i ch w e may com ,
“ ”7
par e t he B ibl i cal phras e t he Anc i e nt Of days ,
.

“
H e was also known i n Num i d i a as t he e te rnal
”8
k i ng . Baal was t he god to whom w e may almost
say that m ost Ph oe n i ci ans w er e cons e crate d soon afte r
th ei r bi rth t he nam e s g i ve n to th e m b ei ng i n almost
,

1 S e e Ge s e n i u s , “
Sc r i p . Ph oe n i c . M on . l
p 21. .

2
Se e ab o ve p 5 2 5 7
, .
-
.

3 Th e se p t e w sh i p
ar a or of S ham a s , or th e S un , a pp ea rs in 2
Kin g s xx i ii 5 a d i G ni us p .
, n n es e , . 1 19 .

4
H od i 1 8 1 ; D i d Si c i i 9
er . . o . . . .

5 Phi l o B b l c iv 3 14
y . . . .

6
D m a
p Ph ot B i bl i th c
ase . a . .
“
o e . c od . c c xl n . p . 559 .

7 D an . vii . 9, 13 .
8
Ges eni u s , pp . 1 9 7 , 20 2, 20 5 .
1 40 The R e li gi o ns f
o the A n ci e n t Wor ld .

worsh i pp e d so ge n e rally I n t he nati ve mytho l ogy .

s h e was t he daughte r Of Uranos ( h e av e n ) and t he ,

?
w i fe Of El or S aturn T he e sp e c i al place Of he r
,
?
worsh ip i n Ph oen i ci a was S idon In o n e Of her as
e c ts s h e r e pr e s e nt e d t h e moon and bor e t h e h e ad
p ,

Of a h e i fe r w i th horns curv i ng i n a cr e sce nt form ?

wh e nc e s he s ee ms to hav e b e e n som e ti m e s call e d
“
Ashtor e th Karna i m o r Astarte O f t he two horns
4
, ,
.

But more commonly s he was a n atur e godd e ss

, , ,
”
t he gr e at moth e r t h e r e pr e s e ntati on Of t he fe mal e ,

pr i nci pl e i n n atur e and h e nce pr e s i d in g ov e r t he ,

s e xual r e lat i on and conn e cte d mor e or l e ss w i th lov e

,

and w i th voluptuousn e ss T he Gr e e ks r e gard e d .

th e i r Aphrod i te and t he R omans th e i r V e nus as , ,

“
he r e qu i val e nt O n e O f h e r t i tl e s was . Qu ee n Of
H e av e n and und e r th i s t i tl e s he was Ofte n wor
?
sh i pp e d by th e I sr ae l ite s
M e l kar th has b ee n r egard e d by som e wr i t e rs as
” 6
only anoth e r form o f Baal But h e s ee ms to .

hav e as goo d a cla i m to a d i st inct p e rsonal i ty as any

Ph oen i c i an d e i ty afte r A shtore th and Baa l T he .

Gr ee ks and R omans who mak e Baal e qu i val e nt to ,

th e i r Z e us or Jup i te r always i d e nt i fy M e lk ar th w i th ,

H e rcul e s ; and i n a b i l i ngual i ns cr i pti on ? s et up by

7

wh e B l
er d A h t o th aa e j oi n e d t g t h e
an C om p a e s re ar o e r. r

J u dg i i 1 3 ; x 6
. . . .

1
Phil o Bybl i v 3 1 2 . 0 . .
,
.

2
S ee1 Ki g i 5 33 n d c omp a e t h e i
s x i pti n f E h
.
, ,
an r nsc r o o s

m u n a za r .

3 Ph il o By bl i u s , o . v .
3 1 .
4 Ge n . xiv . 5 .

5 J er . vii 1 8 ;
. li x v 25 K i k Ph. .
6 enr c ,
oe n i c i a , p . 3 22 .

7 H e ro d . ii . 4 4 ; P h i l B y bl i 3 19 t o . 0 . v .
,
e c.

8 Thi s i ns c r i p ti i gi v on b y G s e n i s ( pl
s en e u .
 The R el ig i on o
f the P hce ni c i a n s . 1 41

t wo at i ve s O f T yr e, th i s i d e nt i ficati on is e ndors e d
n

and acce pte d W h e n M e lkar th i s qual ifi e d as ba a l

.

”
Ts ur baal o f T yr e i t is not m eant that he was t he
, ,

T yr i an form Of t he god Baal but that he was t he ,

“ ”
sp e ci al tute lary lord o f t he gr e at Ph oen i c i an c ity .

T he word M e lka r th as alr e ady e xpla i n e d m e ans , ,

”
k i ng O f the ci ty and t he c i ty i nte nd e d was or ig i ,

nally T yr e though M e l ka rth would s e e m to hav e b ee n

,

i n cours e of ti m e r e gard e d as a god Of c i ti e s ge n e rally ;

and th u s he was worsh ipp e d at Carthage at H e racl e a ,

i n S i c i ly at A m at h us i n Cyprus at Gad e s i n S pa i n
, , ,

and e ls ewh e r e ?
I n Num i d i a h e had t he ti tl e O f
2

“
gr e at lord but oth e rwi s e th e re i s l i ttl e i n the
Phoen i ci an monum e nts to d e fin e h is attr i bute s or fix
hi s charact e r W e mu t suppos e that the Gre e ks
s
.

trace d i n th e m ce rta i n re s e mblance s to th e i r o wn con

c e t i o n Of H e rcul e s ; but i t may b e doubtful wh i th e r
p
t h e r e s e mblanc e s w e r e not rath e r fanc i ful than r e al .

T hat Dagon was a Ph oe n i c i an god app e ars from

many passag e s i n the fragme nts O f Ph i lo Bybl i us ?
though t he Israe l i te s would s ee m to hav e r egard e d
hi m as a sp e c ial Ph i l i sti n e d e i ty ?
T h e r e a r e i nd i ca
5
ti ons how e v e r Of his worsh i p hav i ng b e en spr ead
, ,

1 p
S e e th e i n s c r i t i o n s i n Ge s e n i u s ( pl s 1 4 1 6 , .
,
an d th e
c o i n s O f H e r ac l e a
( p l Of a es
( pl .an d G d . O f Se tus x
( i bi d .
) in th e sam e . O n Am a t h u s , s ee H e sy c h i us an d voc .

M al i c h a .

2
Ge s e n i u s , pl 27 , N O 6 5 . . .

3
Ep y
s e c i a ll 0 i v éé 2, 6 , 1 5 . . .

4
J u dg vi 23 ; 1 S m v 2—5 ; 1 Ch on x
. x . a . . r . . 10 .

5
B su sp ks f
er o l y B b yl
s i g ea O an ear a on a n od as b e ar i n g th e
na me f O d c o wh i h i p h p D g
-
a on , c s, er a s, a on wi t h a
p fix
re .
 1 42 The R e l ig i ons o
f the An ci ent Wor ld .

w i d e ly through W e stern As i a i n v e ry early t im e s ;

and i ts pr i m i ti v e source i s scarce ly wi th i n t he range
Of conj e cture Accord i ng to the g e n e ral i d e a t he .
,
l
Ph oe n i c i an Dagon was a F i sh g o d hav i ng t he form -

d e scri b e d by B e rosus and repre s e nt ed so Ofte n i n t he ,

Assyr ian sculptur e s — “

a form r e s e mbl i ng that O f a

fish but w i th a human h ead growi ng b e lo w t he fish s

,
’
,
’
and wi th human fee t grow i ng alongs i d e Of t he fish s
” 2
ta i l and com i ng o u t from i t F i sh a re common .

3
e mbl e ms upon t he Ph oen i c i an co i ns and t he word
”
Dagon i s poss i bly d e r i v e d from d a g a fish so that , ,

t he t e mptat i on to i d e n t i fy t he d e i ty w i th t he str i k i ng
form r e v e al e d to us by t he N i n e v i te sculptur e s is n o
doubt cons i d e rabl e It ought howe ve r to be born e .
, ,

i n m i nd that th e r e i s no th i ng i n t he S cr i ptural d e
scr ipti on O f the Ph i l i sti n e D agon to sugge st t he i d e a ‘

that the i mag e wh i ch fe ll o n i ts face b e for e the ark

o f t he cov e nant had i n any r e sp e ct the form O f a fish
?

N o r do t he Assyr i an m onum e nts conn e ct t he nam e Of

D g a on is an el e m en t v e C h l d ae n in the n am e O f a p r i m i ti a a

m c h w hi h i
o n ar e d as I m i D g c A hu i i p l upl e s
s r a s a on ss r- z r- a co
-
.
,

D g w i th A u i hi i c i p ti o
a on n d p s ts him l f s
n s ns r ns , an re re en se a

eq ll y t h e v t y f b th
ua D g is l
o ar f u d i n th e A y i n
O o . a- an a so o n ss r a

rem i a ns
s n p i t h t f B l u ( S e th e A u t h o s A i t
a a e e O e s . e r
’ “
nc en

M o c hi e v l i p 6 14 ; 2md e d i ti on )
n ar s,
”
o . . .

Se K n i k P hoe i i p 3 23 ; L y d N i e v eh an d
1 “ “
e e r c ,
n c a, . a ar ,
n

B byl
a p 343 ; S p eak e r s C om m e nt y vol i i p 20 1 t c
on , .
“ ’
ar ,
”
. . .
,
e .

B 2 F i Q 3
e r os . r . . .

G 3
iu S i p t P h oe n M o u m t
esen s,
“
pl e 4 0 n d 4 1
cr . . n en a, . a .

T h i t hi g i t h i g i l c
4 ere s no p o d i g t th fi hy
n n e or na or r e s n n o
“
e s

p t w h i c h i gi v i t h m gi f t h e A u t h i e d V i
ar ,
”
s en n e ar n o or s e rs on .

l w d o n l y D g o n wa s l eft t o h i m
“ ”
Th et a c ua e or s Th
ar ,
a . e

R i ul l l n g is o b s c ur e .
1 44 The R eli g i o ns o
f the An ci en t Wor ld .

his ch ie f t e mpl e w e r e Op e nly i mmoral and wh e n th ey , ,

w e re finally put down e xh i b i t e d e v e ry sp e ci e s Of ,

abom i nat i on character i sti c Of t he worst forms Of

h eath e n i sm ?
El whom Ph i lo By bl i us i d e nt i fi e s w i th Kronos ?
,

o r S aturn i s a S hadowy god compar e d wi th thos e

,

h i th e rto d escr i b ed In the mythology he was t he .

ch i ld o f h e av e n and e arth t he broth e r Of Dagon and , ,

?
th e fath e r O f a son whom he sacr i fic e d H is actual
worsh i p by the Ph oen i c i ans i s n o t v e ry we ll atte sted ,

but may be r egard e d as i n d i cate d by such nam e s as

Hann i el K adm l ( K ad m i el ) E nyl ( E n i e l )
-

,
z -
,
z -

?
and the l i k e H e i s sai d to hav e b ee n i d e nt i fi e d w i th
t he plan e t Saturn by t he Ph oen i c i ans
5
and th i s may
b e tru e O f t he late r form o f t he r e l ig i on though El ,

or ig inally can scarc e ly hav e b ee n anyth i ng but a

nam e Of the S upr e m e God It corr espond e d b eyond .

a doubt to I I i n t he syste m O f the Babylon i ans w ho , ,

6
was the h e ad O f t he panth e on and t he sp e c i al god ,

O f Bab e l o r Babylon wh i ch i s e xpr e ss e d by B a b i l

, ,
-

,
“ ” ?
t he gat e o f I l i n t he i nscr i pti ons ,

1 E u s eb . Vi t . Co n s t an ti n . M agn . i ii . 55 . C om p a re K en
r ic k P hoe ni c ia , v ol p 311 i
—
. .
, . .

2 P hi l o By bl . 0 . iv .
3 2 H 7t v
1
o r Ov fca Z Kpovo v . C om p a re
3 10
and 3 21 .

3 P hi l Bybl 0 vi 3 3
o . . . .

4 H a n n i e l oc c u r s i n a
- -
Ph oe n i c i a n p
i n s c r i ti on ( G e s en p . .

C a d m il i s gi v en a s on e O f th e K ab i r i b y t h e S c h ol i a s t o n Ap ol l o

n i us R h o di us ( i . E n y l i s m e n t i on e d as a ki n
g of By b l u s
b y Ar r i an Exp Al e x . . ii .

5 P h il o Bybl l c . . s . .

6 S e b ve p 47
e a o , . .

7 Si H R wl i n A uth or s d otu s p
’
r i . a s on n th e H er o , vol . i . . 6 13 .
 The R e li g i on of the P hoen i ci a ns . 1 45

“
That S hamas o r S h e m esh t he sun
,
was w or , ,

sh i pp e d s e parate ly from B aal has b ee n alr e ady m e n

t i o n ed In Assyr i a and Babylon i a he was o n e o f the
.

1
for e most d e i ti e s ; and his cult a m ong t he P hoen i
e i aus i s w i tn e ss e d by such a nam e as Ab e d S h e m e sh -

wh i ch is found i n t w o O f t he n ati v e i nscri pti ons .

Ab ed Sh e m e sh m e ans s er
-

”
vant Of S h e m e sh as Oba ,

d iah m e ans s ervant O f

”
J e hovah and Abdallah
,

ser vant O f Allah and i s

an unm i stakabl e e vi d e nce
o f t he worsh i p O f S h e m e sh

by the p eopl e w ho e mploy e d

i t as t he parall e l nam e s ar e
o f t he worsh i p r e sp e ct i v e , T H E SU N ,

ly o f J e hovah and Allah

, ,

by J ews and Moham m e dans T he sun worsh i p Of .

-

t he Ph oen i c i ans s e e ms to hav e b ee n accompan i e d by

3
a u s e of sun i mage s -
o f wh i ch w e hav e p e rhaps
,

a sp e ci m e n i n t he a c company i ng figur e wh i ch o c ,

curs o u a voti v e tabl e t found i n Num i d i a although 4

,

t he tabl e t i ts e l f i s d e d i cate d to Baal Th ere was also .

conn e cte d wi th i t a d e d i cat i on to t he s un g o d Of -

char i ots and hors e s , to wh i ch a quas i d i vi n e charac -

1 Th e A u th o r s
’
H er o d otu s, m ] i pp 6 3 1 —6 3 4
. . . .

2
Ges e n i u s , S c r i t p P h oe . n . M on .
”
pl 9 . .

3 T h i i g i v e i t h e m g i n of 2 C h
s s n n ar r on . xiv . 5 xxx i v 4
and .
,

as th ep p e t nsl ti o of hh mm i m
ro r ra a n a an , wh i c h s e e m c er t a i l y to n

h av e b i m g es of s om e k i d r t h e
e en a n o o r.

4
Ge se i S c i p t P h oen M on
n us,
“
pl
r . . . . 21 .

10
 1 46 The R el ig i ons f
o the A n c i ent Wor ld .

t er attach ed so that certa i n p ersons w e re from th ei r

,
1

b i rth cons e crate d to t he sacr e d hors e s and g iv e n by ,

th ei r pare nts the nam e Of Ab e d S us i m s e rvant O f -

,
”
t he hors e s as w e find by an i nscr ipt i on from C y
,

prus It may be susp e cte d that t he Hadad o r Hadar

?

3
O f t he S yr i ans was a vari ant nam e o f S hamas pe r ,
“ ”
haps conn e cte d w i th a di r glor i ous and i f so w i th , , ,

t he S epharv i te god Adramm e l e ch 4

A do d us as ,
.
,

cord i ng to Ph i lo Bybl i us was i n a ce rta i n s ens e ,

”
k i ng (m eleh) o f t he gods .

Th es e latte r cons id e rati ons m ak e i t doubt ful

wh e th e r t he Moloch o r Mol e ch who was t he ch i e f ,

d i v i n i ty O f t he Ammon i te s and O f whose worsh ip

5
,

by t he Ph oen i ci ans th e r e are c e rta i n i nd i cat ions? i s

t o b e v i e w e d as a s e parat e an d substant i v e god o r as ,

a form O f som e oth e r as o f S hamas o r O f Baal o r O f , , ,

M e l kar th o r e v e n O f El ,
Mol e ch m ean i ng s i mply .

“ ”
k i ng i s a te rm that can naturally be appl i ed to
“ ”
an gr e at god and wh i ch may e qually w e ll d e s i
y , g '

n a t e e ach O f t he four d e i t i es j ust m e nt i on e d R i te s .

l i k e thos e O f Mol e ch b elonge d ce rta i nly to El an d to

Baal ; and the nam e may be an abbre v i ati on O f
7

1
S e 2 K i n g s xx i i i 1 1
e . .

2
G e ni u s p 1 30 a d pl 1 1 N
es , . 9 ,
n .
, O . .

3 F ou n d u d e t h e for m O f Adod us i n P hil o Bybl i us ( e v 3 l )

n r . . .

4 2 Ki g xv ii 3 1
n s . .

5 S e 1 Ki g
e i 7 n s x . .

6 Th am
e B
n m l k Ab e d —
es m l ek n d M el e k i tt e n whi c h
ar -
e e , e , a -
,

occ u r i P h oe i c i i c i p t i
n n
( G i u pp
an 1 0 5 1 3
ns0 r on s es e n s, .
, ,

i m pl y g od w h o h
a i th th p pe n me f M l ch
as e is er e ro r a O o o , or

wo h i pp d s
rs th e k i g
e a
” “
n .

7 D i d Si o xx 1 4 ; P phy D e Ab ti e n ti i i 5 6 ; G s en
. c . .
” or r .
“
s n a, . e .

“
S c ipt Ph
r . M p 153
oe n . on . . .
1 48 The R eli gi on s o f the An c i en t Wor ld .

wh i ch i s (l i k e Myl itta) a corrupti on Of Ba alt i was ,

“ ”
a nam e g iv e n to V e nus by the Phoen i c i ans .

S adyk aga i n whom w e hav e m e nti on e d as a d i s ,

t i nct d e i ty o n th e stre ngth Of state m e nts i n Ph i lo

1
Bybl i us and D a m a s c i u s scarc e ly app e ars as a s e pa ,

rate Obj e ct Of worsh ip e ith e r i n Phoen i ci a o r e ls e ,

wh e r e T he n e ar e st approach t o such an app e arance

.

i s furn i sh e d by t he nam e s M e lch i z e d e k and Adon i -

,
“
z ed e k ? wh i ch may adm i t Of t he r e n de ri ngs S adyk ,
” “ ”
i s my k i ng S ady k i s my lord ,
S adyk has not .

b e e n found as an e l e m e nt i n any pur e ly Ph oen i ci an

nam e ; much l e ss i s th e r e any d isti nct r e cogn i t i on Of
h i m as a g o d upon any Ph oen i c i an monum e nt We .

a r e told that he was t h e fath e r Of E s hm u n and t h e

Kab i r i ; and as th ey w e r e c e rta i nly Ph oen i c i an gods

w e must p e rhaps acce pt S adyk as also i nclud e d
a mong th e i r d e i ti e s From his n am e w e may conclud e .

that h e was a p e rson i ficati on Of t he D i v i n e J usti ce .

E shm un i s n e xt to Baal A shtor e th and M e l , , ,

karth t he most cl e arly m ark e d and d isti nct prese n

,

t at i o n Of a s e parate d e i ty that t he Ph oen i c i an r e ma ins

s e t b e for e us H e was t he e sp e ci al god Of B e ryt u s
.

e r i st i cs wh i ch attach e d to
( )
4
B ei r u t and had charact
,

no oth e r d e i ty W hy t he Gr ee ks should hav e i d e n

.

t i fie d h i m w i th th e i r Ascl e p i as o r JE s c ul api us
5
is ,

1 Phil o By b li u s , c . iii .
3 13 ; 0 . iv.
Q 16 ; etc . D am as o . ap .

P h ot .
“
B i bl i o t h e c p . 5 73 .

2 S e e Ge n . xi v . 18, and Jo sh . x . l .

3 P hil o Byb l i u s , 0 . iii .

3 14 ; 0 . iv .
5 16 .

4 S e e D a m a s c i us a p. Ph ot . B i bl i o th e c . p . 5 73 .

5 T hi s is d on e by P hi l o O f By b l u s ( c . v .
3 by D a masc i us

( l . s . b y S t r ab o ( xv i i . a n d o t h e rs .
 The R eli g i on f
o the P hoeni ci a n s . 1 49

not cl ear H e was t he younge st son o f Sadyk and

.
,

was a youth O f gr eat b eauty w i th whom A shtore th ,

fe ll i n love as she hunte d i n the Ph oen i cian for e sts

,
.

T he fabl e r e late s how b e i ng frustrate d i n he r d e ,

'
s igns s he afte rwards change d hi m i nto a g o d a n d
, ,

transporte d h i m from e arth to h eav e n ? T h e nce forth

he w as worsh i pp e d by t he Ph oen i c i ans almost as
much as Baal and Ashtore th th e ms e lv e s H i s nam e .

b e came a fr e qu e nt e l e m e nt i n t he Ph oe n i ci an prop e r
n am e s
2
and h i s cult was tak e n to Cyprus to Car ,

t hag e and to oth e r d i stant colon i e s

,
.

W i th E s hm un must be place d t he Kab i ri w ho i n ,

t he myth ology w e r e hi s broth e rs ? though n o t born

?
Of t he sam e moth e r It i s doubtful wh e th e r t he
Kab ir i ar e to be re gard e d as or igi nally Phoen i ci an ,

o r as adopt e d i nto t he r e l ig i on O f th e nat i on from

w i thout T he wo r d app e ars to be Se m i ti c ; but t he

.
5

i d e as wh i ch attach to i t s e e m to b e lo n g to a w i d e
spr ead sup e rst i ti on wh e r e by t he d i scov e ry O f fi1 e ,

and the or i g i nal work i ng i n m e tals we r e asci 1 bed to

1
D am a s c i u s , l . s. c .

2 E shm u n -
a za r , wh o s e t o m b h a s b e e n fu d
o n at Si do n, i s th e
b est k n ow n i n s t an c e ; b u t t he Ph oe n i c i an p gi v l
i n sc r i t i o n s e a so

Bar E sh m u n , H
-
an - E s h m u n , N e t s i b E sh m u n ,
-
Ab d E h m E he -
s un , s

m un i tt e n , an d
-
o th e r s .
( S e e Ge s e n i u s ,
“
S c i p t P h oen M
r . . on .

p .

3 D a m asc i u s , l . s . c. P hil o Byb l i u s , e . v .

38 .

P h il By bl o i v 3 1 6
4 o .
’
. . .

5 S bov p 1 50 M K
ee a e, . . r . en r ic k qu e s ti o n s th e d iv
er a t i on

f m h bbi ( Egyp t f H e o d
ro a r
“
o r o tu s ,
”
p . b ut a l m os t al l

o the r w r i t er s a l l ow it .

6 Se e M r K . e nr i c k ’
s N ot e s on th e C a b i ri ,
”
i n th e w or k ab o e v
m e n t i on e d pp ,
. 26 4—28 7 .
1 50 The R eli gi ons f
o the A n c i ent World .

strong m i sshap e n and g e n e rally d w ar fish d e it ie s

, , ,

l i k e P ht hah i n Egypt H e pha i stos and t he Cyclop e s ,

“ ”
i n Gr ee c e Gav t he blacksm ith i n P e rs ia and the
, ,

gnom e s i n the Scand i nav i an and Te uton i c m ytho l o

g i e s Accord i ng to .

Ph i lo Bybl i us and 1

D a m a s c i u s ? t he
Ph oen i c ian Kab i r i
w e re s e ve n i n num
be r and accord i ng ,

C O I N O F C O SSU R A to t he S choli as t o n .

Apollon i us R ho
d in s? the nam e s O f four O f th e m w e r e A x i e rus A x i ,

O k e r s us A x i o ke r sa and C a dm i l u s o r C a s m il us
, , .

F igure s suppose d to r e pr e s e nt th e m , o r som e O f

th em ar e found u pon Ph oen i ci an co i ns as e sp e c ially
, ,
4
o n thos e o f C o s s ur a wh i ch are e xce e d i ngly curi ous ,
.

T he Kab i r i w e r e sa i d to hav e i nv e nte d sh i ps ; and 5

i t i s r e asonabl e to r e gard th e m as r e pr e s ente d by t he

P a t aec i O f H e rodotus ? wh i ch w e r e p i gmy figur e s
p l ace d by t he Ph oen i cians on t he prows Of th e i r war
gal l eys no doubt as tute lary d i v i n i ti e s T he Gr e e ks
,
.

compare d t he Kabi r i w i th th e i r o wn Castor and

?
Pollux who l i ke th e m pr e s i d e d ov e r nav i gat i on
,

B e s i d e s th e i r or i g i nal and nati v e d eiti e s, t he

1 P hi l o Bybl i u e v 3 8 s, . . .

2
D a m asc i u s , l . s . c .

3
S c h ol . ad Ap oll . R ho d Ag .
“
r on au ti c a ,
”
i . 915 .

i p t P h oe
”
4
S e e Ge s e n i u s , Sc r . n . M on .
pl 39
. .

5 P hi l o By b l i us , 0 . i ii . 14 .

6 H ero d .i ii 3 7. .

7 H “
1 3 , 2 ; i i i 29 , 6 4
ora t . 0d . . . .
1 52 The R eli g i ons o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

h i ms e l f? S he was worsh ipp e d at Carthag e i n ,

6
Cyprus? by t he Ph oen i ci an s ettl e rs at Ath e ns and
e ls e wh e r e ; but w e hav e no proof o f h er b e i ng a o

knowl e dg e d i n Ph oen i ci a i ts e lf The nam e i s conn e cte d .

by Ges e n i us w i th that Of the Egypti an godd e ss

N e i th or N e t ; but i t s e e ms rath e r to re pr e s e nt the
4
,

P e rs i an T anata w ho w a s known as T a n a i t is or ,

T a n a i s and also as Ana i t i s o r A n e i t i s to t he Gree ks

’

.
,

1Vhe th er th e r e was or was not a r e mot e and or ig i nal , ,

con n e cti on b e twee n t he godd e ss e s N e it h and T anata

i s p e rhaps Op e n to qu e st i on ; but t he form of t he
nam e T a n i th o r T a n at h? shows that the Ph oe n i ci ans
,

adopte d th e i r godd e ss not from Egypt but from , ,

P e rs i a W i th re gard to t h e characte r and attr i bute s

.

o f T a h ath i t can only b e sa i d that wh i l e i n most

, ,

r esp e cts she corre spond e d clos e ly w i th Ashtor e th ,

whom s he se e ms to hav e r e place d at Carthag e she ,

had to a c e rta i n e xte nt a mor e e l e vate d and a s e v e r e r

asp e ct T he Gr e e k s compar e d he r not only to th e i r
.

Aphr o d it é but also to th e i r Arte m i s? t h e huntr e ss

,

S
1 G ee i pp 1 6 8 1 7 4 1 7 5 1 7 7 ; D vi s C th g
e s en u s , d .
, , , a ,
“
ar a e an
”
h er R e m a i n s , l . s . c .

2
Ge s e n i u s , p . 1 51 . C om p ar e p . 1 4 6 , w h e r e t h e t ru e rea di g
n

is p o s s i bl y Ab d e —T a n i th .

3
I bi d . p 1 13
. .
4
I bi d . pp . 1 1 7, 1 1 8 .

5 Ta n a t h g f t h Ph i i w d
i s th e n a t u r al r e n d e ri n o e oe n c a n or ,

d i p f d by m w i t
“ ”
th
rath er T i th an an
( S ee ,
an s r e er r e so e r ers .

D vi a C th g d h R m i
s,
“
ar pp 274a e an er e a ns,
”
.

6
In b il i g al i i p ti g i v by G i th P h oe i c i n
n ua nsc r on en esen us , e n a

A b d T t h b m i th G k A t m i d
e -
an a ec o A i ti es n e ree r e o r ou s .
”
na s or

T t i oft c ll d t h e P e i A t m i
an a a s en
( S e P l uta h e
“
rs an r e s .
”
e a rc ,

Vi t L u u ll
. p 24 ; Boc h a t Ge og aph i a S c
c .
”
iv 19 ;. r , r a ra , .

P u a i ii 1 6 3 6
s an . t .
, , e c
 The R e li g i on f
o the Phoen i ci a n s . 153

d eity whos e nobl e form i s known to u s from many

pure and e xqu i si te statu e s It may be susp e cte d that .

t he Carthag i n i ans dw e ll i ng i n t he rough and warl i k e ,

Afr i ca r e volte d aga i nst t he softn e ss and e ffe m i nacy

,

Of the O ld Ph oe n i ci an cult and substi tute d T a n a th ,

for A shtore th to acce ntuate th ei r prote st agai nst r e

,

l ig i o us s e nsual i sm ?
It s ee ms to b e c e rta i n that i n Ph oen i ci a i ts e lf and ,

i n the adj ace nt parts Of Syr i a t he worsh i p of A s h ,

t o r e th was from t he first accompan i e d w i th l i ce nt i ous

r i te s A s at Babylon ? so i n Ph oe n i ci a and Syr i a
.

6
a t B b l u s at Ascalon at Aphaca at H i e rapol i s
y , , ,
“
t he cul t O f t he gr e at Natur e godd e ss te nd e d to -

e ncourag e d i ssolute n e ss i n t h e r e la ti ons b e tw e e n t he

s e x e s and e v e n to sanc ti fy i mpur i tie s o f the most

,
”4
abom i nabl e d e scr i pti on Ev e n i n Afri ca wh e r e ,

an or i gi n al s e v e r i ty of morals had pre va i l e d and ,

T a n i t h had b e e n worsh i pp e d as a v i rgi n w ith mar

”
ti al attri bute s and w i th s e ve re not l i ce nti ous , , ,
”6
r i tes ,
corrupti on gradually cr e pt i n ; and by t he
6
t i m e Of Augusti n e t he Carthag i n i an worsh i p o f t he
ce l e st ial godd e ss was charact e ri s e d by t he same
i mpur i ty as that of Ashtor e th i n Phoen i ci a and Syr i a .

1
Se e D vi a s s
’ “
C ar th a g e, p . 26 4 ; M ii n t e r ,
“
R l i gi
e on d es
K a r th a g er ,
”
c . 6 .

2
H er o d . i . 199 .

3
H er o d . i 105 ;
. L u c i an , D e D ea S y ra , 0 . ix ; E us eb .
“
Vi t .

C on s tan ti n . M g a ni ,
”
i ii 5 5
. .

4
T w i s tl e t o n , i n S m i th
’
s
“
Di c t i on a r y of th e B i bl e, vol . 11 .

p . 8 66 .

5 K ik e nr c , P h oe ni c ia , p . 305 .

6 A ug u t i “D C i vi t
s n e, e at e D ei ,
1 54 The R eli g i on s o f the A n c i ent Wor ld .

Anoth e r fearful blot on t he r e l i g i on O f t he Ph oe

n i c i a n s and O n e wh i ch b e longs to Carthag e qu i te as
,
1
much as to t he moth e r country i s t he syste mati c -

O ffe r i ng Of human v i ct i ms as e xp iatory sacr i fice s to , ,

El and oth e r gods T he ground Of th i s horr i bl e .

s up e rsti ti on i s to be found i n t he words addr e sse d by

Balak to Balaam 2
W h e re w ith shall I com e b e for e
t he Lord and bow mys e lf b e for e t he h i gh Go d ?
,

S hall I com e b e for e H i m w i th burnt O ffe r i ngs w i th ,

calv e s Of a ye ar Old 2 W i ll t he Lord b e pl e as e d w i th

thousands Of rams or w i th t en thousands O f r i ve rs O f ,

O il S ha ll I g ive my fir s tbor n for m y tr a nsg r es s i o n ,

”
the fr u i t of m y bo dy fo r the s i n of m y s ou l 2 As
“
Ph i lo Bybl iu s e xpre ss e s i t? It was customary
among t he ancie nts i n t i m e s O f gr e at calam i ty and ,

dange r that t he rul e rs Of t he c ity or nati on S hould

,

Offe r up t he b e st b e lov e d Of th e ir ch i ldr e n as an ,

e xp i atory sacr i fic e to t he av e ng i ng d e i t i e s : and th e s e

v i cti ms we re slaughte r e d myst i cally T he Ph oe

n i c i a n s w e r e taught that o n c e upon a t i m e t he god , ,

El h i mse lf und e r t he pre ssur e o f e xtraord i nary

,

p e r i l had tak e n his only son adorn e d hi m wi th

, ,

royal att i r e plac e d hi m as a v i cti m upon an altar

, ,

and S la i n hi m w i th his o w n hand T h e nce forth i t .

,

could n o t but b e t he duty Of rul e rs to follo w t he

d i v i n e e xampl e s et th e m ; a nd e v e n pri vate i nd i
1
S ee D i d Si xx 1 4 6 5 ; J us ti xv i i i 6 ; S il I t l i v
o . c . .
,
n, . . a .

7 6 5 —7 6 8 ; D i y H l i 3 8 ; e t C mp
on Gs . iu a S ipt. . c . o ar e es en s,
“
cr .

Ph oe n M n
.
”
pp 4 48 449 4 5 3 ; a d D avi s C ar th g e pp
o . .
, ,
n ,
“
a ,
”
.

29 6 , 26 7 .

3 M i h vi 6 ca .

, 7 .

6 Ph i l o B bl
y .
, 0 . vi .
33 .
1 56 The R eli g i on s o
f the A nc i en t Wor ld .

of r elucta nc e would hav e mad e t he sacr i fice u n ac c ep

tabl e to t he god sti ll e d th e m by th e i r car e ss e s ti ll
,

t he mom e nt wh e n th e y w e r e hand e d ov e r to t h e
i mag e wh i ch was so contr i v e d as to cons ign what
,

e v e r i t r e c e i v e d to a glow i ng furnac e und e rn e ath i t .

Inscri pt i ons found at Carthage r e cord t he offer i ng o f

1
such sacr ifi ce s T h e y cont i nu e d e v e n afte r t he
.

R oman conqu e st ; and at l e ngth t he proconsul T i be

r i us i n ord e r to put down t he practi c e hange d the
, ,

pri e sts o f th e s e bloody ri te s on t he tr ee s o f th e i r o w n

sacr e d grov e T h e p ubl i c e xh i b i ti ons o f t he sacr i
.
2

fic e th e nc e forth c e as e d but i n s e cr e t th ey sti ll con ,

3
t i n u e d down to t he t i m e o f T e rtull i an .

T he Phoe n i c ians w e r e not i dolat e rs i n t he ord i nary ,

s e ns e of t h e word that i s to say th ey d id not w o r ,

sh i p i mage s o f th e i r d e i t ie s In t he te mpl e o f .

M e l kar th at Gad e s th e r e was no mat e r i al e mbl e m o f

t h e g o d at all w i th t he e xce pt i on o f an e v e r —
,
burn i ng
"
fi re f El s e wh e r e con i cal ston e s call e d boetyli w e r e
, , ,

d e d i cate d to th e var i ous d e iti e s and r e c ei v e d a c e r

5
,

tai n qual i fi e d worsh i p b e i ng r e gard e d as poss esse d ,

1 Ge s e n i u s , p P h oen M
Sc r i t . . on .
,
pp . 44 8 , 44 9 . An i n s c r i p
t i on gi v en by D D vi ( C r . a s
“
artha g e and h er R e m a in s,
”
pp .

29 6 , 29 7 ) r e er s f t t h e p ub l io c a n n u al s a c r i fice .

2 T e r t u ll . Ap l gi a 0 io o ,
. x .

3
I bi d .

4
Si l i u s I tal . 11 . 45
5 P hil o R y bl . 0 . iv .
Q 2; D am asc . ap .
Ph ot .
“
B i bl i th o ec . p .

1 0 6 5 ; H e sy c h . ad vo c . B a l r vl og . I t h as b e e n p p d ro os e to ex

p l a i n t h e w or d bee tul us as e q iv
u al e n t to B e th -
cl ,
“
H o us e of

Go d ,
”
an d to re g d ar the Ph oe n i c i a n s a s b el i e i n v g that a d i ty
e

dw el t i n th e s to n e .
( K e nri c k , Ph oe n i c i a ,
”
p . 3 23 , n o te
 The R e li gi on o f the P hoen i c i a n s . 1 57

1
of a ce rta i n myst i c v i rtu e T h e s e ston e s s ee m .

occas i onally to hav e b ee n r e place d by p i llars wh i ch ,

w e r e set up i n front of t he t e mpl e s and had sacr i fice s ,

o ffe re d to th e m T he p i llars m ight be o f m e tal , o f

.
2

ston e or o f wood but w e r e

, ,

m ost commonly o f t he last

nam e d mate ri al a n d we re ,

call e d by t he J e ws a s her a hs ,
” 3
uprights At fe sti v e .

s e asons th ey see m to hav e

b ee n adorn e d w i th boughs
o f tr e e s fl ow e rs and r i b
, ,

ands and t o hav e form e d

,

t he ce ntral obj e ct o f a wor

sh i p wh i ch was o f a s en
sual and d e b as i ng charac
te r An e mbl e m common
.

i n t he A ssyr i an sculptur e s
i s tho u ght to gi v e a good
i d e a o f t he ord i nary app e ar
ance o n such occas i ons o f SA C R E D T R EE — A S H E R A H .

th e s e a s her a hs .

W orsh ip was con d ucte d publ i cly i n the mode usual

1 Th e or i gi n al baetu li w e r e pe rha ps a e r oli th s , wh i c h wer e re

g d d s
ar e a d i vi
si c e th y h d f l l en f
ne, m th nky e a a ro e s .

Phi l Bybl i us 0 i i i Q 7 O th p il l w shi p o f t h e

2 o , . , . n e ar -
or

P h oe i i s s B u e n Egyp t s Pl ac e i n U i v H i st y vol
n c an ,
ee ns ,
’
n . or ,
”
.

i v pp 20 8 —
. 21 2. .

A h
3 h i c m mo ly t
s er a l t d by
s o g ov e i t h e A uth o i e d
n r an s a e
“
r n r s

V i ; b t i t t u e h t h b e e p i t e d out by m y
e r s on u s r c ar a c e r as n o n an

( S e Spe k C m m e t y v l i pp : 4 1 6 4 1 7 ;
“ ”
c i ti
’
r cs . e a er s o n ar , o . .
,

“
A nc i e nt M c hi v l i i p 8 ; 2 d e d i t i on
o n ar
) es ,
”
o . . . n .
 158 The R e li g i ons o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

in anci ent t i m e s an d compr i s e d pra i se pray e r and , ,

sacr i fic e T he v i cti ms o ffe r e d we r e ord in ar i ly an i mals

.
l
,

though as alre ady shown human sacri fice s w e r e not

, ,

i nfr e qu e nt It was usual to consum e t he v i ct i ms e u

.

t i re ly u pon th e altars L i bati ons o f w i n e w er e cop i 2

.

o u s ly pour e d forth i n honour o f t he ch i e f d e i ti e s

3
and ,

i nce ns e was burnt i n lav i sh pro fus i on 4

Occas i onally .

an atte mpt was made to i nflu e nc e the d e i ty i nvok ed by

loud and prolonge d cri e s and e v e n by s e l f i n fli c ted ,
-

5
wounds and muti lat i on Fr e qu e nt fe sti vals w er e h e ld .
,

e sp e ci ally o n e at the v e rnal e qu i nox wh e n sacr i fic e s ,

w e r e m ad e on the large st scal e and a vast concours e ,

o f p e rso n s was gath e r e d tog e th e r at t h e ch i e f t e mpl e s

6
.

Altog e th e r t he r e l ig i on o f the Phoen i ci ans wh i l e ,

poss e ss i ng som e re d e e m i ng po i nts as t he abs e nce o f ,

i mag e s and d ee p s e ns e o f s i n wh i ch l e d th e m to
sacr i fice what was n e ar e st and d e are st to th e m to
app eas e the d i v i n e ange r m ust b e r e gard e d as o n e ,

o f t h e low e st and most d e bas i ng o f t h e forms o f

b e l i e f and worsh i p pr e val e nt i n t he anc ie n t world ,

comb i n i ng as i t d i d i mpur i ty w i th cru e lty the sanc ,

t i on o f l i c en ti ousn e ss w i th th e r e qu i r e m ent o f bloody

r i tes r e volti ng to th e consc i e nce and d e structi v e o f
, ,

any r i ght appr e h e nsi on o f the tru e i d ea o f Go d .

1
L u c i an ,
“
D e D y ea g 49 S ra, .

2
Ge s e n i u s , “
S i p t P h oe n M n
cr . . o . pp . 4 4 6 , 44 7 ; M overs ,
“
D as
O pfe r w e se n d e r K th ge p 7 1
ar a r,
”
.
, e tc .

3
P
hi l o By bl . 0 . iv .
é 1 .

4
Vi g r . i . 4 15 .

5 1 K i g xv ii i
n s . 26 , 28 °
L u c i an ,
“
D e D ea S y ra , Q 5 0 ; Pl u
t ar ch ,D S p e u e r st i t i o n s ,
p . 1 70 , c .

6
L u c i an ,
“
D e D ea S y ra , g 4 9 .
1 60 The R eli g i on s f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

are not l i k e ly to hav e fully und e rstood i t It i s a .

furth e r di sadvantage that o u r i nformants wr i te at a

ti m e wh e n t he Etruscans had long ce as e d to be a
nati on and wh e n t he p e opl e hav i n g b e e n subj e cte d
, ,

for ce ntur i es to fore i gn i nflu e nce s had i n all proba ,

b i li ty mod i fi e d th eir r e l igi ous v i e ws i n many i mpor

tant po i nts .

T h e re s e e ms to be no doubt that th e i r r e l i g i on ,

what e ve r i t was occup i e d a l e ad in g pos i ti on i n t he

,

thoughts and fee l i ngs o f t he Etruscan n ati on .

“
W i th Etruri a says a mod e rn w r i te r re l i g i on
”
,
“
,

i i —
was an all p ervad ng pr nc pl e t he ve ry atmosph er e
-
i
o f h e r e x i st e nc e — a l e av e n op e rat i ng o n t he e nt i r e

mass o f soci e ty a constant pre ssur e e v e r fe lt i n o n e

,

form o r oth e r a pow e r adm i tt i ng no r i val all rul i n g

, ,
-

,
1
all r e gulat ing all re qu i ri ng
-

,
L i vy calls t he E t r u s
-
.

“
cans a race wh i ch i nasmuch as i t e xce ll e d i n t he ,
‘

art o f r e l i gi ous Obs ervance s was mor e d e voted to ,

”2
th e m th an any oth e r nati on A r n o b i u s says that .

”3
Etrur i a was t he cre ator and pare n t o f sup e rsti ti on .

T he v e ry nam e o f t he nati on T u s c i was d e r i v e d by , ,

“ ” “
som e from a root thn ei n to sacr i fice o r mak e , , ,
”4
o ffe r i ngs to t he gods as if that we re t he ch i e f
occupat i on o f t he p e opl e W h i l e famous among t he .

nat i ons of anti qu i ty for th e i r art th e i r comm e rce , ,

and th e i r warl i k e qual i ti e s t he Etrusca ns w e re ,

1 D e ni n Ci ti es n d C e m e t e i es of E t u i a v l i I n t od uc
s,
“
a r r r ,
o . . r

ti on, p xl i x
. .

2 “G te
e n s an m n e ali as c c m a g i s d e d i t a r el i g i on i b u s q u o d
o s ,

e x c e l l e r e t a r t e c ol e n d i e a s L iv . v . 1 .

3 A r n ob .
“
Adv G t e vi i
. en s, .

4
Ser vi u s,
“
C o m m e nt i n V i g . r . fE n . x . l 25 7 . .
 The R e li g i on o
f the E tr u sc a n s . 1 61

abov e all e lse ce l e brate d fo r th e i r d e vot i on to th e i r

re l igi on and for t he z e al and scrupulous care w i th
,

wh ich th ey pract is e d t he vari ous Obs e rvance s o f i ts

”1
r i te s and ce r e mon i e s .

T he obj e cts o f worsh i p we r e t w ofold i nclud i ng ,

( )
1 D e i t i e s prop e r and ( )
2 t h e Lar e s o r anc e stral
, ,

S p i r i ts of e ach fam i ly T he d ei ti e s prop e r may b e .

d i v id e d i nto th r e e class e s : first those whose sph e r e ,

was t he h e ave n o r som e port i on o f i t ; s e condly , ,

thos e who b e longe d more prop e rly to e arth and

th i rdly those o f t he i nfe rnal r egi ons o r n e th e r world
, , ,

wh i ch h e ld a prom i n e nt place i n t he syste m and was ,

almost as much i n t he thoughts o f t he p e opl e as th e ir

” 2
Am e nt i was i n t he thoughts o f t h e Egyptians .

T h e ch i e f d e i t i e s o f t he H e av e n w e r e t he follow
i n g five : T i na o r T i n i a Cupra M e n r va Us i l and
, , , ,

Losna .

T i na o r T i n i a who was r e cogn is e d as t he ch i e f

, ,
3
god and whom t he Gr e e ks compar e d to th e i r Z e us
, ,

and t he R omans to th e i r Jup i te r s ee ms to hav e b e e n ,

or ig i nally t he h e av e n i ts e lf consi d e r e d i n i ts e nti r e ty , ,

and thus corre spond e d both i n nam e and natur e to

the Ti e n o f t he Ch i n e s e w i th whom i t may b e sus ,

e c te d that t he Etruscans had som e e thn i c a ffin i ty

p .

T i na i s sa i d to hav e had a S p e ci al te mpl e d e d i cate d

to hi s honour i n e v e ry Etruscan c i ty and i n e v e ry ,

l S m i t h ,
“ D i c ti on y ar of G ree k and R om an G g phy eo ra , vol .

i p . 86 5 .

2 See ab o ve , p 33. .

3
D ennis ,
“
C i ti es an d C e m e te ri e s , v ol . i .
“
I n t o d u c t i on
r ,

p . 1 ; T yl
a or ,
“
Et r us c an R e s e ar c h e s , p . 132 .

11
1 62 The R eli g i on s o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

1
such c i ty o n e of the gate s bore h is nam e H e ap .

p e ars to have b ee n som e ti m e s worsh i pp e d und e r t he

app el lati on of S ummanus w h i ch p e rhaps m e ant t he ,

supre m e god ”2
W e must not howe v e r tak e th i s
.
, ,

t e rm as i nd i cati v e of a late n t monoth e ism wh e re of ,

th e r e i s no trac e i n t he Etruscan r e l ig i on but only ,

as a t i tl e o f honour o r at m ost as a r e cogn i t i on o f a ,

sup e r i or i ty i n rank and d ign i ty on t he part o f th i s

god who was pr im us i n ter pa r es t he pr e s id i ng sp i r i t
, ,

i n a conclav e o f e quals .

N e xt to T i na cam e Cupra a godd ess who app e ars , ,

3
to hav e also born e the nam e o f T halna o r T hana .

T he Gre e k s compar e d he r to th e i r H era and t h e ,

R omans to th e i r Juno or som e t im e s t o th ei r D iana , ,

who was ori g i nall y t he sam e d e i ty L i k e Ti na .

,

Cupra had a te mpl e i n e v e ry Etruscan ci ty and a ,

gate n am e d afte r he r 4
It i s thought by som e that .

s h e was a p e rson i ficat i on o f l i ght o r day ;

5
but th i s ,

i s unce rta i n H e r nam e Thana looks l i k e a m e r e

.
, ,

var iant o f T i na and would s e e m to mak e he r a m e r e ,

fe m i n i n e form o f t he sky god his compl e m e nt and -

counte rpart stand i ng to hi m as Am e nte to Ammon

,

i n t he Egypt i an o r as Luna to Lunns i n the R oman ,

myth ology A s i mi lar r e lati on i s found to hav e sub

.

1 v
S e r i us , “
C om m e n t in Vi g [ E r . n i 4 22 .

2 M ax M ul l er, S c i en c e o f R l i gi o
e n, p . 3 76 .

3 Th e n am e C p u ra is k n ow n to us on l y f om
r S t r ab o (
“
Ge o
g ph
ra .
”
v p
. , Th al n a is f o un d on Et r u sc a n m on u m e n t s .

4
v
Ser i us , l . s . c .

5
G erhar d , G ot t h eiten d er Et r us ke r, p . 40 ; T ayl or , E tr u s
”
c an R e s e a r c h es , p 1 42 . .
164 The R e li g i on s o
f the A n c i en t I Vor ld .

bow and arrows Losna had the cre sce nt for he r .

1

e mbl e m and was figure d n early as D iana by th e

2
,
3
R omans .

Ne xt to Us i l and Losna may be place d i n a group

the thr ee e l e m e ntal gods S e t hl a n s t he god o f fi re , , ,

i d e nti fi e d by t he Etruscans th e ms e lv e s w i th t he
Gree k H e pha l st os and the Lat i n Vulcan N et hu n s ,

t he wat e r g o d probably t he sam e as N e pt u n u s

-

,
and
’
P h uphl a n s t h e god o f e arth and all e arth s products
, ,

who is w e ll compar e d w i th D i onysus and Bacch us !

P hu phla n s was t he sp e c i al d e i ty o f P upl u n a o r (as ,

t he R omans call e d i t) Populon i a

5
H e s e e ms to hav e .

6
b ee n call e d also Vortumnus or Volturnus and i n
th i s asp e ct he had a fe mal e counte rpart V o lt um n a , ,

whose t e mpl e was t he place of m ee t i ng wh e re t he

pr i nce s o f Etruri a d i scuss e d the affai rs o f the Con
fe d e rat i on 7
.

Anoth e r group o f thre e cons ists o f T uran T h e sau , ,

and T urms n at i v e Etruscan d e i ti e s as i t would s e e m

, , ,

corr e spond i ng more o r l e ss clos e ly to the Aphrod i te,

E os and H e rm e s o f t he Gr e e ks and t h e V e nus
, , ,

Aurora and M e rcur i us o f the R omans O f th e se

,
.

T uran i s t he most fr e qu e ntly found but ch i e fly i n ,

subj e cts tak e n from the Gr e e k mythology wh i l e ,

1 T yl
a Et u c R
or ,
“
h p 1 43 r s an e s e ar c es, . .

2
L i S ggi d l l L i gu E t
an z ,
“
a v l p 76
o e a n a r us c a , o . 11 . . .

3D i C i ti
enn s, d C m t i “
v l i I t d ti p liv
es an e e e r es ,
”
o . . n ro uc on , . .

4
T yla
“ Et us
or , R h ” p 1 41 ; S m i t h D i c t f
r c an e s ea r c es, .
, . o

G k d R m A ti qui ti
ree an v l i p 865
o . n es,
”
o . . . .

5D i “ C i ti
enn s , d C m t i v l i i p 242 e s an e e er es ,
”
o . . . .

6I bi d v l i I t d u c t i o
. o p li i i
. . n ro n, . .

; v 1 7 etc
7 L i v i v 23 6 1
. . . .
, ,
 The R eli gi on o
f the E tr us c a ns . 165

Th e sau occurs t he l e ast o fte n Accord i ng to o n e v i e w .

,

t he na m e T urms i s t he m e r e Etruscan m od e o f wr i ti ng
t he Gr e e k word H e rm e s t he tru e nat i v e nam e hav i ng
l
,

b ee n Cam i ll us o r Kam i l 2
I t doe s not app e ar that .

any of th e s e thr e e gods was much worsh i pp e d by the

Etruscans T h ey figur e d i n the mythology but lay
.
,

almost outs i d e the r e l i g i on .

T he ma i n characte r i n wh i ch t he gods o f h e av e n
and e arth w e re r e cogn i se d by the Etruscans was that
o f rul e rs s i gn i fy i ng and som e t i m e s e x e cut i ng th e i r
, , ,

w i ll by m e ans o f thund e r and l ightn i ng Ni n e gre at .

gods known as t he N o v e n s i l e s we re b e l i e ve d t o hav e

, ,

t he pow e r of hurl i ng thund e rbolts and w e r e th e r e ,

3
for e h e ld i n sp e c i al honour O f th e s e n i n e Ti n i a .
, ,

Cupra M e n r va and Se thlan s w e re un doubte dly four

, , , .

S ummanus and V ej ov i s who a r e som e ti m e s spok e n ,

o f as thund e r i ng gods s e e m to be m e re nam e s o r as 4

,

e c ts o f T i n ia T h e Etruscans r e cogn i s e d tw e lv e
p .

sorts o f thund e r bolts and ascr i be d w e ar e told t o -

, , ,
5
T i n i a three of th e m .

B ut i t was to the uns ee n world b e n e ath the e arth ,

t he place to wh i ch m e n w e nt afte r d e ath and wh e r e ,

t he souls o f th e i r ance stors r e s i d e d that t he Etruscans ,

d e vote d t he ch i e f porti on o f th e i r r e l igi ous thought ;

and w i th th i s w e re conn e cte d t he bulk o f th e i r r e l i
g i o u s Obs e rvanc e s Ov e r t h e dark r e alms of t he d e ad
.

1 T yl
a Etor , R “
h p 1 49
ru sc an e s ea r c es,
"
. .

2 S C ll i m h
o a
p S v i V i g fE
ac us a i 1 5 43 . er . n r . n . x . . .

3
V “D
arr o , L i g L t v 7 4 ; Pl i
e nH N i i 5 3 ; M an i
. a .
”
. n .
“
. . .

lius a p A. ob Adv G t
rn i ii 38
.
“
. e n es ,
”
. .

1 ; Am m M
4 Pl i n . . s . vn 1 0 Q 2
c . . ar c . x .
, .

”
5 S en ec .
“
N at .
Q u ee s t . ii 41 . .
1 66 The R e li g i ons o
f the An c i en t Wor ld .

rul e d Mantus and Man i a k i ng and qu e e n o f Had es , ,

t he form e r r e pr e s e nte d as an o l d man w e ar i ng a ,

crown and w i th w i ngs o n hi s should e rs and be ar i ng

, ,

i n hi s hands som e t i m e s a torch som e t i m e s two o r ,

“
thr e e large na i ls wh i ch are thought to in d i cate the
,
1
i n e v i tabl e characte r o f hi s d e cr e e s
’
Inti mate ly con .

n e c t e d w i th th e s e d e i ti e s th e i r pr i m e m i n i ste r and ,

most acti ve ag e nt cru e l h i d e ous hal f h u man half , , , ,

an i mal t he ch i e f figur e i n almost all t he r epre s e nta

,

t i ons o f t he low e r world i s t he d e mon Charun i n , , ,

nam e no doubt i d e nt i cal w i th t he Styg ian fe rryman

o f t h e Gr ee ks b ut i n characte r so d i f,
fe r e nt that i t has
e v e n b e e n ma i nta i n e d that th e r e i s n o analogy b e t wee n
“
th e m ?
Charun i s g e n e rally re pre s en te d as a squal i d
and h i d e ous o l d man w i th flam i ng e ye s and savage
asp e ct ; but he has mor e ov e r t he e ars and ofte n t he , , ,
”
tusks of a brute w i th ( som e ti m e s n e gro fe atur e s
,
”3
a n d compl e x i on and fre qu e ntly w i ngs ,
so that he ,

answe rs w e ll clov e n fee t e xce pte d t o t he mod e rn

, ,
”
conce pti on o f the d e v i l H i s brow i s so m e ti m e s .

bound round by snak e s at oth e r t i m e s he has a snak e

twi ste d round hi s arm ; and he bears i n h is hands
almost un i v e rsally a hug e mall e t o r hamm e r u p ,

ra ise d as if he w e r e about to d e al a d e ath strok e

,
-
.

W h e n d e ath i s b e i ng i nfl i cte d by man he stands by , ,

“ ”4
gri nn i ng wi th savage d e l ight ; wh e n i t com e s
1
D e n nis , Ci ti e s an d Cem et e r i es , vol . I n t o d uc t i n p
i . r o , . l vi .

2 Am b r o s c h , “
De Ch ar c ut e Et r us c o ,
”
q uot e d by D enni s , vol .

11 . p 20 6
. .

3 De i nn s , C i ti e s a nd C em et eri es , vol . ii . p . 20 6 .

4 I bd p
z . . 20 7 .
16 8 The R e l ig i on s f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

happ i n e ss banqu e t i ng o r hunt ing o r play ing at

, , ,

gam e s and oth e r w i s e e nj oy i ng th e m se lv e s ; but t he

,
1

grounds o f t he two d iffe re nt cond it i ons i n wh i ch the

d e parte d sp i r i ts e x ist a re n o t cl e arly s e t forth and i t ,

i s analogy rath e r than stri ct e v i d e nc e wh i ch l eads us

to the conclus i on that d e s e rt i s the ground o n wh i ch
t he happ i n e ss and m i s e ry a re d i str i bute d .

B e s id e s Charun and h is nam e l e ss atte ndant d emons

and furi e s t he Etrus can r e mai n s g i v e e v id e nce o f a
,

b e l ie f i n a ce rta i n small numb e r o f g e n ii o r sp 1 r i ts , ,

hav i ng d e fin i te nam e s and a mor e or l e ss d i st i nct and

,

p e cul i ar chara cte r O n e o f the most cl e arly mark e d

.

o f th e s e i s V a n th o r D e ath who app e ars i n s e v e ral

, ,

o f t he s e pulchral sc e n e s e i th e r stand i ng by t h e doo r ,

o f an op e n tomb o r prompt i ng th e slaught e r o f a

,

pri son e r or oth e rwi s e e ncourag i ng carnage and d e

,
? ”
str ucti on Anoth e r i s K u l m u god o f t he tomb , ,

who b e ars the fatal sh e ars i n o n e hand and a fun e ral

torch i n t he oth e r and op e ns t he door o f t he s epul
,

chre that i t may r e c e i v e i nto i t a fre sh i nmate 3

A .

th i rd b e i ng o f t he sam e class i s N a thun s a sort of ,

mal e fury r epr e se nte d w ith tusk l i k e fangs and ha i r

,
-

s tand i ng o n e n d wh i l e i n e i th e r hand h e grasps a

,

s e rp e nt by the m iddl e wh i ch h e shak e s ov e r av e n ge rs

,

i n ord er to e xc i te th e m to t he h i gh e st p i tch of fr e nzy .

1 D en nis , C i ti e s an d Cme e t e r i es , vol . i . pp . 444 —446 .

2
T yl
a or , E tr us c a n R e s e ar c h e s , pp . 1 0 0 —1 0 2 .
( F or th e
f
s c en es r e erre d to , see Mi c al i , M o n u m e n ti I diti
ne , pl l x ;. . an d

D es V g
’ ”
er ers , L E t r ur i e et l e s E tr u s q u e s , pl .

3I bi d p . . 94 .

4
T yla or , Et r u sc a n R e s e ar c h e s , p . 112 .
 The R e lig i on o
f the E tr u sca n s . 1 69

In the i r worsh ip t he Etruscans sought first o f all ,

and e sp e ci ally to k now t he w i ll o f t he gods wh i ch

, ,

th ey b e l i e v e d to b e s i gn i fi e d to man i n three pr inci

pal ways T he s e w e r e thund e r and l i ghtni ng wh i ch
.
,

th ey ascri b e d to t he d i r e ct acti on o f the h e ave nly

po we rs ; t he fl ight o f b i rd s wh i ch th ey suppos e d to ,

be subj e ct to d i v i n e gu i dance ; an d c e rta i n app e ar

au ce s i n t he e ntrai ls of v i cti ms o ffe re d i n sacr ifice ,

wh i ch th ey also r egard e d as sup e rnaturally i nduce d

o r i nflu e nc e d T o i nte rpr e t th e s e i nd i cati ons o f t he
.

d i vi n e w i ll i t w as n e cessary to hav e a class o f pe r

,

sons trai n e d i n t he trad iti onal k nowl e dge o f the s igns

i n qu e st i on and sk i ll ed to g i v e a r i ght e xplanat i on
,

o f th e m t o all i nqu i r e rs H e nce t he posi t i on o f t he .

“
pri esthood i n Etrur i a wh ich was an all dom i nant ,
-

h i e rarchy , mai nta i n i ng i t s sway by an arrogant e x

c l u s i ve cla i m to i nt i mate acqua i ntanc e w i th t he w i ll
”I
o f h e av e n and t h e d e cr e e s o f fate
,
T he Etruscan .

pri ests we re not l i k e t he Egypt i an the te ach e rs of

, ,

t he p e opl e t he i nculcators o f a h i gh moral i ty o r t he

, ,

e xpound e rs o f e sote r i c doctr i n e s o n t h e subj e cts o f

man s r e lati on to God his tru e ai m i n l i fe and hi s

’
, ,
2
ulti mate d e sti ny ; th ey w e r e soothsay e rs who sought ,

to e xpound t he futur e i mm e d iate or r e mote to warn , ,

m e n aga i n s t com i ng dang e rs to sugg e st mod e s o f ,

av e rti ng the d i v i n e ange r and thus to sav e m en from ,

D 1 en ni s ,
“ Ci ti es an d C e m ete ri e s , vol . i . I n t o d uc ti
r on , p .

xxx i x .

2
C ic .
“ D e D i vi n at i on e , i . p . 4 1 , 42 ; S en e c .
“
N at .
Q u ees t .

i i 3 2; D i o d Si c
. . .v p . . 316 ; Di y on s . H al i x. . p . 5 6 3 ; A ul us G el l .

iv 5 ;. L u can ,
“
Ph ar s . i 1
. . 58 7 , etc .
1 70 The R e li g i ons o
f the A nci en t Wor ld .

e v i ls wh i ch would oth e rwi s e hav e com e upon th e m

unawar e s and r ui n e d or at any rate gre atly i nj ure d , ,

th e m M e n w e r e taught to obse rve t he s i gns i n t he

.

sky and t he app e arance and fl ight o f b irds t he

, ,

so unds wh i ch th ey u tte re d th ei r pos i ti on at the t i m e , ,

and var i ous oth e r parti culars ; th ey w e r e b idd e n to

note whate ve r cam e i n t h e i r way that s ee m e d to th e m
u nusual o r abnormal and to r e port all to t h e pr i e sts , ,

who th e re upon pronounce d what the s i gns obs erv e d

porte nd e d and e i th e r announc e d an i n e vi tabl e doom
,
1
,

o r pr e scr i b e d a mod e wh e r e by t he doom m i ght b e

postpon e d or av e rte d S om e ti m e s t he s i gns r eporte d .

w e r e d e clar e d to affe ct m e r e ly i nd i v i duals ; but fr e

qu e ntly the word w e nt forth that dange r was por
te nd e d to t he state ; and th e n i t was for the pri e st
hoo d to d e te rm i n e at once t he nature and e xte nt o f
t h e dang e r and also t he m e asur e s to b e adop te d
,

und e r t he ci rcumstance s S acr i fice s on a vast scal e .

o r o f an unusual characte r w e r e commonly com

m a n de d i n such cas e s e v e n human v i ct i ms b e i ng ,

occas i onally o ffe r e d to t he i nfernal d e i ti e s Mantus ,

and Man i a whos e wrath i t was i mposs ibl e to a p

2
,

p e ase i n any l e ss fe arful way C e rtai n boo ks i n t he .

poss e ss i on o f t he h i e rarchy ascr i be d to a half d i vi n e , ,

1 Th e E t r u s c a n s g i d
r ec o n se a p ow er of Fate , su p er i or to th e
gr eat g d th m
o s e se lv
es, Ti i n a an d the o th e r s , r e s i di g n in c e r tai n

“
Di I v l ut i
n o
”
,
or Di S p i u e r or e s , w h o w er e t h e r ul e r s o f b oth
g d o s an d m en ( Se n e c . N at Q . u ees t .
”
ii .

2 Eps e c i a ll y to M ani a
( M a c r ob .
“
S a t u r n al i a , i . H um a n

s ac r ific e s ar e th o u ght to be re p res ent e d i n t h e E tr us c a n r em ai n s

( D e n n is ,
“
Citi es and C em eteri es ,
”
vo l . ii . pp . 1 90 ,
172 The R e li g i ons o f the A n c i en t World .

e v ery morn i ng and sacr i fice occas i onally ? And e ach

,

fam i ly ce rta i nly had i t s fam i ly tomb construct e d o n ,

th e mod e l o f a hous e i n wh i ch t he sp i r i ts o f i ts ,

ance stors we r e r e gard e d as r e s i d i ng T he tombs .

” “
th e ms e lv e s w e a re told ar e e xact i m i tati ons o f
, ,

t he hous e T h e re i s usually an oute r v e st i bul e

.
,

appar e ntly appropri ate d to t he annual fun e ral feast

from thi s a passage l eads to a larg e ce ntral chamb e r ,

wh i ch i s l i ghte d by w i ndows cut through t he rock .

T h e c e ntra l hall i s surround e d by smal l e r chamb e rs ,

i n wh i ch t he d e ad r e pos e On t he roo f w e s ee carv e d .

i n ston e t he broad b e am o r roof tr ee w i th raft e rs ,

-

i m i tate d i n r e l i e f o n e i th e r s i d e and e v e n i m i tat i ons ,

o f t he t i l e s T h e s e chamb e rs conta i n the corps e s

.
,

and a re furn i sh e d w i th all t he i mpl e m e nts orna ,

m e nts and ute ns i ls use d i n l i fe The to m bs a re i n

,
.
,

fact place s fo r t he d e ad t o l i v e i n T he pos i ti on and

,
.

s u rround i ngs o f t he d e c e as e d ar e ma d e to a ppr o x i

mate as clos e ly as possi bl e to the cond it i on s o f l i fe .

T he couch e s o n wh i ch t he corps e s r epo s e hav e a t r i

c l i n i a l arrang e m e nt and a r e furn i sh e d w i th cush i ons
,

carv e d i n ston e ; and i m i ta ti ons o f e asy cha i rs and -

footstools a r e care fully h e wn o u t o f t he rock Ev e ry .

th i ng i n short i s arra n ge d as if t he d e ad w e re r e c l i n
, ,

i n g at a banqu e t i n th e i r accustom e d dwe ll i ngs On .

t he floor stand W i n e — j ars ; and t he most pr e ci ous

b e long in gs o f t he d e ce ase d— arms ornam e nts , and ,

Th d C de p r ov i d d d
!
1 I n th e eo os i a n o i t w as e th at n o on e s h o ul

any l on g e r w or s h i p h i s l a r w i th fi r e (
“
n ul l us L ar e m i g ne v en e

or , in ot h e r w or d s , c on t i nu e to s ac ri fice t o hi m .
( S ee

K e i g htl ey
’
s
“
My th ol o gy ,
”
p .
 The R e l ig i o n o
f the E tr us c a n s . 173

m i rrors — hang from t he roof o r a re susp e n de d on ,

t he walls T he walls th e ms e lve s a r e r i chly d e co

.

rat e d usually b e i ng pa i nte d w i th r e pre s e ntati ons of

,

fe sti ve sce n e s ; w e s e e figure s i n ga i ly e mbro id e r e d -

garm e nts r e cl i n ing o n couch e s wh il e atte ndants r e ,

pl e n i sh t he gobl e ts o r b e at t i me to t he mus i c of t he
,

p i p e rs Noth i ng i s om i tte d whi ch can conduc e to

.

th e amus e m e nt o r comfort of t he d e c e as e d T he ir .

sp i ri ts we re e v i d e ntly b e l i e v e d to i nhab i t th e s e hous e

to m bs afte r d e ath j ust as i n l i fe th ey i nhab i te d th e i r
,
”1
hous e s .

Th e tombs w e re not p e rman e ntly clos e d Once .

a y e ar at l e ast p e rhap s oft e n e r i t was customary

, ,

for t he surv i vi ng r e lat i ve s to v i s i t t he r e sti ng plac e -

o f th e i r d e part e d d e ar on e s to carry t h e m o f f e r i ngs as

,

to ke ns o f affe ct i onate re gard and sol i ci t th e i r favour ,

and prot e ct i on T he pr e se nts brought i nclud e d por

.

tra i t statu e s ; cups d i sh e s lamps armour vas e s

-

, , , , ,

m i rrors g e ms s e als and j e we ll e ry ? Inscr i p ti ons

, , ,

fre qu e ntly accompan ie d the offe ri ngs ; and th e s e sho w

that the g i fts we re mad e not to t he sp ir i t o f the ,

tomb or to t he i nfe rnal gods , or to any oth e r d e i tie s

, ,

but to the p e rsons whos e r e ma in s w e re d e pos ite d i n

t he s e pulchr e s 3
T h e i r sp i ri ts w e r e no doubt r e gard e d
.

as conc i l i ate d by t he pre s e nts ; and pract i cally i t i s , ,

probabl e that far more valu e was attache d to t he

1 T yla or ,
“
Et r usc an R e s e ar c h e s , pp . 46 48
-
.

2 I bi d . pp . 27 1 , 3 0 6 , e tc .

3 Wi th out acc e pti g n al l Mr . T yl

a or s
’
r en d eri n g f th f
s o e un e r e al

i n sc ripti on s , I am of O pi n i on tha t h e has s uc c e e d di e t

e n s ab l i s h

i n g this p oi nt .
1 74 The R eli g i on s f
o the A n ci en t Wor ld .

foste r i ng care of th e s e n e arly all ie d prot e ctors tha n

to t he favour o f the awful gods of e arth and h e av e n ,

who w e r e d i stant b e i ngs d i mly appr e h e nd e d and , ,

ch i e fly kn own as w i e ld e rs of thund e rbolts .

As a whol e t he Etruscan re l ig i on must be pro,

n o u n c e d o n e of t h e l e ast e l e vati ng of t he forms o f

ancie nt b e l i e f It pre s e nte d t he gods ma i nly und e r

.

a s e ve r e and forb i dd i ng asp e ct as b e i ngs to b e ,

dre ad e d and prop i ti ate d rath e r than lov e d and wor ,

sh i pp e d I t e ncourage d a sup e rsti ti ous r e gard for

.

om e ns and porte nts wh i ch fill e d t he m i nd w i th fool ,

i s h alarms and d i stracte d m e n from t he p e rformance

,

o f t h e dut i e s o f e v e ry day l i fe It foste r e d t he pr i d e

-
.

and van ity of t he pr i e stl y cl ass by attr i but i ng to

th e m sup e rhuman w i sdom and som e th in g l ike i n fa l ,

l ib il i ty wh i l e i t d e moral i s e d t he p e opl e by forci ng

,

th e m to cr i nge b e fore a s e lfish and arrogant hi e r ar ~

chy If i t d i m i n i sh e d t he natural t e nd e ncy o f m e n

.

to ov e rvalue the affa i rs of th i s transi tory l i fe by ,

placi ng prom i n e ntly b e fore th e m the ce rta i nty and

i mportanc e o f t he l i fe b e yond t h e grav e y e t i ts i n ,

fl ue n c e was d e bas i ng rath e r than e l e vat i ng from t he ,

coars e n e ss o f t he r e pre s e ntati ons wh i ch i t gav e al ik e

o f t he ha
pp i n es s a nd m i s e ry o f t h e futur e stat e W h e r e .

t h e i d e a e nt e rta i n e d of t he good m an s final bl i ss

’

mak e s i t cons ist i n fe asti ng and carous i ng and t he 1

,

1S e D i
e C i ti d C m t i
en n s ,
“
v l i p 29 4
es an Th y e e er es , o . . . :
“
e

( th E t e
) b l i v d i
r u s c an s
e t h m t i l i t
e y f teh l n
; d t h i e a er a o e s ou an e r

E l y i m w s b u t gl o i fi t i
s u a f th p a t t t
r f xi t
ca on o e r es en s a e o e s enc e

th e sa me p ui t m m t
ur s d pl s, a th y h d
use li h d
en s , an e a sur e s e a re s e

i t hi l i f t h y xp t d i t h n x t b u t d i v t d f t h i
n s e e e ec e nti g e e ,
es e o e r s n ,

an d h d by i e e d c p c i t i s f e j y m nt To l e
en anc e nc r as a a e o n o e . ce
 CHAPTE R VII .

R E L I G IO N O F TH E A N C IE N T GR E E KS .

Th e G ree k r el i gi on was th e r e s ul t o f the pe c u li a r d e v l op

e

m en t and h i s tor y of the G r e c i an p opl e e .

”
D O L L I N GE R
— , J ew a nd

Gen tile , vo l . i . p . 68 .

“
H AT in
ge n e ral the Gr e e k r e l i g i on may be
corr e ctly d escri b ed as a worsh i p of Nature ; and
that most o f i ts d e i tie s corr e spond e d e i th e r to ce rta i n
parts o f t he s e ns i bl e world o r to ce rtai n classes o f ,
”
obj e cts compr e h e nd e d und e r abstract noti ons is a ,

r e mark o f B i shop T hirl w a ll i n wh i ch most cr i ti cs

1

at t he pr e se nt day w i ll acqu i e sce w i th r e ad in e ss .

Place d i n a r e gi on o f mark e d b e au ty and var iety and ,

sympath i s i ng strongly w i th t he mate ri al world around

hi m t he l i v e ly Gr e e k saw i n t he obj e cts w i th wh i ch
,

he was bro u ght i nto contact no i n e rt mass o f dull ,

and l ife l e ss matte r but a crowd o f m ighty age nci e s

, ,

full o f a wond e rful e n e rgy The t ee mi ng e arth t he .

,

qu i ck e n ing sun t he r e stl e ss s ea t he i rr e s isti bl e storm

, , ,

e v e ry d i splay o f sup e rhuman m i ght wh i ch he b e h e ld ,

nay all moti on and growth i mpre ss e d hi m w i th t he

, ,

s e ns e of som e th i ng l i v i ng and work i ng H e did not .

,

how e ve r l i ke hi s Ind i an broth e r, d e i fy (as a g en eral

,

1
Hi stor y of G reec e, vol . i . p . 21 7 .
 R eli g i on o f the An c i en t Gr eeks . 177

rul e ) the obj e ct s th ems e lves; or at any rate , i f he had ,

e ve r don e so i t was i n a r e m ot e past of wh i ch lan

, ,
1
guage alon e re ta i n e d t he trace ; he d id n o t i n t he ,

t i m es i n wh ich he is r e ally known to us worsh ip the ,

storm or t he sun , o r the earth , or t he ocean or t he

, ,

w i nds o r t he r i v e rs but by t he powe r o f his i magi

, , ,

nati on , he i nv e ste d all the s e th i ngs w i th p e rsonal i ty .

Ev e rywh e re around him i n all the d i ffe r e nt local i ties , ,

and d epartm e nts and d i v i s i ons and subd iv i s i ons of

, ,

t he phys i cal world he r e cogn is e d ag e nci e s o f uns ee n

,

b e i ngs e ndue d w i th l i fe vol i ti on and d es ign Natur e , ,

.

was p e opl e d fo r hi m w i th a countl e ss multi tud e o f

such i nv i s i bl e powe rs som e i nhab i ti ng t he e arth , ,

som e the h eav en som e the sea som e t he dark and

, ,

dre adful r e gi on b e n e ath the e arth i nto wh i ch the ,

’ “ ”
sun s rays could not p e n e trate O f such b e i ngs .
,
2
as Mr Grote obs e rv e s
. th e r e w er e num e rous var i e ,

tie s and many gradati ons both i n powe r and at tr i

,

bute s ; th er e we r e d iffe re nc e s of ag e s e x and local , ,

r es i d e nce r e lati ons both conj ugal and fil i al b e twe e n

, , ,

th e m and te nd e nci e s sympathe ti c as w e ll as r e pug

,

nant The gods form e d a sort o f pol i ti cal commun i ty

.

o f th e i r own wh i ch had i ts h i e rarchy i ts d i str i but i ons

, ,

of ranks and dutie s i ts conte ntions for powe r and , ,

occas i onal r e voluti ons i ts publ i c m ee tings i n t he ,

agora o f Olympus and i ts multitud i nous banquets ,

o r fe sti vals The gre at Olymp i c gods w e re i n fact,

.
,

1 Z e u s m ay h a e b e e n v on c e D y a us , th e “
s ky
”
( M a x M ii ll e r ,

C p fh i s r om a e r m an G W k or sh o ,
”
p
vol i i . .
p . 7 2) b ut t h e w o r d
v y ly
er ear b e c am e a p op e r r nam e an d d s i g n at e d p e
e a r s on .

2 Hi s t or y of G r eec e ,
”
vo l . i . pp . 46 3 4 6 5
- .
178 The R eli g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

only t he most e xalte d amongst an aggr e gate o f quas i

human or ultra human p ersonage s— d ae mons h e ro e s
-

, ,

nymphs eponymous ge n ii i d e nti fi e d w i th e ach r i ve r

, , ,

mounta i n cap e town v i llage o r known c i rc um s c r ip

, , , ,

ti on o f te rr i tory b e s i d e s hors e s bulls and dogs o f

, , , ,

i mmortal br ee d and p e cul i ar attr i bute s monste rs o f ,

strang e l i n e am e nts and comb i nati ons Gorgons and ,

Hydras and Ch i m aeras d i r e

, and b es i d e s ge nti l e -
‘

’
and ance stral d e i ti e s and p e cul i ar b e in gs whos e ,

bus i n e ss i t was to c c op e rate or i mp e d e i n t he vari ous

-

stag e s o f e ach trad e o r bus i n e ss .

’

Num e rous add iti ons m ight be m ad e to th i s l i st .

Not o n ly had e ach mounta i n chai n and mountai n — top

a s eparat e pr e s i d i ng g o d or godd e ss but troops o f ,

Or e ads i nhab i te d the mou ntai n r eg i ons and dis ,

porte d th e ms e lv e s among th e m not only was th e re

a r i v e r god to e ach ri v e r a S i m 0 1 s and a S camand e r
-
, ,

an E n ipe us and an A c he l o ii s but e v e ry n am e l ess ,

str eam and brookl e t had i ts wate r nymph e ve ry -

spr i ng and founta i n i ts na iad wood —nymphs p e opl e d

t he glad e s and d e lls o f t he for e st r e g i ons ; a i r gods -

mov e d i n the z e phyrs and the br ee z e s ; e ach i nd i

v idual oak had i ts dryad To the gods prop e r w e r e .

a d d e d t he h e ro e s gods of a low e r grad e and th e s e

, ,
“
a re spok e n o f as th i rty thousand i n numb e r ,

guard ian d aemons sp i r i ts o f d e parte d h e ro e s who a re

, ,

co n ti nually walk i ng ov e r e arth v e il e d i n darkn e ss , ,

watc h ing t he d e e ds o f m e n and d i sp e ns i ng w e al o r ,

’ 1
w oe .

1
Thi rl vval l , “
H i s to r y of G re ec e , vo l . i . p . 23 5 . C mp
o ar e

H es i o d ,
“
Wo k r s an d D y a s, 1 25 0
. .
1 80 The R elig i ons f
o the An c i e nt Wor ld .

t he god s wh o fall i nto at l e ast five d efin i te class es

, ,
1

cl e arly d ist i ngu i sh e d t he o n e from the oth er F i rst .

and fore most com e t he Olymp ic d e i tie s tw e lve i n ,

numbe r s i x mal e and s i x fe mal e but not as a rul e

, ,

conn e ct e d toge th e r i n pai rs— Z e us Pos e i don Apollo , ,

Ar es H e ph aestus H e rm e s H e ra Ath e n e Arte m i s

, , , , , ,

Aphrod i te H e sti a and D e m e te r N e xt i n ord e r a r e

, ,
.

t he gr e at bulk o f t he gods and godd e ss e s Had e s , ,

D ionysus Cronus Uranus Hyp e ri on H e l i os N e re us

, , , , , ,

Prote us JE o l us L e to D i on e P e rs e phon e H e cate

, , , , ,

S e l e n e Th e m i s Harmon i a, t he Grac e s the Mus e s

, , , ,

t he Fate s t he Fur i e s t he E i l e i thy i as t he Oce an i ds

, , , ,

t he N e r e i ds t he Nymphs t he N a i ads and the l ik e

, , ,
.

In t he th i rd rank may b e place d t he d e i ti e s who act

as atte ndants o n t he gr e ate r gods and p e rfor m se r ,

v i c es fo r th e m Ir i s , t he m e ss e nge r o f Jov e H e be his

, , ,

cup b ear e r K ra t o s and Bia t he s ervants o f H e phses

-

, ,

2
tus Boreas Notus et c subord i nate s o f o lus the
, , ,
.
, ,

Hours hand mai ds o f Aphrod i te etc F o ur thly w e

, ,
.
,

may nam e t he more shad owy gods and godd e ss e s ,

N i ght Day , Eth e r Da wn Darkn ess D e ath S l e e p

, , , , , ,

S tri fe M e mory Fam e R e tr i but i on R e ckl e ssn e ss e t c

, , , , ,
.

who do not o ft e n app ear as d e it i e s e xc e pt i n poe try ,

and are p e rhaps rath e r pe rso n i fic ati o n s consci ously

mad e than r eal substant i v e d i v i n i t ie s F i nally mus t .

b e m e nt i on e d t he monstrous b i rths ascr i b e d to ce rta i n

d i vi n e un i ons o r marr i age s e g t he Cyclop e s and ,
. .
, ,

C e nti man i t he o ffspr i ng of Earth and H e av e n ( Gae a

,

and Uranus ) ; t he Harp i es daughte rs of Thaumas ,

G t e H i t o y of G e e v l i pp 14 1 5
1
ro , s r r ec , o . . .
, .

! S e e fE s c hy l P o m V i n et ub m it .
“
r . .
”
s .
 R e li g i on o
f the An ci en t Gr e eks . 18 1

and El e ctra o n e o f t he Oce an i d es t he Gorgons and

,

Gr mae ch i ldr e n o f Phorcys and C e to ; Chrysaor and

,

P e gasus born o f t he blood o f M e dusa wh e n she was

, ,

sla i n by P e rs e us ; Ge ryon and Ech i d n a sprung fro m ,

Chrysaor and Call i rrhoe ; Orthros t he t wo h ead e d ,

-

d og o f G e ryon born o f T ypha on and Ech i dna C e r

,

b e r us t he dog o f Had e s w i th fifty h e ads ; S cylla and

, ,

Charybd i s ; t he Le rn aean Hydra t he S ph i nx o f ,

Th e b e s t he N e m e an L i on t he Dragon o f t he H e s
, ,

e r id e s t he C e ntaurs t he Ch i m ae ra e tc t
p , ,e c ,
.
,
.

T he ch i e f i nt e r es t n aturally attach e s to t he gods

o f t he F i rst Ord e r thos e commonly d e nom inate d
,

Olymp i c and i n a work l i ke t he pr e s e nt som e

, ,

account must n e ce ssar i ly be g i ve n o f t he t we lv e d e i

t ie s who const itute d the Olymp ian counci l .

ZE US .

At the h e ad o f all occupy i n g a pos iti on qu ite,

u n i qu e and unl i k e th at o f any oth e r stood t he gr e at ,

“
Z e us Z e us i s the God o r as he i s call e d i n late r
.
, ,

ti m e s the Fath e r o f t he gods a n d the God o f gods

, , .

W h e n w e asce nd to the most d i stant h e i ghts o f Gr ee k

h istory t he i d e a of God as t he S upr e m e B e i ng stands
, , ,
”1 ”
b e for e us as a s i mpl e fact Z e us sai d an a nci e nt .
,
“
po e t is t he b e g i n n ing ; Z e us t he m iddl e ; o ut o f
,
“
Z eus hav e all th i ngs b ee n mad e Z e us was t he .

lord of t he upp e r r e g i ons who dwe lt o n t he summ its ,

o f t he h i gh e st m ounta i ns gath e r e d t he clouds about ,

hi m shoo k t he a i r w i th his thund e r and w i e ld e d t he

, ,

l ightn in g as t he i nstrum e nt o f hi s wrath From .

M a x M ii l l e
1 Ch i p v l ii p 1 4 8
r, s, o . . . .
18 2 The R e li g i on s f
o the A nc i en t Wor ld .

l m e nts drawn from th e s e d i ffe r e nt sourc e s hi s char

e e

acte r a strange compound of stre ngth and w e akn e ss

, ,

s e ems to hav e b ee n form e d by succ e ss i v e po e ts who , ,

i f th ey i n som e d egre e d e s e rv e d t he c e nsur e o f t h e

ph i losoph e rs s e e m at l east not to hav e b e e n gu i lty o f
,

an arb i trary fict i ons wh i l e o n t he oth e r han d by

y ; , ,

e sta bl i sh i ng h i s supr e macy th e y i ntroduc e d ( 3) a pr i n

c i l e o f un i ty i nto t h e Gr ee k polyth e i s m wh i ch was

p ,

not p e rhaps w i thout i nflu e nc e o n the sp e culati ons o f

t h e ph i losoph e rs th e ms e lv e s though i t e x e rt e d l i ttl e
,

o n t he sup e rst i t i ons o f t h e vu l gar T he Oly m p i an

.

d e i ti e s ar e asse mbl e d round Z e us as his fam i ly i n ,

wh i ch he ma i nta i ns t he m i ld d ign i ty o f a patr i archal

k i ng H e ass i gns th e i r s e v e ral prov i nce s and con
.
,

trols th e i r author i ty T h e i r comb i n e d e fforts canno t

.

g i v e the sl ight e st shock to his po w e r nor r e tard t he ,

e x e cut i on o f h i s w i ll and h e nce th e i r way w ardn e ss ,

e v e n wh e n i t i ncurs hi s r e bu k e cannot ru f fl e t he i n
,

w ard s e r e n i ty o f h is soul .T he tr e m e ndous nod ,

wh e re w i th he confirms hi s d e cr e e s can n e i th e r be r e
,

v o k e d nor frustrat e d . As hi s m i ght i s i rr e s i st i bl e ,

so i s hi s w i sdom u n s e archabl e H e holds t h e gold e n

.

balanc e i n wh i ch a r e po i s e d t he d e sti n i e s of nat i ons

and o f m e n fro m t he two ve ss e ls that stand at hi s
thr e shold he draws t he good and e v i l gi fts that alte r
n ate l sw e e t e n and e mb i tt e r morta l e x i st e nc e Th
y e .

e te rnal ord e r o f th ings t he ground of t he i mmutabl e

,

succe ss i on of e v e nts i s h is and th e r e fore he h i ms e lf

, ,

subm its to i t Human laws d e ri v e th e i r sanct i on

.

fro m hi s ord i nance e arthly k i ngs re c e i ve th e i r sce ptr e

from h i s hand ; he i s the guard ia n o f soc i al r i ghts ;
184 The R e l ig i ons f
o the An c i en t Wor ld .

“
And Z e us b e ars to man t he r e lati on o f fath e r .

Each mortal who has a suppl i cat i on t o mak e to hi m ,

m ay addr e ss hi m as Z 5 ?) n d r e p “ ”
Go d (o ur ) Fath e r , .

H e b e ars as on e o f hi s most usual t i tl e s t he d e s igna

, ,

t i on of Fath e r o f gods an d m e n As S t Paul says . .

,
1

“ ”
q u ot in g a Gr ee k po e t w e a r e hi s o ffspri ng T he , .

e n t i r e passag e wh e r e th e s e words occur i s r e markabl e

,

an d v e ry i nstruct i v e o n t he Gr e c i an i d e a o f Z e us .

W i th Z u s b g i e e n w e —l e t no m or tal v oi c e
L e v e Z us u n p
a e r ai s e d . Z u fi ll e s s t h e h au n t s of m e n,
Th e s tr e e ts , t h e m ar t s — Z e u fi ll s s t h e s e a , t h e s h or e s ,
Th e h a r b o u r s — e
v y wh e w e l i v i Z us er er e n e .

We a e h i s ff p i g t o ; f i d l y t m
r o s r n o r en o an ,

H e gi v es p o g o t i c s et s m n t
r n th i t il
s s e o e r o

By n e e d o f d i l y b d t l l s w h e t h e l d
a rea : e n an

M u t b e u p t u n e d b y p l u gh h o by s p d e
s r o s ar e r a

W h t t i m e t o pl n t t h e l i v e t h e v i n
a a o or e

Wh a t t i m e to fl i n g o th t h e g l d n g i n n e ar o e ra .

F or H i t was w h s c t t
e d o e t h s ky o a er e
’
r e

Th e h i i g t a s a n d fix e d t h e m w h
s n n s r t h e y ar e
,
ere

P vi d d
ro t ll t i o s t h ou gh t h y e
e c on s e a n r e ar .

T m k the e s
o ar i th i c h s g l c ou s e
a on s n e r an e es s r .

Wh f e r e or em n w h i p H i m — t h e F i t —t h L t
e or s rs e as

T h i F th
e r — W d ful t h e i H l p n d S hi e l d
a er on
”
er fi
r e a .
9

A panth e i st i c t inge p e rvad e s th is d e scr i pti on ; but

s t i ll i n parts i t approach e s to som e o f t h e most b e au

t i ful and subl i m e e xpress i ons of Holy W ri t 3

It .

1 A c t v 28
s x n . .

‘
3 A atu P h aen m
r s,
“
l l 1 —1 5 o en a , . .

3 C m p e v e y w h w l i v e i n Z u wi t h i n H i m w e
o ar
“
e r er e e e s
“

l iv nd m v
e, a nd h v o u b ing
e, a
( A t xv i i 28 ) —t h p
a e o r e
”
c s . c ro

v i i of c n t e l l t i s w i t h G i 1 1 — t h e t m W d f l
s on o s a on en . .
4
er on er u
”

w i th I sa i x 6. .
- “
th e F i rs t , t he L as t wi th R e v i 8 , 1 1 , . . etc .
”

“th e i r H e l p a nd Sh i l d e
”
w i t h P sa . xv ii i . 2; xl vi . 1, et c .
 R el igi on f
o the A n c i e n t Gr eeks . 185

pre s e nts Z e us to us as omn i pr e s e nt be n e fic e n t wor , ,

thy o f p e rp e tual pra i s e our fath e r o u r h e lp and d e

, ,

fe nce o ur support and stay It s e ts hi m forth as

,
.

“ ” “ ”—
wond e rful o r rath e r a m i ghty wond e r
,
é
g ra

(l a Dpa — a b e i ng b e yond o u r powe r to compr e h e nd ,

whom w e must b e conte nt to re v e r e nc e and adm i r e .

It re cogn i s e s hi m as hav i ng hung t he stars i n t he

blue vault of h e av e n and hav i ng s et th e m th e re
,
”
for s igns and for se asons and for days and y e ars
, , ,
.

“ ” “ ”—
It calls hi m t he Fi rst and t he Last the A l
pha and t he Om e ga of b e i ng .

S uch i s t he str e ngth of Z e us accord i ng to t h e ,

Gre e k i d e a ; but w ithal th e re is a we a kn e ss about

“
h i m wh i ch s i n k s hi m not only b e low t he
, ,
Al
m ighty o f S cr i pture but e v e n b e low t he Ormazd
,

o f t he P e rs i ans H e has a mate r i al fram e alb e i t o f

.
,

an e th e re al and subtl e fibr e ; and r e qu i r e s mate ri al

suste nance . Accord i ng to som e o f the myths he ,

was born i n t i m e ; accord i ng to all he was once a ,

god of smal l powe r H e av e n had i ts r e voluti ons i n

.

t he Gr ee k syste m : and as t he sov e r e i gnty o f Olym

us had pass e d from Uranus to Cronus and from
p ,

Cronus to Z e us i n form e r t i m e s so i n t he future i t ,

m ight pass an d accord ing to som e was doom e d to

, ,
1
pass from Z e us to anoth e r
,
Nor was he w i thout .

moral d e fe ct A r e b e ll i ous son a fai thl e ss h usba nd

.
, ,

n ot always a k i nd fath e r h e pr e s e nt e d to t he moral

,

consci ousn e ss no p e rfe ct patte rn for man s i m itat i on ’

,

but a strang e and monstrous comb i n a ti on of w i ck e d

1 fE s c h yl .
“
P ro m . Vi n ot . 11 9 39 —
. 9 59 .
186 The R e li g i on s f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

n e ss w i th h i gh qual i ti e s o f w e akn ess w i th stre ngth , ,

o f good w i th e v i l ?

PO SE I D O N .

Pos e idon i s re ckon e d as t he s e cond o f the Olymp i c

gods rat h e r as b e i ng i n t he mythology t he broth e r
, , ,

o f Z e us than from any sup e r i or i ty o f h i s o w n ov e r

,

t he r e st o f t he Olymp i ans ? H e i s v i e w e d as e sp e
c ial l t h e god o f t h e s ea and i s worsh i pp e d ch i e fly
y ,

by mar i ti m e state s a n d i n c i ti e s s i tuate d o n or n e ar

t h e coast ; but h e has also a cons i d e rabl e hold upon
t he land and i s e arth shak i ng a nd e arth — pos -

,
”
s e ss i ng qu it e as d e c i d e dly as sove r e i g n rul e r o f t he
,

s e as and oce an H is worsh i p i s anci e nt and i n many

.
,

place s has g i v e n way to a n i ntroducti on of late r and

more fash i onabl e d e i ti es It has trace s of a r ud e n ess .

and roughn e ss that are archa i c and stands conn e cte d ,

w ith t he more grote squ e and barbarous e l e m e nt i n

t he r e l i g i on Among h is compan i ons a r e w i ld
.

”3
T i tans and sp i t e ful d ae mons human sacri fic e s a r e ,

o ffe re d to hi m ; h ors e s are buri e d al i v e i n hi s hon

o ur ; Polyph e mus t h e Cyclops whom Ulyss e s un
p ,

i sh e s i s h is son and h i s o ffspr i ng g e n e rally a re note d

,

for huge s i z e and gre at corpor e al stre ngth ?

It has
b e e n mai nta i n e d tha t hi s cult was o f for e i gn or ig i n ,

havi ng b e e n i ntroduce d among t he Gr ee ks by t he

1C mpo M Gl d t
ar e m r k i n hi H m e a d the
. a s on e s
’
re ar s s
“
o r n

H m i Ag v l i i pp 1 8 6—1 9 0
o er c e,
”
o . . . .

P i d l i m s i t h e I l i d n u th o i t y w i thi h i w n
2
os e on c a
“ n a
”
a a r n s o

d m i i d p d t fZ u
o a n n e en I l i d xv 1 7 4 l
en o b u t ex er
e s a ,
”
. c

i
c s es n o r i g h t f ul v y th
o
g od
r e o er an o er .

3
C tiur Hi t y fG
us ,
“
v l i p 56
s or o r ee c e
,
o . . . .

4
I l m O dy s y
o .
“
i 5 0 5—5 20 s e , x . .
1 88 The R e li g i ons f
o the An c i en t Wor ld .

1
howe v e r he som e ti m e s v e nture s to b e ard ; i n r e
,
’
sp e ct o f moral conduct he i s i n no way Z e us s sup e
r i or i n r e sp e ct o f i n te ll e ctual e l e vati on he falls de
c id ed l b e low h i m
y .

AP O L L O .

concepti on o f A pollo as the s un is a late form

T he
o f H e ll e n i c b e l i e f and must be wholly put as i d e
,

wh e n w e ar e consi d e ri ng t he r e l igi on o f t he a n c i en t
Gree ks Apollo s e e ms to have b e e n ori g i nally l i ke
.
,

Z e us a r e pr e se ntati on o f t he o n e Go d or i g i nati ng
, ,

probably i n som e part o f Gr e e ce wh e re Z e us was

unknown and subse qu e ntly adopte d i nto t he syste m
2
,

pre val en t i n Hom e ri c ti m e s and i n th i s syst e m sub ,

ord inate d to Z e us as hi s son and i nte rpre te r C o m .

par e d wi th Z e us he i s a S p i ri tual i se d concepti on

,
.

Z e us i s t he e mbodi m e nt o f cre ati v e e n e rgy and

alm i ghty pow e r : Apollo o f d i v i n e pre sci e nce o f ,

h e al i ng sk i ll an d o f mus i cal and po e ti c producti on

,
.

In Apollo H e ll e n i c polyth e ism r e ce i v e d i ts har

m o n i o us compl e t i on and t he lo fti e st glor i ficat i on o f
,
”3
wh i ch i t was capabl e .

Apollo r i se s o n t he v i s i on o f o n e fam i l i ar w i th
Gr e e k ant iqu i ty as almost a pure conce pt i on almost ,

an ang e l i c d i v i n ity To a form o f i d e al b eauty .

,

comb i n i ng youthful grace and v i gour w i th the full e st

p erfe cti on o f manly stre ngth he adde d un e rr i ng ,

w i sdom compl e te i ns i ght i nto futuri ty an u n

, ,

1 H o rn I li d xv 1 7 5
.
“
a ,
. .

2 C u t i u s s ugg e st s Ly i a
r c or C r e te Hi s t or y of G reec e,

i
. p .

3 I hi d .
 R e lig i on f
o the A n c i e n t Gr ee ks . 1 89

1
sta in e d l i fe the mag i c powe r o f song ab i l ity and
, ,

w i ll to save and h e al togeth e r w i th t he dre ad pre r o ,

a t i v e o f d e al i ng o ut at hi s pl e asur e d e struct i on and

g
d e ath Compass ionate on occas i ons as M e rcy h e rs e lf
.
,

he shows at ti m e s t he k ee n and awful s e v e r i ty o f a

d e stroy i ng archange l E ke bo los str i ki ng from .
,
”
a far he sp ee ds his fatal shafts fro m his unfai l i ng
,

bow and sm i te s whom soe ve r he w i ll w i th a d e ath

'

stro ke wh i ch th e r e i s no e scap ing N e v e r o ffe nd e d .

w i thout caus e n e v e r mov e d by capr i c e he works t he

, ,

w i ll o f Z e us i n all that he d o e s d i sp e nse s r e tr i buti ve ,

j usti ce and pur ifi e s w i th whol e so m e fe ar t he souls o f

,

m en . Partake r of all t he couns e ls o f hi s fath e r and ,

p e rm itte d to us e hi s d iscre t i on i n com mun i cati ng

th e m to the d e n i z e ns o f e arth he d e l i v e rs his oracular ,

r espons e s from t he vari ous spots wh i ch he has chos e n

as hi s sp e c ial abod e s and though som e ti m e s his , ,

r epl ie s may be o f doubtful i mport s e ldom s e nds ,

away a votary unsati sfi ed T he answe rs wh ich he .

gi v e s o r at any rate i s suppose d to gi v e d e te rm i n e

, ,

th e d e c i s i ons of stat esm e n and shap e t he cours e o f

2
,

h i story W ar and p e ace tr e ati e s a n d all i ance s ar e

.
, ,

mad e and unmad e as t he D e lph i c and oth e r oracl e s ,

i nsp i re d by hi m adv is e ; and t he cours e o f He ll e n i c

colon i sati on i s almos t e ntir e ly d e te rm i n e d by his
?
d e cre e s
Po e t proph e t phys i c ian harp e r god o f v ictory
, , , ,

1 Se e this p oi nt di s c u ss e d i n Mr . Gl da s t on e s
’
H om er an d th e
H om e r i c Ag e ,
”
( vol . ii . pp . 106
2 H er o d . vn . 1 40 —
143 .

3 I bi d i v 1 5 0 —
. 159 ;
. v . 42, e tc .
1 90 The R e lig i ons o
f the An c i en t Wor ld .

and a n g e l o f d e ath i n o n e Apollo i s always o n t he ,

s id e of r ight always tru e to Z e us and not much i n

, ,

fe r i o r to hi m i n pow e r It i s p e rhaps a fanci ful .

, ,

analogy wh ich has b ee n trac e d b e t w e e n hi m and t he

S e cond P e rson of t he Chr i st i an T r i n i ty ; 1
but t he
v e ry fact that su ch an analogy can be sugge ste d i s
i nd i cati v e o f t he pur e and lofty charact e r o f t he g o d ,

wh i ch e quals at any rat e i f i t do e s not transc e nd , ,

the h i gh e st i d e al o f d i v i n i ty that has h i th e rto b ee n

e laborat e d by unass i st e d human w i sdom .

AR E S .

“
It has b e e n w e ll sai d that Ar e s i s t he i mp e r
s onat i on o f a pass i on T hat combat i v e prop e ns i ty ,

wh i ch man poss e sse s i n common w i th a large numb e r

o f an i mals w a s r e gard e d by t he Gr e e ks not only as
, ,

a d i v i n e th ing but as a th i ng o f such lofty d i v i n i ty

,

1 F r i e dr i e c h sa ys T hi s tri ad of Z eu s, A th e e a d Ap oll
n ,
n o

b e ar s an un mi s a t k e ab l e an a o l gy t o th e C h i ti
r s T i ity fan r n o

F tha er , S on , an d y Gh
H ol os t : Zu e s an s w e r n i g t G d th F th e
o o e a r,

A th en e t o th e H l y Gh
o o st , a n d Ap o l lo to the S o n f Go d
o , the

D ec l ar er o f the w i ll f
o hi s H e a ven l
y F a ther D ie R e al i e n i n der
I l i ad e un d dy O sse e , p ar t i ii . pp . 6 35 an d Mr . Gl d a s t on e

c am e in d p nd
e e e n tl y to th e s am e c o n c l u s i on , an d sa y s In
Ap oll o are r ep d th l g d y t i i p t i n s f
r es e nt e e e ent ar an c a o o a p er s on o

c om e i w h om h
,
n ld b sm bi oud l l th g at ffi i w hi c h
e co ne a e re o c es n

G d th e S
o is onw m d k w t m
no a t h e L i gh t f
e no n o an , as o our

p th t h P h y i c i n f
a s, e s di a t h e J u dg o f
o our m i d ds
s ea s e s , e o ur s ee ,

”
an d th C qe on d Di
u e r or a nm b t t y t Ab l i h
s ar f d ther
,
u no e o s er , o ea ,

Hm o d t h H m i Ag
e r an e v l ii p
o er c P f M
e,
x
”
o . . . r o e s s or a

M ii l l o th e t h
er , n h n d t h i k s th t
o er it a m bl ph m y t o
,
n a
“
see s as e

c o s i d e th f b l e o f t h
n r e a h e th n w o l d
s e up t d ad mi i te r as c o r r e an s n er

p ert d f e g m e t
ra s o f d i v i
n e v l t i a n g t d
n t the w h l e
re e a on o ce ra n e o o

of m n k i d C p s f G W k sh p vol i i p
“ ”
hi m e m
a
( n ro a r an or o ,
. . .
1 92 The R e l ig i o ns o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

H E P H ZE S T U S .

H e ph ae stus is t he god o f fire and e sp e ci ally o f fire ,

i n conn e ct i on w i th sm e lti ng and m e tallurgy H e .

dw e lls i n L e mnos wh e r e he hab i tually forge s thun

,

d e rb o l t s for Z e us and occas i onally produce s fabr ics

,

i n m e tal o f e laborat e and e xqu is i te construct i on .

Among t he most marv e llous o f hi s works ar e t he

automati c tr i pods o f Olympus and t he bronz e ma i d ens ,

whom he has form e d to be hi s atte ndan ts o n account

o f hi s lam e n e ss H e i s t he armo ur e r o f h ea v e n and
.
,

provi d e s t he gods g e n e rally w i th t he w e apons wh i ch

th ey u s e i n warfare T he p e cul i ari ty o f hi s lam e n ess
.

i s strange and abnormal s i nc e t he Gr e e ks hate d e ,

form i ty and r e pr e s e nt th e i r d e i tie s g e n e rally as pos

,

s es s ed o f p e rfe ct physi cal b e auty It has b ee n a c .

u

counte d fo r on t he suppos i ti on that he i s a Gre cis e d

P ht ha h i ntroduce d from Egypt d i r e ctly o r i nd i
l
, ,
2
r e c tl and that h i d form i ty i a mod i ficat i on f
y , s e s o
’
P ht ha h s pr e s e ntm e nt as a p i gmy w i th t he lo wer
l i mbs m isshap e n But the fe ature s common to
.

H e ph aestus w i th P ht ha h a r e fe w ; t he nam e o f
H e ph ae stus i s probably of pur e Gr e e k e tymology ,

conn e ct e d w i th godo g and goa lw o ; and on t he whol e , ,

th e re would s e e m to be no e v i d e nce that H e ph ae stus

i s a fore ign god more than any oth e r R ath e r i t i s .
,

characte r i sti c o f t he many s i d e dn e ss o f t he Gre e ks,

G Wilki
Sir . n son i n R a wl i n s o n
’
s H er o d otus , vo l . p . 139 ,
t ( 3 d di ti
no e r e on
) .

2
M r Gl d t
. a s on e re g d ar s hi m as i n tro du d f ce rom Ph oen i c i a

H om e r an d th e H om e r i c Ag e ,
”
vo l . ii . p .
 R eli g i on f
o the A n c i en t Gr ee ks . 1 93

and cons e qu e nt upon the anthropomorph ism wh i ch

ma kes t he Olymp i c commun i ty a r efl e ct i on o f e arthly
th i ngs that th e r e should b e e v e n i n th i s august con
,

clave some th i ng provocat i v e o f laughte r a d iscord ,

to br e ak t he monotony o f t he harmony an e l e m e nt ,

o f grote squ e n e ss and monstros i ty H e ph aestus i n .

t he Olymp i c halls i s l ik e t h e j e st e r at the court o f a

m e d i ae val monarch a som e th i ng to l igh te n the s e
,

r i o u s n ess o f e x i ste nc e to provo ke occas i onally a burst

,
“ ”
o f that i n e xt i ngu i shabl e laughte r wi thout w h i ch ,

l i fe i n so subl i m e an atmosph e re would be i ntol e rabl e .

T he marr i ag e o f H e ph ae stus to A phrod i t e i s con

c e i ve d i n t he sam e sp i r i t T h e r e was a k ee n s e ns e
.

o f humour i n t he countrym e n o f Ar i stophan e s ; and

t he comb i nat i on o f t h e clumsy lam e a n d b e gr i m e d , ,

sm i th w i th t he Qu ee n o f B e auty and Love pl ease d

th e i r s e ns e o f t he lud i crous and was t he fe rt il e source
,
”
o f many an a m us i ng l eg e nd T he Lay o f t he N e t .
,
1
wh e rew i th D e modocus e nte rtai ns both gods and m e n ,

i s a su ffici e nt S p e ci m e n o f th i s class o f l i v e ly myth ,

and shows that t he com i c fe ature s o f i ll assort ed mar -

r i a e on wh i ch mod e rn play wr i ghts hav e trad e d so

g ,

fr e e ly w e r e fully appr e ci at e d by the Gre eks and

, ,

w e r e suppos e d w e ll su i te d to provok e t he gods to

-

m e rri m e nt The mod e rn moral i st w i ll r e gr e t th i s

.

2
u nworthy r e pr e s e ntat i on o f d i v i n e b e i ngs but i t is
qu i te i n accord wi t h the ge n e ral characte r o f t he
G r e e k r e l i g i on wh i ch r e fl e cte d back upon d e i ty all
,

that was w ea k as w e ll as all that was strong in man

, ,
.

1 H om .O dy s s i i i 26 6 —3 6 6
. v . .

2 “ H o m e r an d t h e H om e ri c Ag e , vol . ii . pp . 46 1 4 6 3 -
.
1 94 The R eli g i on s o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

H E R ME S .

H e rm e s i s t he i mp e rsonat i on of comm e rci al d e al

i ngs and h e nc e a god who g i v e s We alth and i ncr e as e
, ,

a god of i nve nt i v e pow e r and a god o f tr i cks and ,

“ ”1
t h i e v e ry H e is. t h e Olymp i an man of bus i n e ss ,

and th e r e for e e m ploy e d i n e mbass i e s and com m i s

s i ons and e v e n som e t i m e s in the S i mpl e carry i n g o f
,
“ ”
m e ssage s As duh cop . t he g i v e r o f comforts
-

h e s e cur e s hi s votar i e s all mann e r of worldly pros

ri t H e i s i ndustr i ous and i nv e nti v e constructs
p e
y .
,

t he s e v e n str i nge d lyr e b e fore h e i s a day old afte r 3 ‘

-

,
’
wards i nv e nts t he pa n S p i p e s and ulti mate ly b e com e s -

a god o f wi sdom and l e arn i ng g e n e rally H is .

th i e vi shn e ss must b e ta ke n to S ho w that comm e rc i al

fraud i s pr e tty w e ll as anc i e nt as comm e rce i ts e lf ,
“ ”
and that t he good old t i m e s w e r e not as som e ,

ti m e s r e pr e s e nted a n a g e of i nnoc e n c e It has b e e n

,
.

sa i d that he i s mor e human than any oth e r Olymp i an

“
god ; and that he r e pr e s e nts so to sp e ak the , ,
“
uti l i tari an s i d e of the human m i nd be i ng act i ve , ,

e n e rg e t i c fru i tful i n r e source a k e e n barga i n e r a

, , ,

bold story t e ll e r and a cl e v e r th ie f H is adm i ss i on

-

,
.

i nto t he numb e r of t he Olymp i ans i s t he stro n g e st

poss i bl e i nd i cati on o f t he i nfe r i or i ty o f t he moral
standard among t he Gre e ks T he sp e c i al re gard pa i d .

t o h i m by t he Ath e n i ans i s howe v e r p e rhaps t he , ,

1 D oll i g
'

n er ,
“
J ew an d G e n t il e , v ol . i . p 74.
.

2
H om . O dy s s i ii 3 3 5
. v . . C om p ar e Ili d a ,
xi v . 490 .

3 H om .
“
H y m M er e. l 16 . . .

4 “ H om er an d t h e H o m e r i c Ag e , vol . 11 . p . 24 2 .
1 96 The R eli g i on s o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

D i ndym e n e Magna Mate r R h e a B e lti s Myl i tta e tc

, , , , ,
.

H e ra i s pri mar i ly t he w i fe o f Z e us t he qu e e n of
, , ,

t he Olymp i c court t he m i str e ss o f h e av e n ,

S he i s .

“ ”1
a r e fl e cte d i mag e of Z e us and e x e rc i se s all he r ,
’
husban d s pr e rogat i v e s thund e rs shak e s Olympus , , ,

mak e s Ir i s h e r m e ss e ng e r g i v e s her ord e rs to t he ,

W i nds and t he S un confe rs valour and the l i k e , ,

.

A S t he p e rson i ficat i on of mate rn i ty S he pr e s i d e s ov e r ,

ch i ld b i rth and t he E i l e i thy i as her daughte rs act as

-

, ,

he r m i n i ste rs She do e s not pre s e nt t o us an e l e vat e d

.

i d e a o f fe m al e p e rfe cti o n S i nce d e sp i t e her e xalt e d , ,

rank She i s subj e ct to num erous fe m i n i n e i n fir m iti e s

,
.

“
Mr Grote note s that s he i s proud j e alous and
.
, ,
” 2
b i tte r . Mr Gladston e obs e rve s that S h e i s pas
.

s i o n a t e wanti n g i n moral e l e vat i on cru e l v i nd i ct i v e

, , , ,
?
and unscrupulous H e r mytholog i cal pr e s e n tat i on
was c ertai n ly not o f a nature to i mprov e t he characte r
o f thos e wom e n who m i ght ta ke h e r fo r th e i r mod e l

s i nce although S he was poss e ss e d o f ce rta i n gre at

,

qual i ti es pass i on fe rvour strong affe cti on s e l f com

, , , ,
-

mand courag e acute n e ss ye t She was on t he wh ol e

, , , , ,

wan ti ng i n the mai n e l e m e nts of fe mal e e xce ll e nce ,

g e ntl e n e ss softn e ss t end e rn e ss pati e nce subm i ss i on

, , , ,

to wro n g s e lf r e nunc i ati on r e ti ce nce

,
-
S he was a ,
.

proud grand haughty pow e rful qu een not a kind

, , , ,

h e lpful p e rs uas i v e lov i ng woman T h e mythology

, ,
.

o f Gr ee c e i s i n fe w po i nts l e ss sat i s factory than i n the

1 “Hm o er an d the H om e r i c Ag e , vol . ii . p . 1 94 .

2 “Hi t y s or of G reece , vol . 1

. p 50 .
.

3 “ H om e r an d t he H om e r i c Ag e , vo l . 11 . pp . 1 904 9 6 .
 R eli g i on .
f
o the An c i en t Gr eeks . 197

typ e of fe mal e character wh i ch it e xh i b its at t he

h ead o f i ts panth e on .

AT H E N E .

If H era i s b e low t he l e v e l o f fe mal e e xce ll e nce

wh ich w e m i ght hav e e xp e cte d r efin e d h e ath e ns to
hav e r e pr e s e nte d i n a ch ie f godd e ss A th e n e i s abov e ,

t he l e v e l S he has a characte r wh i ch i s w i thout a

.

flaw Or ig i nall y as i t would s e e m a consc i ous i m

.
, ,

p e rsonat i on O f t he d i v i n e w i sdom and th e re for e ,

fabl e d to have sprung full grown from t he h e ad o f -

Z e us s he b e cam e a d i sti nct and substanti v e d e i ty at

,

a ve ry e arly date and was r e cogn i s e d as t he g o d ,

”1
d e ss of w i sdom war pol i ty and i ndustr i al art , , , .

Hom e r place s he r toge th e r wi th Z e us and Apollo , ,

o n a h i gh e r platform Of d i v i n i ty than th e oth e r d e i

2
t i e s and ma ke s he r e ve n Oppos e Z eus wh e n he i s i n
,

t he wrong th wart hi m and v i nd i cat e r i ght and truth

, ,

i n hi s d e sp it e ?
It has b e e n sa i d that S he i s w ith
o ut fe m i n i n e sympath i e s — t he typ e Of compos e d ma
,

e s t i c and unr e l e nt i ng forc e

”
j
4
, ; and th i s i s so far
tru e that s he has c e rta i nly l i ttl e softn e ss absolut ely ,

no w e akn e ss and not many d i stinctly fe m in i n e

,

characte r i st i cs But S he was r e cogn i s e d l i k e her

.
,

Egyptian counte rpart N e ith as t he godd e ss O f good , ,

hous e w i fe ry patron i s ing hand i craft and e xp e rt at

, ,

1 “
H om er a n d th e H om e ri c Ag e , vol , 11 . p . 59 .

2
H om .
“
I li d a , 11 . 371 ; iv
. 288 ; vn . 1 32, e tc .
;
i v 3 41 ;
. xv ii 1 3 2 e t c .
, .

3 “
I l i a d v i ii 3 0 —40
,
”
.
,

4
G otr Hist y O f G
e, or r e ec e , vol . i . p :
47 .
1 98 The R eli g i ons o
f the An c i ent Wor ld .

t he loom and Sp i ndl e no l e ss than as t he w is e d i

,

r e ctr e ss o f state sm e n and warr i ors Un d oubte dly .

,

t he atmosph e r e i n wh i ch S he r e m ov e d w as t oo cold ,

calm and cl e ar for h er e ve r to hav e attach e d to h er

,

s e lf any v e ry larg e S har e o f human sympat hy ; but

'

Sh e e x e r c i s e d an e l e vat i ng i nflu e nc e o n t he nobl e r

S p i r i ts o f both s e x e s , as comb i n i ng t he thr e e attr i bute s

o f pur i ty str e ngth and wi sdom i n t he h i gh e st pos

, ,

s i bl e d egr ee and so furn i sh i ng at onc e a mod e l for

,

i m i tat i on , and a support and stay for fe e bl e souls i n

t he sp i ri t world wh e r e th ey had oth e rw i s e l i ttl e o n
,

wh i ch the y could place any firm r e l i ance T he .

un i ve rsally r e ce i v e d myth o f M e ntor and T e l e ma

-

chus acte d as a strong re i nforce m e nt to th e powe r O f

consc i e nce wh i ch the young Gre e k fe lt m i ght be t he
,

vo i ce of A th e n e sp e ak i ng w i th in hi m advi s i ng hi m for ,

h is tru e good and po i nt i n g o ut to hi m t he path o f hon

,

o ur an d duty
’
A t hen é S sp e c i al conn e cti on w i th Ath e ns
.

and Atti ca add e d much to her i mportance i n the

Gre e k r e l ig i ous syste m S i nce i t brought the b est ,

m i nds and most ge n e rous natur e s Of H e llas p e cul iar

ly und e r t he i nflu e nc e Of a thoroughly h igh and
nobl e re l i gi ous concepti on .

A R T E M IS .

Arte m i s i s altoge th e r a Shadowy d i v i n i ty She .

“ ”2
is a pal e r efl e ct i on O f he r broth e r Ph oebus ,

Apollo whos e attr i bute s she r eproduce s i n a subdue d

,

form b e i ng l i k e h i m maj e st i c pur e chast e, a m i n is

, , , , ,

1
G ro t e , Hi s t or y of G r ee c e , vol . p . 47 .

2 “
H om er an d t h e H o m e r i c Ag e ,
”
vol . ii . p . 1 43 .
20 0 The R e li g i on s f
o the An c i en t Wor ld .

a ll that is soft and w e ak and e rr i ng i n fe mal e nature ,

as Ath e n e i s of all that is h igh and pur e and strong .

Godd e ss o f b eauty and lov e not howe v e r o f lov e i n , , ,

i t s mor e e l e vat e d form but rath e r of s e nsual d e s i r e , ,

S h e was r e c e i v e d by t he Gr ee k s probably from an

A s i at i c source but s o transmut e d and H e ll e n i s e d as

,

to hav e b e com e wh e n w e first m ee t w i th h er a com

, ,

l e t e ly nat i onal d i v i n i ty ? H e ll e n i c i n t h e whol e

p
characte r Of he r b e auty She i s we ll d e scr i b e d by a ,

l i v i ng Engl ish po e t i n a passag e wh i ch i s e m i n e ntly

2

class i cal
I d li n Ap h o di t e b e uti ful
a a r a ,

F e h th f m w b t h e d i n P ph i a n w el l s
r s as e oa ,
ne a a ,

W i th y l n d fi g b k w d d w
r os s e er n er s ac ar re

F om h w m b w d b o m h d p h i
r er ar ro an so er ee a r

A m b i l g l d n n d h l u i d th t
ros a , o e r ou er c r oa

A d h oul d e
n s f m t h v i l t h l i gh t f t
r : ro e o e s er oo

Sh n e o y w hi t n d o e h e u d d f m
r os e, a
’
r r ro n e or ,

B e t w e n t h e h d w f th e v i b n h e
e s a o s O ne- ra c s,

F l o t e d th e g l d n un l i gh t a h e m o v d
a o e s s s e .
”

Noth i n g S O lov e l y i n form and colour and texture

and comb i nati on Of rar e charms grace d the S pl e nd i d ,

chamb e rs O f t h e i —
Olymp an court noth ing so rav i sh
i ng had e v e r pr e s e nt e d i ts e lf to t he v i s i on o f pa i nt e r
o r po e t But t he b e auty was altoge th e r p hys i cal
.
,

s ensuous d ivorce d al i k e from moral goodn e ss and

,

1
Mr . Gl d a s t on e ta kes a d i ffe t vi w H ren g d th e . e re ar s e

Ap h d i t e
ro O f H om e r a s s c ar c ly e G k d i i i ty H m
a ree d v n o er an

the H om e r i c Ag e ,
”
vol . ii . pp 244 . B t to m , it m u e see s

th a t , e v en i n H o m e r , h er h
c ct i
ar a t h o o u g hl y G e e k
er s s as r r a

h er nam e .

2
S ee T e ny son s
n
’
( E non e , 11 1 7 0 —1 7 8
. .
 R e li g i on f
o the An c i e n t Gr e eks . 20 1

m e ntal powe r Si lly and ch i ld i sh e as ily tri ck e d and

.
,

i mpos e d upon Aphrod ite i s m e ntally cont e mpti bl e

, ,

wh il e morally She i s od i ou s T yrann i cal ov e r t he .

w e ak c owardly b e for e t he strong fra i l h e rs e lf and

, , ,

t he p e rs i st e nt st i rr e r up Of fra i lty i n oth e rs lazy d e , ,

c e i t ful tr e ach e rous s e lfish S hr i nk i ng from t h e l e ast

, , ,

touch o f pa in S he r ep e ls t he moral s e nt i m e nt w ith a

,

force almost e qual to that wh e r e wi th s he attracts t he

lo we r an i mal natur e H e nc e t he Gr ee k can not Sp e ak .

Of her wi thout t he most v i ol e nt confl i ct O f fe e l i ng .

H e i s drawn to he r but he d e t e sts h e r ; he i s fas ,

c i n at e d t r e volt d h adm i r s t h d sp i s s and

y e,
e e e
y e e e e ,

cond e mns ; and h is cond e m n at i on o n t he whol e out , ,

w e ighs hi s adm i rat i on H e calls her .

A g dd e v i l y f m y m e s
o ss er o an na

N t Cyp i s
o l y but d k H d
r on , ar a es , too,
A d F n e e i tlor c d m d f r s s ess , an a ,
r an ti c R ge a ,

A d s h e e u n t m p e d C av i g
n r e er r n , a n d s h i ll G i e f
r
”
r .
1

H e allo w s but he re b e ls aga i n st her po we r ove r

,

hi m ; h e prot e sts e v e n wh e n he surr e nd e rs h i ms e lf ;

and h e nce o n t he whol e A phrod i te e x e rc i s e s a l e ss
, ,

corrupt ing i nflu e nc e i n Gr e e c e than m i ght hav e b ee n

ant i c ipate d T hat t he panth e on should conta i n a
.

godd e ss Of the k ind was O f cours e to som e e xte nt

d e bas i ng Bad m e n could j usti fy th e ms e lv e s by t he
.

d i v i n e e xampl e and pl e ad pow e rl e ssn e ss to r e s i st a

,

d i v i n e i mpuls e But th e i r consc ie nc e was not sat is

.

fie d ; th ey fe lt th e y s i nn e d aga i nst th e i r h i gh e r
natur e ; and thus afte r all t he moral standard was , ,

1 S oph oc l F r a g m . . xx i i i .
( ed . Bru n c k ) .
20 2 The R e li gi ons o
f the An ci en t Wor ld .

not v e ry s e ri ously affe ct e d by t he e x i ste n c e O f t he

Cypri an godd e ss among t he Olymp i c d e i ti e s .

TIA H E S .

H estia i s st i ll mor e shado wy than Arte m i s S he .

i s i n part t he fe m i n e counte rpart o f H eph aestus t he

, , ,

godd e ss o f fire ; but S he i s pri nc ipally t he i mp e rsona

t i on o f t he sacr e d characte r Of e ach h e arth and hom e ,

wh eth e r dom esti c tr i bal o r nat i onal H e sti a pre

, ,
.

s i d e d ov e r t he pri vate h e arths and hom e st e ads Of all

Gr ee ks ov e r t he P r ytan e i a O f c i ti e s and ov e r the
, ,

altars k ept ablaz e i n t he te mpl e s wh i ch w e re c e ntr e s

Of con fed e raci e s S he i nv e ste d th e m w i th a sacr e d
. .

charact e r watch e d ov e r th e m prot e cte d th e m H e r

, ,
.

p e rsonal ity was but sl i ghtly d e v e lop e d S ti ll sh e .

'

s e e ms to hav e b ee n r eg arde d as poss e ss i ng to a r e ,

markabl e e xte nt t he qual i ti es O f hol i n e ss and puri ty

,

and thus to hav e pract i cally ma i ntai n e d i n Gr e e k

dom e sti c l i fe a h igh and pur e standard such as has ,

scarce ly b ee n much e xcee d e d a mong Chr isti ans S he .

was fabl e d to hav e vowe d p erp e tual vi rg i n i ty ; and i t

i s cl e ar that tog e th e r w i th A t h e n é and Arte m i s S h e
, ,

uph e ld among the Gr ee ks t he i d e a o f v i rg i nal pur i ty

as a transce nd e ntal phas e Of l i fe a moral p e rfe cti on ,

wh e re to t he b est and pur e st m i ght not on l y a Spi re ,

but atta i n as t he r e sult o f e arn e st e nd eavour
,
.

DE M E TE R .

D e m ete r the Earth Moth e r was an or i gi nal

,
-
,

Gre e k conc e pti on corr e spond i ng to on e common

,

among the Or ie ntal nat i ons the concept i on p e rson i

,
20 4 The R e li g i on s o
f the A n c i e n t Wor ld .

By y ou n g er S a tu r n he f r om g
m i h ti er J ve o ,

H is o wn a nd R e ah
’
s s on , li k e m eas u r e f d ou n

So J v pi n g g fi t i C ete
’
o e u s ur rei n (1 : these rs n r

An d I da k w ; th th no n e n c e on e sn o wy t p o

O f c l d O lym pu m i dd l
’
o ul d t h i s r e e a r,

T h i h i gh t h e
e r ; t h D l p h i n c li ff
es av n
’
o r on e e a ,

O i D d
r n n d th u gh
o ll t h b
on a , a ds ro a e o un

OfD i l d
or c wh w i t h S tu an ld :
or o a rn O

Fl d v Ad t th H p i fi l d s
e o er r1 a o
’
es e r an e ,

An d o e t h C l t i
’ ’
m d th ut m t i l es
r e e c r oa e os s .

it if 96 X
- ‘

N or h a d th e yy e t am on g th e s o n s of E ve
Go t t h e m n e w n am es ; ti ll w an d
’ ’
i g o e r t h e e a r th ,
r n

Th g h G d hi gh ff
r ou o
’
s su
’
r an c e fo r t h e t r i a l o f m a n ,
By f l i t i a sd li th e g t t p
es an t es r e a es ar

Ofm k i d th y
an pte d t f k
n e c or r u o or s a e

G d th i C d th i v i i bl
’
o t e r r e a or , a n n s e

G l y f H i m t h t m d th m t t
or O f m a a e e o r a n s or

O ft t t h i m g d
’
o f b t ed a e O a ru e, a or n

W i th g y l i gi f ll f p m p d g l d
a re on s u O o an o
,

A d d vi l t
n d f d i ti
e s o a or e or e es

T h th y w k w t m b y v i u s n m es
en e er e no n o en ar o a ,

A d v i u i d l t h u gh t h h e th
n ar o s wo ld o s ro e a en r

Among t he de i ti e s e xt e rnal to t he Olymp i c c i rcl e ,

t he most i mportant w e r e D i onysus L e to P e rs e phon e , , ,

and Had e s or A i don e us D i onysus is ge n e rally a d .

m i tt e d to hav e b e e n d e r i v e d from a n Or i e ntal source .

“
T he word proba bly m e ant or i g i nally t he j udg e Of
”1
m en ,
and r e fe rr e d to a S p e ci al functi on O f t he god ,

w ho was thought to pass s e nt e nce on t he d e parted

wh e n th ey r e ach e d t he oth e r world .

Ess e nt i ally how e v e r D i onysus was the god o f

, ,

i n e br i e ty t h e de i fic at i o n O f drunk e nn e ss as Ar e s
, ,

1 S ee th e “ T r a n s a c t i on s , O f t h e S oc i et y of B i bli c al A r c h ae ol o gy ,

vol . ii . pp . 3 3 , 34 .
 R eli g i on f
o the An ci ent Greeks . 205

was O f v i ol e nc e and Aphrod i te o f s e nsual d e s i re

, .

H e was v i e we d as t he cr e ator O f t he v i n e o r a t any ,

rate as i ts i ntroduce r i nto Gre e c e ; t he t e ach e r of i ts

cultur e and t he d iscov e re r Of the e xh i larat i ng pro
,

e r t i e s O f i ts fru i t Th e worsh i p Of D i onysus was

p .

ef fe ct e d by tak i ng part i n hi s org i e s and th e s e w e r e ,

o f a furi ous and e cstati c characte r, accompan i e d w i th

e xc i t i ng m u s i c w i th w i ld danc e s w i th shr i e ks and

, ,

c r i e s and so m e t i m e s w i th bloodsh e d
,
Both m en and .

wom e n j o i n e d i n the D i onys i ac r i te s t he wom e n o ut ,

do i ng t he m en i n t he v i ol e nc e of th e i r fre nzy .

Crowds Of fe mal e s cloth e d w i th fawn S k i n s and

,
-

b ea r i ng t he sacr e d thyrsus flock e d to t he sol i tud e s o f

,

Parnassus o r C i th aeron or T ayg e tus dur ing the c o n ,

s e c r a t e d tr i e nn i al p e r i od pass e d t h e n i ght th e r e w i th
,

torch e s and abandon e d th e mse lv e s to d e monstrati ons

,

o f frant i c e xc i t e m e nt w i th danc i ng and clamorous

,

i nvocati on O f t he god T he m en y i e ld e d to a s i m i
.

lar i mpulse by no i sy r e v e ls i n t he str ee ts sound i ng , .

the cymbals and ta mbour i n e and carry i ng t h e i mag e ,

”1
o f t he god i n proc e ss i on Ev e ry sort of l i ce ns e
.

a n d e xc e ss was r e gard e d as lawful o n th e s e occas i ons ,

and t he worsh i p of t he d e i ty was i ncomp l e te unl e ss

t h e votary r e ach e d an a dvanc e d stag e o f i ntox i cat i on .

D i onys iac fe sti vals w e re fortunate ly n ot Of fr e qu e nt

r e curre nce and w e r e not e v e rywh e re c e l e brate d i n
,

t h e sam e way .A t Ath e ns wom e n took no part i n

t he D i onys i a and w i th m e n i nt e ll e ctual conte sts and ,

t h e w i tn e ss i ng o f th e m h e ld t he plac e o f t he rud e
,

r e v e ls e ls e wh e re too common S ti ll t he i n flu e nce o f .

1 G t H i st o y f G e e c e
ro e , r v l i p 26
O r ,
o . . . .
20 6 The R e li gi on s of the A n c i en t Wor ld .

D i onys i ac worsh ip on Gree ce ge n e rally must be r e

gard e d as e xc e ss i ve ly corrupt in g and D i onysus must ,

b e v i ew e d as n e xt to Aphrod i te t he most Obj e cti on

, ,

abl e O f th e Gr e e k d i v i n i t i e s .

L e to or Latona as t he R omans call e d her wh e n

, , ,

th ey adopte d her i nto th e i r panth e on was on th e con , ,

t ra r y o n e o f t he pur e r and mor e e l e vat i ng i nflu e nce s

,
.

S he i s w i fe of Z e us by a t i tl e q u i t e as good as that
o f H e ra
1
and i s a mod e l Of moth e rly lov e and w i fe ly
,

pur i ty S eparate an d p e cul i ar funct i on She has non e

.
,

and i t i s d i fficult to account for h e r i ntroducti o n

among the Olymp i ans P e rhaps she i s to be r e .

gard e d as i d e al womanhood S i l e nt unobtrusi v e .

, ,

always subord i nati ng h e rs e lf to he r ch i ldre n maj es ,

t i c chast e k i ndly r e ady to h e lp and t e nd She i s i n

, , , ,

Olympus what t he Gre e k w i sh e d hi s w i fe to b e i n h is

own hom e he r v e ry shadow i n e ss accord i ng w i th t he
,
?
Gr e e k n ot i on o f womanly p e rfe cti o n Mr Glad .

ston e sugge sts that S li c i s a trad i ti onal d e i ty r epr e ,

’
s e ntin g th e woman through whom man s r ed e mpti on
was to co m e ; but th e r e scarc ely s e e ms su ffi ci e nt
3

foundati on for th i s V i e w wh i ch i s not supporte d by ,

any analog ie s i n t he mythologi e s o f oth e r nati ons .

P e rs e phon e t he R oman Pros e rp i n e was t he qu e e n

, ,

O f t h e d e ad ; far mor e than h e r shadowy husband ,

Had e s t he r e al rul e r Of t h e i nfe rnal re alm S he

,
.

1 H i d y th t h b m th w i f f Z u b f e H e a
es o sa s a s e eca e e e o e s e or r

11 9 1 8
.

2
C mp
o ar e th e l i n e of p
S o h oc l es
’
O w om a n , s il e n c e i s t h e w om a n s c r ow n .

( Aja x ,
l .

3
H om e r and th e H om e r i c Ag e , vol . 11 . p . 153 .
20 8 T he R e l ig i ons o
f the A n c i e n t lVor l d .

th em . H pray e d and O ffe r e d sacri fic e not so much

e
,

i n t he way o f e xp i at i on o r to d e pr e cate God s wrath

’
, ,

as i n t he way O f natural p ie ty to ask for bl e ss ings ,

and to acknowl e dge th e m H e mad e vows to th e .

gods i n S i c k n e ss dang e r or d i fficulty and was car e

[ , , ,

ful to p e rform hi s v o w on e scap e o r r e cov e ry H is .

hous e was full o f shr i n e s o n wh i ch he cont i nually

,

la i d small O ffer ings to s e cur e t he fa v our and prot e o

,

ti on O f hi s S p ec ial patron d e it i e s Plato says that he .

pray e d e v e ry morn i ng and e v e n i ng and also con ,

clud e d e ve ry s et m e al w i th a pray e r or hymn But .

th es e d e voti ons s ee m not to hav e b ee n v e ry e arn e st

o r d e e p and w e r e commonly hurr i e d through i n a
,

p e rfunctory mann e r .

Practi cally t he r e l ig i ous worsh i p of the Gr e e ks

,

cons i ste d ma i nly i n atte ndance o n fe sti va l s wh i ch

m ight be Pan H e ll e n i c pol i ti cal tr ibal o r p e cul iar
-
, , ,

to a gu i ld o r a phr a tr i a Each y e ar brought round

.

e i th e r o n e o r two o f t h e gr e at pan e gyr i e s — t he fe st i

vals O f the e nti r e Gr ee k rac e at Ol y mp i a and D e lph i ,

at Ne m e a and the Isthmus Of Cori nth T h e r e we r e .

two gr e at Ion i c festi vals annually o n e at D e los and , ,

t he oth e r at t he P a n i o n i u m n e ar M y ca l é Each state .

and c i ty throughout Gree ce had i ts ow n S p e cial

fe sti vals D i onys i a El e us i n i a Panath e n aea C a r n e ia
, , , , ,

H ya ki n thia Apatur i a e t c
,
Most Of th e s e w e r e
,
.

annual and som e laste d s e ve ral days A Gree k had

,
.

n o S unday no sacre d day r e curr i ng at s e t i nte r

vals On wh i ch his thoughts w e r e bound to be
,

d ir ecte d to r el igi on ; but so l ong a t i m e as a w ee k

scarcely e ve r passe d w i thout hi s cal e ndar call i n g hi m
 R e li g i o n f
o the A n c i en t Gr e eks . 20 9

to so m e sacr ed Obs e rvance or oth e r som e fe ast o r ,

ce re mony i n honour o f som e god o r godd ess o r i n

, ,

comm e morat i on of som e e ve nt i mportant i n t he

h i story o f mank i nd o r i n that o f his race o r o f hi s
1
, ,

c ity And th e se fe st i vals we re h i ghly attracti ve to

.

hi m G e n e rally th ey we r e j oyful occas i ons fro m

.

first to last c e l e brate d w i th mus ic and process i ons

, , ,

wi th gymnast i c o r orch estral comp e t iti ons o r w i th ,

th e atri cal co n t ests Ord i nar i ly th ey i nclud e sacr i fice ,

.

and fe asti ng upon t he v i ct i ms sacr i ficed Eve n wh en .

th ey w e re profess e dly Of a mournful characte r l i ke ,

t he S parta n H ya k i n t hi a t he Op e n i ng days o f wh i ch ,

w e re days o f sadn e ss and o f gloom th ey commonly ,

e i e —
conclud e d w i th a mor e g n al t m a t i m e Of ban
i

q ue tin
g and danc i ng A ccord i ngly t h e Gr e e k look e d.
,

forward to hi s holy days as tru e hol idays and was ,

pl e as ed to comb i n e duty w ith pl e asure by tak ing hi s

place i n t he proce ss i on or t he te mpl e o r t he th e atre , , ,

t o wh i ch i ncl i nat i on and r e l i g i on al i k e call e d h i m .

T housands and te n s O f thousands floc ke d to e ach of

t he gr e at Pan H e ll e n i c gath e r i ngs d e l i ght i ng i n t he
-
,

spl e ndour and e xc i te m e nt Of t he s c e n e i n t he gay ,

dre ss e s t he magn i fic ent e qu ipage s t he race s t he

, , ,
“
game s t he chor i c and oth e r contests
,
T h e s e fe sti
,
.

” 2
vals as has b ee n we ll Obs e rv e d
,
we re cons id e re d ,

as t he v e ry cr eam o f t he Gr ee k l i fe th e i r p e r i od i cal ,

r e curr e nc e b e ing e xp e ct e d w i th e age rn ess and gr e e te d

' 1 E .
g .
, th e H yd p h ro oria , k pt i
e n c o m m e m o r a ti o nO f th o s e w h o

p eri she d i n t h e F l oo d O f D e u c a l i on , th e G ree k re p r e s e n t a t i on O f

the N o a c hi c a l D el u g e .

2
D ti ll i n g e r , “
J ew and Ge n til e , vol . i . p . 23 8 .

14
21 0 The R e li g i ons o f the An c i e n t Wor ld .

w i th j oy S i m i larly though to a m i nor e xte nt

.
, ,

e ach nat i onal o r e v e n tr i bal gath e r i ng was an occa

s i on o f e nj oym e nt ; ch e e rfuln e ss h i lar i ty som e ti m e s , ,

an e xc e ss i v e e xh i larati on pr e va i l e d ; and the r e l i g ion

,

o f t h e G r ee ks i n th e s e i t s most str i k i ng and Obvi ous

,

m an i fe stati ons was altog e th er bri ght fe sti ve and

, , ,

pl e asurabl e .

But , j ust as sunsh i n e cannot e x is t w i thout S hadow ,

S O e v e n t he Gr e e k r e l i g i on br i ght as i t was had i ts , ,

dark S i d e Calam i tie s befe l nati ons fam i l i e s o r i n

.
, ,

d i v id ua ls and w e r e attr i bute d to an o ffe nd e d god or

,

a cru e l fury A s e ns e O f gu i lt occas i onally v i s i te d

.

thos e who had comm i tte d gre at and flagrant cri m e s ,

as p e rj ury blasph e my robb e ry o f t e mpl e s i nce st

, , , ,

v i olat i on of t he r i ght Of asylum tr e ach e ry toward a ,

gu e st fri e nd and t he l i k e A load und e r th e s e c i r

-

,
.

c u m s t a n c es lay upon t he consc i e nc e ; all t he horrors

Of r e mors e w e r e fe lt ; av e ng i ng fi e nds w e r e b e l i e v e d
to haunt and to rtur e t he gu i lty o n e who som e ti m es ,

e arn e stly sought r e l i e f for a t e rm of y e ars and ,

sought i n va i n T h e re w e re i nd e e d r i te s o f e xp i a
.
, ,

ti on appropri ate to d iffe r e nt occas i ons ; most si ns

could b e ato n e d fo r i n som e man n e r or oth e r but
1
t he proce ss w as g e n e rally long and pa i nful ; and
th e re w e r e cas e s wh e re t he p e rs i ste nt ang e r O f the
fi e rc e Eri ny e s could n o t i n any way b e app eas ed .

W h e n a nat ion ha d Si nn e d human sacr i fic es w e r e not ,

unfr e qu e ntly pr e scr i b e d as t he only poss i bl e prO pi t ia

1 S e e th e Eum i d s f E en e O sc hyl us , wh e r e O r e st e s , h owe ve r,

is at la st p u g drf h i g u il t
e o s .
 21 2 The R e li g i ons o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

symbols and formular i e s by wh i ch t he mys toe kn ew ,

e ach oth e r as fr e e masons do ; but th e y only vagu e ly

,

h i nte d at any th e olog i cal dogmas or Op i n i ons T he .

Gr ee k gr e atly affe cte d th es e s e cr e t r i te s ; an d i t i s sa i d

that but few Gr e e ks w e re not i n it i ate d i n som e mys
t e ry o r oth e r ?
“
T h e i r attract ion lay i n th e i r v ei l
Of s e cr e cy transpare nt though i t was i n t he var i ety
, ,

o f fe e l i ngs brought i nto play by l i v e ly dramat i c

r e pr e s e ntat i ons i n t he rap i d trans it i on from anx i e ty

,

and susp e ns e to s e r e n i ty and joy t he comb in ati on Of ,

all arts and arti sti c e nj oym e nts Of mus i c and song , ,

t he mi m i c danc e th e br i ll i ant l i ght i ng up and e ffe c

,
-

,
”2
t i v e d e corati on It c a n scarce ly howe v e r b e sa i d
.
, ,

that t he myste ri e s e x e rci s e d any salutary o r e l e vat ing

i nflu e nc e o n the Gr e e ks g e n e rally T he moral con .

d uct Of t he i n i ti at e d was no b ett e r than that Of

oth e rs ; and Plato thought that par ti c i pati on i n t he
El e us i n i a s e rv e d only to stre ngth e n and mak e a m an
?
s ecur e i n unr i ght e ousn e ss
1 D oll i gn er ,
“
J ew an d Ge n t il e , vol . i . p 193 .

2 I bi d p 1 9 6
. . .

3 “ R e p ub l i c , 11 .
Q 6 ( q u o t e d by D o ll i n g e p r, .
 CHAPTE R VI II .

RE L I GIO N O F TH E AN CIE N T R O M AN S .

S ua e u i qu e r eli gi o c i vi t at i , n o s t r a n o b i s .

C IC E R O , P r o F l a c c 28 . .

IME was and not a v ery d i stant t i m e wh e n i t

T ,

was r egularly i nculcate d on the youthful m i nd

,

i n o ur publ i c schools and oth e r gr e at e ducati onal

e stabl i shm e nts that o n e and t he sam e r e l i g i ous sys
,

t e m pr e va i l e d al i k e i n Italy and Gr ee c e among t he ,

R omans and t he H e ll e n e s two branch e s as i t w as ,

thought o f a s i ngl e or ig i nal p e opl e S uch phras e s

,
.

“ ” “
as classi cal mythology t he r e l i g i on Of t he
,
” “
Gr ee k s and R omans t he d e i t i e s o f t he class i cal
,
”
n at i ons,
we re fre qu e nt al i k e o n t he l i ps O f te ach e rs ,

and i n t he language O f authori z e d te xt books the -

Gr e c i an d i v i n i ti e s w e re spok e n O f almost un i v e rsally

by th e i r ( suppos e d) e qu i val e nt Lati n nam e s ; and
t h e youth would have b ee n cons i d e r e d O fl e n s i v ely
c’
p e danti c w ho Should hav e h e s itat e d to r e nd e r H o a ,
“ ” '
“ ”
by J un e o r Agg gzgp by C e re s
,
'
But wi th i n .

t he last tw e nty o r th i rty y e ars a mor e j ust app r ec ia

t i on Of t he facts Of the cas e has sprung up ; t he

car eful i nve st igat i on wh i ch has b ee n mad e o f the
“ ”
or ig i n e s both o f Gr ee ce and R om e has shown ,
21 3
214 The R eli g i on s o
f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

first that
,
t he two nati ons w e r e but r e mote ly c o n
n e c t e d i n rac e ,
and s e condly that th e i r r e l ig ious
,

syste ms w e re mark e dly and str i k i ngly d iffe r e nt .

A n y r e v i e w O f t he r e l i g ious syste ms O f t he anc i e nt

world that i s atte mpte d at the pr e s e nt day n e c es ,

sar i l and as a matt e r Of cours e tr e ats s e parat e ly

y ,

t he r e l i g i on of t he H e ll e n e s and that of t he R omans ;

and w e ar e thus bound b e fore o u r ta sk can be r e
,

gard e d as compl e te t O app e nd to the account wh i ch

,

w e hav e alr e ady g i v e n o f t h e H e ll e n i c r e l i g i ous

“
syste m a chapte r o n t h e R e l i gi on of t he Anci e nt
R omans ?
Foll ow i ng the m e thod wh i ch w e hav e hi th e rto fo r
t he most part pursu e d w e propos e to cons i d e r first
, , ,

t he Obj e cts Of worsh i p at R om e and s e condly t he , ,

characte r and p e cul i ar i ti e s Of the worsh i p wh i ch was

pa i d to th e m W e may note en pa ss a n t that t he
.
, ,

r e l igi on was a polyth e i sm i n i ts g e n e ral characte r

,

S i m i lar to that Of Gr e e c e but d i sti n gu i sh e d by i ts

,

comparati ve ly scanty d e v e lopm e nt O f the polyth e i sti c

i d e a i n r e sp e ct O f Natur e and t h e parts o f Nat u r e ,

a n d i ts ampl e d e v e lopm e nt O f that i d e a i n conn e ct i on

w i th human l i fe i ts acti ons parts and phas e s

, , ,
.

T he gr e at gods ( D i m ajo r es) o f R om e w e r e al ways

re gard e d as tw e lv e i n numb e r though at d iffe r e nt
,

p er i ods O f R oman hi story t he e num e rat i on O f t he .

”
twe lv e would hav e b ee n d iffe r e nt If w e go bac k .

—
to the v e ry e arl i e st almost pr e h i stor c t i m e w e
i — -
,

may p e rhaps nam e t he follow i ng as the t w e lv e Of

th e pr i m i t i v e syst e m — Jup i te r Juno ( D iana)
,
2
,

M i n e rva, Mars B e llona V e sta C e r e s S aturnus

, , , , ,
21 6 The R e li g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

t he acknowl e dge d h e ad o f the R Om an panth e on only ,

pr e ced e d som e ti m e s i n sol e mn i nvocati ons by Janus

‘
,
“ ”
t he S p i r i t O f Op e n i ng who n e c e ssar i ly pre si d e d
,

ov e r b e g inn ings o f all ki nds A sort Of g e n e ral .

sup e r i nte nd e nc e ov e r human affa i rs was ass ign e d to

hi m ; he w as v i e we d as pun i sh i ng i mp i e ty i n g e n e ral ,

and p e rj ury i n part i cular he kn e w t he futur e and ,

could r e v e al i t ; he guard e d t he r i ghts o f prop e rty ,

and was v i e we d as a sort o f guard i an d e i ty o f t he

“
R oman p e opl e and stat e H e has b e e n call ed t he
.
,
2
g e n i us o f t he R oman p e opl e but th i s conc e pti on
o f h i m i s t oo narrow H e was ce rta i nly much more
.

“
than that If not t he un i v e rsal l ord wh i ch som e
.
,

hav e cons i d e r e d hi m he w a s at any rat e a gr e at god

,

— the h igh e st conce pti on o f d e i ty wh i ch was e v e r

r e ach e d by t he R omans .

J UN O .

Juno a m e re femal e Jup ite r posse ss i ng n o sub

is ,

s ta n t i v e o r s e parat e characte r u nl e ss i t b e that of a ,

S p e c i al prot e ctr e ss o f wom e n and mor e parti cularly ,

of matrons S he stands to Jup it e r as Fauna to Fa u

.

nus Luna t o L un us Am e nte t o Ammon S he pr e

, ,
.

s i d e d e sp e c ially ov e r marr i age s and b i rths b e i ng ,

“ ” “
i nvok ed as L uc i na or S he that br i ngs to l i ght
, ,
“
wh e n t he b i rth dre w n igh and as Pronuba wh e n ,

marri ag e approach e d I d e nti cal w i th D iana or ig i .

s to Aedg as Juno to Z ack

n ally
( for D i ana i ) S he ,

cam e gradually to be cons i d e re d a d isti nct and s epa

1 L iv
. vi i i . 9 .

2
M om m s en,
“
Hi s t or y o f R om e , vol . i . p . 1 76 , E . T .
 R eli g i on f
o the A n ci e n t R om a ns . 21 7

rate d e i ty — the d isti nct ion b e com ing a contrast i n t he

late r t i m e s wh e n D i ana was i d e nti fi ed wi th the Gr e
,
“ ”
c i a n A rt e m i s A S Jup i te r w as t he k i ng so Juno
.
,
“ ”
was t he qu ee n of he av e n (r eg i n a c oeli or c oelor um) .

S he was i nvo ke d und e r many nam e s b e s i d e s those

alr e ady m e nti on e d She was V i rg inal i s as pro .
,
“ ”
te et i ng ma id e ns ; Matrona as t he patron e ss o f ,
“ ” “ ”
marr i e d wom e n O pi g e n a h e l p gi v i ng ; and
:

,
-

“ ” “ ”
S osp i ta pr e s e rv i ng as g e n e ral a i d e r O f the fe
, ,

mal e s e x A gr e at fe st i val w as h e ld i n he r honour

.

e v e ry y e ar on t he 1 s t Of March wh i ch was call e d ,

Jifa tr on a li a a n d was att e nd e d by all R oman matrons

, ,

who r e gard e d he r as at he r pl easur e e i th e r g i v i n g o r

w ithhold ing Offspr i ng It was p e rhaps an acci d e n t .

wh i ch gave Juno t he pre s i d e ncy ov e r m on ey the ,

R omans hav i ng found i t conv e n i e nt to e stabl i sh

th e i r first m i nt i n the v i ci n i ty of he r te mpl e o n t he
Cap i tol i n e h i ll wh e r e S he was worsh i pp ed as Juno
,
“ ”
Mon e ta or Juno t he adm o n i tress
,
.

M I N E R VA .

M i n erva though worsh ipp e d i n common by the

,

Etruscans and t he R omans app e ars by the e tymo l ogy ,

Of he r nam e to hav e b ee n e ss e nti ally a Lati n d e i ty .

S he i s t he godd e ss of m i nd (m en s ) and m e mory

( m em i n i r emi n i s c o r
, ) t h e th i nk i ng calculat i ng , ,
”1
i nv e nt i v e powe r pe r s on i fie d H e r worsh i p was .

clos e ly conn e cted wi th that o f Jup i t e r and Juno the ,

thr e e tog eth e r form ing t he Cap i tol in e T ri ad who ,

1
d
S c h m i t , i n D r S m i th .
’
s D iet . O f G re e k an d R om a n A n ti q u i
ti es ,
”
vol . ii p . 10 90 .
21 8 The R eli g i on s f
o the An c i e n t Wor ld .

alon e had te mpl es o n that h i ll i n the e arly ti m e s .

In t he gre at lec ti s ter ni u m call e d epuluin J o vi s t he ,

i mag e s o f t he thr ee w e r e brought o u t and fe aste d

toge th er M i n e rva was t he patron e ss both of t he
.

fin e arts and o f t h e var i ous hand i crafts— the godd e ss

o f scu l ptors pa i nters mus i c ians po ets phys i ci ans
, , , , ,

w e av e rs dy e rs carp e nte rs sm i ths e tc e t c Each

, , , ,
.
,
.

man r egard ed his tal e nts as com i ng e sp ec i ally from

he r ; and as succe ss i n war i s t he fru i t o f prud e nc e ,

p e rs e v e rance contr i vance stratag e m as much as o f

, , ,

courag e and sh e e r brute force M i n e rva was i n o n e ,

r esp e ct a war godd e ss and r epr e se nte d w i th a hel

1 -

m e t sh i e ld and coat o f ma i l
, ,
T he ch i e f fe st i val .

c e l e brate d i n honour o f M i n e rva was t he Qu inqua

trus o r Qu i nquatr i a wh i ch laste d five days —from
,

t he 1 9 th o f March to t he 28 rd .

MAR S .

In M av ors o r Mars w e hav e the c entral obj e ct ,

”1
not only o f R oma n but Ital i an worsh i p i n g e n eral
, ,

— t he r e al ma i n obj e ct o f publ i c r e l i g i ous r egard

throughout t he gr eate r porti on o f t he p e n i nsula .

Ori gi nally p e rhaps Maurs ( Mors)

, ,
t he k i ll i ng ,
”
god and th e r e for e l i k e S i va t he D e stroy e r attach e d
, , ,

to no sp e ci al d epartm e nt o f human l i fe h e cam e by ,

d egr e e s to hav e t he most d e structi v e of human o c c u

t i n s war ass i gn e d to hi m as hi s e sp e c i al fi e ld
p a o , , ,

and to be r e gard e d as t he god who w e nt o u t to battl e

at the h e ad o f e ach army— i nv i s i bly but r e ally pr e s e nt
—who hurl e d h is sp e ar at the fo e struck te rror i nto ,

1
So M omm s en , Hi s t or y o f R om e , vol . i . p . 1 75 , E T . .
220 The R eli g i ons o
f the An ci ent Wor ld .

war (bellmn or duellnm ) was spok e n o f as the w i fe or ,

s i ste r o f Mars and had a te mpl e i n t he Camp u s Mar

,

ti us wh e r e t he c e r e mony o f procla i mi ng war was

,

p e rform e d A coll e g e o f pri e sts call e d B e l l o n ar i i

.
, ,

c o nduct e d he r worsh i p and w e r e bound wh e n th e

'
y , ,

o fie r e d sacr i fic e i n h e r honour to wound th e i r own ,

arms o r l egs and e i th er to o ffe r up upon he r altar

,

t he blood wh i ch flow e d from th e i r wounds or e ls e ,

to swall ow i t th e ms e lv e s T he 24th o f March was .

e sp e c i ally appo i nt e d fo r th e s e c e r e mon i e s and for ,

th i s re ason was known i n t he R oman cal e n dar as t he

day o f blood ( di es s a ng ui n i s) B e llona was r e .

1
pre s e nte d as arm ed w i th a bloody scourg e and was ,

sol e mnly i nvok e d i n dang erous cri s es by g en erals o n

2
t he battl e fie l d -
.

V E S TA .

V e sta i de nti cal w i th the Gr e c i an H e st ia

,

was an anci e nt godd e ss whos e worsh i p t he Lati ns ,

brought wi th th e m i nto Italy from th e i r pri m i t i v e

s e ttl e m e nts i n t he far East In he r e arl ie st c o n c ep .

t ion she was t he godd ess o f the human dw e ll ing

,

( v ets,
o a sa n a Sa n s kr
) g e n,
e rally : but accord i ng t o .
,

R oman i d e as i t was t he nati onal rath e r than t he

, ,

d om e sti c h earth ov e r wh i ch sh e pr e s i d e d
,
H er .

t e mpl e was o n e o f t he most anci e nt i n R om e It lay .

at the north ern foot of t he Palati n e b il l a l itt l e eas t ,

o f t he Forum and was i n t he i mm e d i at e v i c i n i ty o f

,

a sacre d grov e also d e d i cate d to Ve sta T he r egular

,
.

1 V i gil
r
,
“
fE n . vii i . 70 3 ; L u c an ,
“
Ph ars . vn . 5 69 .

2 L i v v i ii
. . 9 ; x . 19 .
 R e li gi on f
o the A n c i en t R om a n s . 221

worsh i p o f the godd e ss was e ntruste d to a coll e ge o f

“ ”
s i x wom e n k nown as ,
V e stal V i rgi ns ( Vi rg i n es
Ves ta les ) whos e sp e c i al duty i t was to pr e s e rv e t he
,

sacr ed fire upon t h e altar wh i ch r epre se nte d the

nati onal h e arthston e and not to allow i t e v e r to be ,

e xt i ngu i sh e d T h e y d w e lt tog e th e r i n a clo i st e r

.

a l ttl e apart from t he t e mpl e und e r t he

( a tr iu m
) i ,

pr e s i d e ncy o f t he e ld e st s iste r ( Ves ta li s m a xi mal) and

und e r t he sup e r i nt e nd e nce a n d control o f t he coll ege
o f P o n t i fic e s B es i d e s watch i ng t he fir e th ey had to
.
,

pr e s e nt o ffe r i ngs to V e sta at state d t i m es and to ,

spr i nkl e and pur i fy t he shri n e e ach morn i ng wi th

wat e r from t he E g eri an spri ng A fe sti val was h e ld .

i n honour o f t he godd e ss annually o n t he 9 t h o f

Jun e at wh i ch no m a n m ight be pr e s e nt but wh i ch
, ,

was atte nd e d by t he R oman matrons ge n e rally who ,

walk e d i n proce ss i on wi th bar e fee t from t he vari ous

q uarte rs o f t he ci ty to t he te mpl e T h e re was no .

i mage i n t he te mpl e o f V e sta t he e te rnal fire b e i ng ,

re gard e d as symbol i s i ng he r s uffi c i e ntly .

CE R E S .

A
god C e rus and a godd e ss C e r i e a re found to
, , ,
1
have b ee n worsh i pp e d by t he e arly Ital ians ; and i t
i s a r e aso n abl e conj e ctur e that th e s e nam e s ar e con
“
n ec t e d wi th t he Lat i n Ce res T he Lat i n wr i te rs .

2
d e ri ve d that word e i th er from g er o or c r eo and c o n ,

1 C p u s I s I tal i pp 8 29 8 3 0
F ab r e t t i , “
or n . c . .
,
.

2
V ar r oD Li g L t ev d Ci
n .
(
a D e
. N t D eo
. an c er o
“
a . r .

11 . d i ve i t f m g
er S v ro C m m d Vi g Geo g
er o er 1 us o . a r . r .

a n d M c rob i u i 1 8 ) f om
”
i . a Satu n s r . . r ar ea .
222 T he R eli gi on s of the An c i en t Wor ld .

s i de r e dthat i t was g i v e n to mark that the d e ity i n

“ ” ”
qu e st i on was t he br i nge r o r cre ator o f thos e ,

fru i ts o f the e arth on wh i ch t he l i fe o f man ma i n ly

d e p e nds Accord i ng to som e C e re s was t he sa m e as
.
,

T e llus ; but th i s do e s not s e e m to hav e b ee n t he cas e

anci e ntly C e re s was t he god d e ss o f agr i cultur e and
.
,

was conn e cte d from a v e ry e arly date w i th L ib e r t he ,

Lati n Bacchus the god o f the v i n eyard T hat C e r e s

,
.

“ ”
should hav e b ee n o n e o f t he gr eat d i v i n i t ie s mar k s ,

strongly t he agr i cultural c ha ra e ter o f t he e arly R oman

state wh i ch d i d n ot g i v e to L i b e r o r to Pomona
, , ,

any such pos it i on T he worsh i p of C e re s m e rg e d

.

afte r a ti m e i n that o f D e m e t e r whos e p e cul i ar ,

r i tes w e r e i mport ed e i th e r from V e l i a o r fr om S i ci ly .

S A T U R N US .

S atur n us was prop erly th e god o f sow i ng but was ,

r e gard e d l i ke C e r e s as a g e n e ral d e ity o f agr i cultur e

, , ,

and was r e pr e s e nte d w i th a prun i ng hook i n h i s hand -

,

and w i th wool about hi s fe e t H is statu e was mad e .

hollow and was fill e d wi th ol i v e o i l s ign i ficant o f

, ,
“ ”
the fatn ess and fe rti l i ty wh i ch he S pre ad ove r t h e
land H i s fe st i val t he S aturnal i a h e ld i n D e c e m
.
, ,

b er from t he 1 7 th to t he 24 t h was a sort o f harv e st

, ,

hom e comm e morat i v e o f t he conclus i on of all t he

,

labours of t he y e ar and was th e r e for e c e l e brate d wi th

,
‘

o c u n d r i t es m i rth and fe st i v i ty an i nt e rm i xtur e o f

j , , ,

all ranks upon e qual t e rms and an i nte rchange o f ,

pr e s e nts T he te mpl e of S aturn at R om e stood at

.

t h e foot o f t he Cap i tol i n e h i ll and was ass i gn ed to ,

a r e mote ant i qu i ty though w i th var iat i ons as to the

,
224 The R e li g i on s f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

out of t he e arth and Ops o f t he human labour w i th

,

o u t wh i ch t h e producti v e powe r runs to wast e ,

a n d i s i nsu ffici e nt for the suste nance of human l i fe .

C UL E S H E R .

T he n ear r e s e mblanc e o f H e rcul e s to H e racl e s l e d ,

almost n e c e ssar i ly to t he i d e a e v e rywh e re pr e val e nt

, ,

unti l r e c e ntly that t h e two gods w e r e i d e nt i cal and

, ,

that th e r e fore e i th e r H e rcul e s was an anc i e nt d e i ty

common to t he Lat i ns w i th t he H e ll e n e s b e for e t he
form e r m i grate d i nto Italy or e ls e that he was a n ,

i mportati o n fro m Gr e e c e i ntrod uce d at a compara ,

t i ve ly lat e p e r i od R e ce ntly how e v e r t he e tym o l o

.
, ,

i c a l conn e ct i on o f t he two nam e s has b ee n qu e s

g
1
t i o n e d and i t has b e e n sugg e st e d
,
that H e rcul e s i s ,

l ike C er e s and S aturn and Ops a nd Mars and M i

, , , ,

n e rva a g e nu i n e I tal i c god qu i te unc onn e cte d w i th

, ,

H e racl e s who i s a g e n u i n e H e ll e n i c d i v i n i ty T he
,
.

root o f t he nam e H e rcul e s has b e e n found i n her c a s

“ ” “ ”
3 e nc e her c er e o r
(p ) xo g a fe nce or e nclosur e wh ,
“ ” “ ” “ ”
a r c er e ,
to ward o ff k eep back sh i e ld
,
H er ,
.

cul e s whos e worsh i p was ce rta i nly as anc i e nt at

,

R om e as that of any oth e r d e i ty would thus b e ,

”
t he god o f t h e e nclos e d hom e st e ad and th e nce i n ,
”2
ge n e ral the god of prop e rty and ga i n H e was .

r e gard e d as pr e s i d i ng ove r fa i th t he bas i s o f t he ,

soci al contract and o f all d e al i ngs b e twe e n m a n and

,

man a nd h e nce was known as D en s fidi a s t he go d

,
“
,
”
of good fa ith who av e ng e d i nfracti ons of i t In
,
.

1 M o m ms en ,
“
H i s t or y of R om e , vol . i . p . 1 74 .

2 1 bi d .
 R eli gi o n f
o the A n c i e n t R oma n s . 225

t he e arly ti m e s he s ee ms to hav e had no te mpl e at

R om e ; but hi s Gr e at Altar i n t he cattl e — mark e t was
o n e o f t he most sacr e d s i te s i n t he c i ty ;
1
oaths w e re
sworn th e r e and contracts conclude d ; nor was i t
,

unusual for R oman c i ti z e ns to d e vote to i t a t e nth

part o f th e i r prop e rty for the purpos e of obta i n ing ,

t he god s favour o r fo r t he ful film e nt o f a vow

’
.
,

T he worsh i p o f H e rcul e s was not e xclus i v e ly R oman ,

n o t e v e n Lat i n but Ital i c H e was r e v e r e nce d i n

,
.

e v e ry spot o f Italy and had altars e r e cte d to him ,

e v e rywh e re i n t he str e e ts of t he towns as w e ll as by

,
”2
t he roads i d e s .

M E R C U R I US .

M e rcuri us was t he god of comm e rce and traffic

g e n erally As trad e was n ot loo ke d upon wi th m uch
.

re sp e ct at R om e his posi t i on among t he gre at gods

,

was a low o n e H e had no v e ry anci e nt te mpl e o r

.

pri e sthood and wh e n allow e d the honour o f a t em

, ,

e i n t he s e cond d e cad e of t he R e publ i c

3
p l h i s wor ,

sh ip s ee ms to hav e b e e n r e gard e d as pl e b e i an and o f

an i nfe r i or characte r Conn e cte d w i th i t was a .

( )
4
gu i ld o f m e rchants c o lleg i u m m er c a to mi m call ed ,
”
afte rwards M e rcur i al e s who m e t at t he te mpl e
, ,

o n c e rtai n fix e d days for a r e l i g i ous p u rpos e T he .

cult o f M e rcury was l i ke that o f H e rcul e s v e ry , ,

w i d e ly d i ffus e d ; but i t w as affe c te d ch ie fly by t he

lowe r ord e rs and had not much hold upon t he
,

nati on .

1 S L iv i 7 ; i
ee 29
. . M mms l
x . .
2 o en, . s . c .

3
L iv ii
. . 27 .

4
N i eb uh r , Hi s tor y of R om e , vo l . i . p . 58 9 , n o te , E T . .

15
226 The R eli g i ons o
f the An c i en t Wor l d .

N E PT U N U S .

The Lati n N eptun u s i s r e asonably i d e nti fi e d w i th

1
t h e Etruscan N e th u n s who was a wate r god w i d e ly , ,

worsh i pp e d by that s e afar i ng p e opl e T he word i s .

probably to b e conn e cte d w i th t he r oot n i b o r n ip ,

i é — h r
'

f ound i n m p flw x T 1 T i
'

n p t o) b e
gp z a e e s -

, , . . .
,

not much trace of t he worsh i p of N e ptun e at R om e

’
i n t h e e ar l y t i m e s for L i vy s i d e nt i ficat i on o f h i m
,
2
w i th Consus the god honour e d i n the C on s ual i a
, ,

c an n ot b e allow e d W e find hi s cult howe v e r fully

.
, ,

e stabl i sh e d i n t h e s e cond c e ntury of t h e R e publ i c

3
,

w h e n i t was un i t e d w i th that o f M e rcury t he m e r ,

c a n t i l e d e i ty In lat e r t i m e s h e had an altar i n t he

.

C i rcus Flam i n i us and a t e mpl e in t he Campus Mar ,

t i us A fe st i val was h e ld i n h i s honour call e d

.
,

N e pt u n a l i a o n t he 23 r d day of July wh i ch was

, ,

c e l ebrate d w i th gam e s banqu e ts and carousals T he , , .

p e opl e mad e th e ms e lv e s booths at th is ti m e wi t h t he

branch e s o f tr ee s and fe aste d b e n e ath t he pl easant
,

shad e o f t he gr e e n fol i ag e R oman adm i rals on .

,

qu i tti ng port w i th a fl e e t w e r e bound to sacri fice to ,

N e ptun e and t h e e ntra i ls o f t he v i cti m s w e re thrown

,

i nto t he s ea Afte r th e Gr ee k myth ology b e cam e

.

known to t he R omans N e ptun e was compl e te ly ,

i d e n t i fi e d w i th Pos e i don and b e cam e i nv e st e d w i th ,

a l l h i s attr i bu te s Amph i tr i te b e cam e h is wi fe and

.
,

t h e N e r e i ds h is compan i ons
4
.

In succe ss i on to the twe lv e d e i ti e s o f t he first rank

1 T yl
a or ,
“
Et r u s c an R es e ar c h e s , p . 1 38 .

2
Liv i 9 . . .
3 I bi d . v . 13 .
4 H or . C d i ii 28 , 1 1 0
. . . .
228 The R e li g i ons o f the A n ci en t Wor ld .

“ ”1
m e an k i ndl e rs o f fir e i e o ffe r e rs o f burnt sacr i
,
. .
,

fic e T he Flam i n e s w e r e o f two class e s Maj or e s and

.
,

M i nor e s th e form e r of who m we re always tak e n

,

from t he patr i c i an ord e r T h e s e w e r e t he Flam e n .

“ ”
D i al i s o r pr i e st o f Jov e t he Flam e n Marti al is
, , ,
”
or pr i e st o f Mars and the Flam e n Q u i ri n alis o r
, ,

“
pri e st o f Qu i ri nus Among the Flam i n e s M i nor e s
.
,

many o f whom w e re of late i nst i tuti on w e find ,

2
thos e o f V e rtumnus Flora Pomona and Vulcan , , ,
.

T h e Flam e n was i n e ach cas e t he pr i nc i pal sacr i fici ng

pri e st i n t he ch i e f t e mpl e o f t he god o r godd ess and ,

was bound to b e i n conti nual atte ndance upon t he

shri n e and to sup e r i nte nd t he e nti r e worsh i p offe r e d
,

at i t In add iti on to t h e Flam e n o r i n his place

.
, ,

th e r e was attach e d to all t e mpl e s a coll e g i um o r body ,

o f pr i e sts wh i ch m i ght cons i st of a l l t h e mal e m e m

,

b e rs o f a parti cular fam i ly as t he P o ti ti i and

“

,
3
P i n a r i i but was mor e commonly a clos e corpora
,

ti on l i m i te d i n numb e r and e l e cte d by c o optat i on

, ,
-

i e by t h e vote s of th e e x i sti ng m e mb e rs
. .
,
.

A mongst t he most i mportant o f th e s e corporat i ons

“ ”
w e r e t he two coll e gi a o f S al ii o r danc ing pr i e sts , ,

wh i ch we r e attach e d to the t e mpl e o f M a rs u po n the '

Palati n e h i ll and to that of Qu i r i nus u pon the

,

Qu i ri nal T h e form e r— S al i i Palat i n i— had t he

.

charg e of t he anci l i a o r sacr e d sh i e lds o n e o f wh i ch

, ,

was b e l ie v e d to hav e fall e n from h e av e n and to be ,

fatally conn e cte d w i th t he safe ty o f the R oman State .

In the gr e at fe st i val o f Mars w i th wh i ch t he y ear ,

M mm
1
o H i t y f R m v l i p 1 75
s en , s or o o e, o . . . .

E
2
i us p V
nn em D e Li g L t
a . ar r onvii 44 , Liv i 7 n . a . . .
3
. . .
 R eli g i on o f the An ci en t R oma n s . 229

op en e d th ey march e d in proce ss i on through the c ity

, ,

b ear ing t he anc i l ia o n th ei r should e rs and str i k ing ,

th e m from t i m e to ti m e as th ey dance d a n d sang , ,

—
w i th a rod T he Sal i i of Qu i ri nus Sal i i Coll i n i o r
.

l —
A g o n a e s w e r e a l e ss i mportant coll e g e Th ei r .

dutie s conn e cte d th e m w ith the worsh i p o f Qu i ri nus ,

who is b e l i e ve d by som e to h ave b ee n the Sab i n e

Mars and w i th t he fe sti val of t he Qu i r i nal i a L i k e
,
1
.

t he oth e r S al ii th ey no doubt p e rform e d War dance s

,
-

i n honour o f th e i r patron d e i ty A th i rd coll eg i um .

,

o r pr i e stly corporati on o f h i gh rank was that o f t he ,

s i x V e stal V i rg i ns attach e d as th e i r nam e in i pli es

, , ,

to the worsh i p o f V e sta and r e gard e d w i th p e cul i ar

,

v e n e rati on as hav i ng vow e d th e mse l v e s to chasti ty

,

i n t he s e rv i ce o f th e nati on Oth e r coll e g ia o f som e

.

i mportance but o f a low e r rank w e re that o f t he

, ,

Fratre s Arval e s a coll e ge o f twe lv e pr i e sts attach ed

,

to t he cult of C e re s w h o ce l e brate d a fe sti val to he r

,

as the D e a d ia (d i v i n e godd e ss) i n the e arly summ e r

—
t i m e ; and that o f t he Lup e rc i o r wolf e xp ell e rs ”
, ,

a sh i fti ng body o f p e rsons whose ch i e f bus i n e ss i t ,

was to conduct the Lup e rcal i a a fe sti val h e ld a h ,

n u al l n t he 1 5 th o f F e bruary i n honour of
y o ,

Lup e rcus o r Faunus T he So da les T i tu h ad duti e s

, .

s i m i lar to those o f the Fratr e s Arval e s ; an d t he

Flam i n e s Curi al e s th i rty i n numb e r offe r e d sacr i
, ,

fic e s for t he pr e s e rvat i on o f the th i rty cur i e s o f t he

or i g i nal R oman p e opl e .

From th es e coll e g i a o f pri e sts w e must car efully ,

“
d isti ngu i sh the l earn e d corporati ons, coll ege s of
1 M o m m se n vol i pp 8 7 nd 1 7 5 . . a .
, .
23 0 The R e li gi on s f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

1
sacre d lor e as th ey hav e b ee n call ed who had no
, ,

pri e stly dut i e s and no sp e c i al conn e cti on w i th any

,

parti cular de i ty T h e r e w e r e four pr i nci pal coll e ge s

.

o f th i s k i nd — those o f t he Po n t i fic e s t he A ugurs t he , ,

F e t ia ls and t he Duumv i ri sacrorum

,
.

T he P o n t i fic es or i g i nally four ( o r fi ve i f w e i n
, ,

c l ud e t h e pont i fe x max i mus

) but aft e r w ards ra i s e d to ,

n in e and ult i mate ly to s i xte e n had t he ge n eral

, ,

sup eri nt e nd e nce o f r e l i g i on T h ey e x e rc i s e d a con .

trol ov e r all t he pri e sts e v e n t he Flam e ns T h ey ,

.

w e r e s uppos e d to b e thoroughly acqua i nte d w i th all

t h e trad i t i ons w i th r e gard to t he appropr i at e worsh i p
o f e ach d i v i n i ty ; to und e rstand the myst e r i e s o f num

b e rs and to b e d e e ply v e rs e d i n astronomy— wh e nc e

,

th ey s e ttl e d th e cal e ndar d e te rm i n in g wh e n e ach ,

fe sti val was to be h e ld and what days we r e fa s ti o r ,

n efa s ti i e ,
days su i tabl e for t he transacti on o f bus i
. .
,

n e ss o r t he contrary
,
All prod i g i e s and om ens had
.

to be r e porte d to th e m ; and w i th th e m i t lay to d e ’

te rm i n e what steps should be tak e n to app eas e t he

gods i n conn e cti on wi th e ach T h ey had to furn i sh .

t he prop e r formula o n all gr e at r e l i g i ous occas i ons as ,

t he d ed i cat i on o f a t e mpl e 2
h —
t e s e lf d e vot i on o f a ,
3
g en e ral and t he l ik e T h e re was n o app e al from
, .

th e i r d e ci s i ons unl e ss i n som e cas es t o t he p e opl e ;

,

and th ey could e nforc e ob ed i e nce by t he i nfl i ct i on o f

fin e s and und e r ce rta i n c i rcumstance s o f d e ath
, , , .

T he Augurs or i g i nally four l i k e t he Pont i ffs and

, , ,

ra i sed l i k e th e m first to n i n e and late r to s i xtee n

, , , ,

M o mm s vol i p 1 7 7 1 7 8
1
en , . . .
, .

L i v i 46 ( bi d v i ii 9 ; x 28
2 3
. . . . . . .
232 The R e l ig i on s o f the An ci en t Wor ld .

1 2
the forms fo r d e mand ing sat i sfacti on d e clar i ng war , ,
3
and ma ki ng p e ace but th e i r own p e rsonal i n t e rve n
,

t i on was r e qu i s it e i n e ve ry cas e I nve ste d wi th a .

sac r e d charact e r th ey w e r e t he i nte rm e d i ar i e s e m

,

ploy e d by t he S tate i n mak i ng compla i nts procla i m i ng ,

war and s ee i ng that tre at ie s w e r e conclud e d w i th the

,

prop e r formal i ti e s In the conclus i on o f such e n

.

a e m e n t s th ey e v e n act e d as v e r i tabl e pr i e sts slay

g g ,

i n g w i th th ei r o w n hands t he v i ct i ms by offe ri ng ,

wh i ch a sacr e d characte r was g i v e n to tr e aty obl i ga

t i ons .

T he Duumv i ri sacrorum w e r e t he k ee p e rs consul ,

t ers and i n te rpr eters o f t he S i byll i n e books a col

, ,

l e cti on o f pr e te nd e d proph e ci e s wr i tte n i n Gr ee k , ,

and n o doubt d e r i v ed from a Gr ee k sourc e T h ey .

w e r e as th e i r n am e i mpl i e s a coll e g i um o f two per

, ,

sons only and i n t he e arly t i m e s w e r e r e qu i re d to

4
,

b e R o m ans of a v e ry h i gh rank A s su ch p e rsons .

,

n o t u nfr e qu e ntly w e r e v e ry i gnora nt o f t h e Gr ee k

, ,

t he Stat e furn i sh e d th e m w i th t w o sla v e s w e ll a o

u a i n t e d w i th t he languag e It was c us t o m ar v t o
q .

consult t he S i byl i n e books i n case o f p e sti l e nc e or o f ,

any e xtraord i nary prod i gy and to follow s c r upul o ,

ly t he adv i c e wh i ch th ey w e r e thought to g i v e i n r e
fe r e n ce to t he occas i on .

S uch w e r e t he l e arn e d coll e g e s o f anci e nt R om e .

T hough e x e rci s i ng cons i d e rabl e pol i t i cal i nflu e nce ,

th ey n e v e r b e ca m e dange rous to t he S tate from the ,

1 L iv i . . 32 .
2
I bi d
.
3 I bi d i 24
. . .

4
Th e of
fice was s ub s e q u e tl y e xp d d
n an e i nt o th a t of th e d e

c e m vi r i s a c r i s fa c i u n d i s , w h ul t i m t l y b
o a e e c am e q u i n d e c i m vi r i .
 R e li g i on o
f the An c i en t R om a ns . 23 3

c ircums tance that th ey could i n no case take the

i n i ti ati ve T h e ir bus i n e ss was to g i v e answ e rs to
.

i nqu i r e rs an d unti l consulte d th ey w e re dumb

, ,
.

Pr i vat e p e rsons as w e ll as publ i c o ffice rs m i ght ap

p e al to th e m ; and calls we r e fr e qu e ntly mad e o n
the m to bri ng forth th e i r s e cre t knowl edge i nto t he
l ight o f day by t he mag i strate s But i t was o f th ei r .

e ss e nc e to be consultati v e and not i n i t i at i v e or e v e n

, ,

e x e cuti v e bod i e s H e nce notwi thstand i ng t he pow

.
,

e r s wh i ch th e y w i e ld e d and t he r e sp e ct i n wh i ch
,

th ey we re h e ld th ey at no t i m e b e cam e Ga dange r to
,

t he S tate S ac e rdotal i s m plays no part i n R oman

.

h istory Notw ithstand i ng all th e i r z e al for r e

l ig io n t he R omans adh e r e d w i th unb e nd i ng str i ct
,

n e ss to t he pr i nci pl e that the prie st ought to r e ma i n

,

compl e te ly powe rl e ss i n t he S tate and e xclud e d from , ,

command ought l i ke any oth e r burg e ss to r e nd e r

, , ,
”1
obe d i e nce to t he humbl e st magistrate .

The publ i c r e l ig i on o f t he R omans cons i ste d ,

mai nly i n t he obse rvance by t he S tate o f i ts obl iga

,

t i on (r elig i o) to provi d e for t he cult of ce rta i n trad i

t i o n al d e i t i e s wh i ch i t d id by bu i ld i ng t e mpl e s
, ,

e stabl i sh i ng pr i e sthoods and s e cur i ng t he co n ti nu

,

ance o f both by e ndowm e nts Furth e r t he S tate .

,

showe d a constant s e ns e of re l ig i on by t he pos i ti on

wh i ch i t ass i gn e d to augury and the conti nual n ee d ,
“ ”
of tak i ng t he ausp i ce s o n all i mportant c i v i l o c
cas i ons In d e clari ng war r e l ig i ous formul ae w e re
.
,

use d ; i n conducti ng i t t he augurs or th e i r s ub o r d i

, ,

nate s w e r e fr e qu e ntly consulte d i n br i ng ing i t to

,
:

M om m e
1 “
H i t y f R m e v l i p 1 80
s n, s or o o , o . . . .
23 4 The R eli g i ons of the A n c ie n t Wor ld .

an e n d and e stabl i sh i ng p e ace t he fe ti als had to be ,

call e d i n and t he sancti on of r e l ig i on thus s e cure d

,

to e ach paci fic arrange m e nt The gre at o ffic e rs o f .

t he S tate w e r e i nduct e d i nto th e i r posts w i th r e l i g i ous

sol e mn i tie s and we r e bound to atte nd and tak e th e i r
,

part i n ce rtai n proce ss i ons and sacr i fice s In ti m e s .

o f dang e r and d i fli c u l t t h e S tat e gav e ord e rs for

y
sp e ci al r e l ig i ous c e r e mon i e s to s e cur e the favour o f ,

t he gods o r av e rt th e i r wrath
, .

T he r e l i g i on o f t he mass o f t he p e opl e cons i ste d

pr i nci pally i n four th i ngs : 1 Da i ly offe ri ngs by e ach .

h e ad o f a hous e hold ( pa tei ya mi li a s ) to the Lar e s o f ’

h is o w n hous e T he Lare s w e re v i e we d as house

.

’
hold gods who watch e d ove r e ach man s h e arth and
,

hom e e ach hous e hav i ng i ts own sp e c ial Lar e s In

,
.

th e or y th ey w e r e t he S p i r i ts o f a nce stors and th e i r ,

ch i e f the Lar fam i l i ari s was t he sp i r i t of the first

, ,

a n ce stor t he or i g i nator o f t he fam i ly ; but practi cally

,

t he anc e stral i d e a was no t prom i n e nt In r e sp e ctabl e .

l ”
hous e s th e r e was always a l ar a r i u m o r lar chap e l ,
-

conta i n i ng t he i mag e s o f t he Lar e s ; and e ach r e

l ig i o us R oman comm e nc e d t he day w i th pray e r i n
th i s plac e accompany i ng hi s pray e r upon most occa
, ,

s i ons wi th o ffe r i ngs wh i ch w e r e place d b e for e t he

, ,

i mage s i n l i tt le d i sh e s (pa te lloe) T h e o ffe r i n gs w e r e .

conti nually re n e we d at m e al t i m e s ; and o n b i rthdays -

and oth e r days o f r ej o i ci ng t he i mage s we r e adorn e d

1 Th e Em pe r or Al e x d an er Se v
eru s h a d t w o l ar a r i a , and i ncl u d d
e

a m on g st th e L ar e s o f th e one, Ab r aha m , O r ph eus, Al x d t h e

e an er

G r e at , a n d Ch ri st ; g
am o n s t t h os e of th e oth e r , A c hill e Ci c e s, ro ,

and V i gil
r .
23 6 The R eli g i ons o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

n e nt s e ns e o f r e l i g i ous aw e— th ey do n ot force the

soul to bow down b e fore th e m i n hum i l i ty and s e lf
abas e m ent T he R oman b e l ie ve s i n gods adm its
.
,

that he r e ce i ve s b e n e fits from th e m allows t he duty ,

o f grat i tud e and as a j ust man punctually d is

, , ,
1
charg es t he obl i gat i ons o f his r e l ig i on But h is .

cr ee d i s not e l e vati ng — i t do e s not draw hi m o n to

anoth e r world— i t do e s not ra i s e i n hi m any hop e s o f
t he futu re L i k e th e S adduce e he th i nks that Go d
.
,

r e w ards and pun i sh e s m e n as H e do es nat i ons i n th i s , ,

l i fe ; his thoughts rar e ly turn to anoth e r ; and i f th ey

do i t i s wi th a sort of sh i v e r at the prosp e ct o f be
,

com i ng a pal e shad e haunti ng t he n e ighbourhood o f ,

t he tomb o r d w e ll i ng i n t he cold world b e n e ath shut

, ,

o u t from th e l i ght o f day .

If t he R oman r e l i g i on m ay be sa i d to have had

—
any wh e r e a d e e p e r charact e r than th i s to hav e b ee n
i — i —
myste r ous soul st rr ng awful i t was i n conn e ct i on
i
, ,

w i th t he doctr i n e of e xp iat i on In t he br ight cl i m e .

o f Italy and i n t h e strong a n d flour i sh i ng R oman

,

commun i ty i nte ns e ly consc i ous of its o w n l i fe and

,

v igo ur t he gods could not but be re gard e d pr e do m i

,

n antl as b n e fic e n t b e i ngs who show e r e d bl e ss i ngs

y e ,

upon mank i nd B ut occas i onally und e r sp e ci al

.
,

c ircumstanc e s a d iffe r e nt fe e l i ng aros e

,
Earth .

quak e s shook t he ci ty and l e ft gr e at yawn ing gaps ,

i n i ts str e e ts o r square s ; t he T i b e r o v e r flow e d i ts

banks and i nundate d all t he low r eg i ons that lay
,

about t he Se v e n H i lls p e sti l e nce brok e o ut d e stroy ,

1 N t o e th i de e f ob l i g t i o s p ed mi a t i
a o t h e W or d
a n a r o n n n
“
rel i gi o n, f om a d l g o lig
r to b i d
re
”
on ti e e o r o,
“
n r
“
.
 R eli gi on o
f the An ci en t R oma ns . 23 7

in g thousands and thr e ate n i ng to carry o ff t he e nt i r e

,

p e opl e ; or t he fortun e o f war hung i n susp e ns e nay , ,

e v e n turn e d aga i nst t he warr i or nat i on At such .

t i m e s a s e ns e o f gu i lt arose and pre sse d h e av i ly on

,
,

t he consci e nc e s o f t he R omans th e y could not doubt

that H e av e n was angry w i th th e m th ey di d not dar e o

to d i spute that the D i v i n e wrath w as provok e d by

th e i r s i ns . T h e n sacr i fice wh i ch i n R om e was ,

ge n e rally m e r e thank o ffe r i n g took t he characte r o f

-

aton e m e nt o r e xp i ati on T he gods we r e fe lt to .

r equ i re a v i ct i m o r v i cti ms and som eth i ng must be

,

found to conte nt th e m— som eth in g o f t he b e st and

d eare st that the S tate poss e ss e d W hat could th i s .

b e but a human sacr i fice Z S uch a sacr i fice m ight b e

‘

e i th e r voluntary o r i nvoluntary Enhanced by t he .

nobl e qual ity o f patri ot i c s e lf abn e gati on a s i ngl e -

v i cti m s uffic e d— mor e e sp e ci ally i f he w e r e o f t he

—
b est and nobl e st a young patr i ci an o f h i gh prom i s e ,

l i k e Marcus C u rtius o r an actual consul l i k e t he

l
, ,

D ec n 2
. W i thout th i s qual i ty th e re must be s e v e ral
v icti ms— e i th e r a sacr e d and compl e te numb e r l i ke ,

t he th i rty once o ffe r e d annually at t he L e mural i a

, ,

wh e r e of the th i rty rush dolls thrown y e arly i nto t he

T i b e r w e r e a r e m i n i sce nce o r e ls e an i nd e fin i te num
,

b e r such as t he gods th e ms e lv e s m ight d e te rm i n e o n

, ,
“ ”
as wh e n a v e r sacrum was procla i m e d and all ,

o ffspri ng both o f m e n and o f sacr i fic ial ca ttl e pro

, ,

duce d w i th i n t he first month of op e n i ng spri ng

1 L iv . vn . 6 .

2 I bi d . vn . 9; x . 28 .
238 The R e li g i on s o f the A n c i en t Wor ld .

e d e vot e d to d e ath and sacr i fic e d to

( Apr i l i,
s ) w e r
’ 1
av e rt God s wrath from t he nati on .

T he mytholog i cal fabl e s i n wh i ch the Gr ee ks i h

d u l g e d from a v e ry e arly dat e w e r e for e i gn to the
S p i r i t o f th e R omans who had no turn for all e gory
, ,

and r e gard e d t he gods w i th too much r e sp e ct and

fe ar to i nve nt t l e s about th e m No trad i t i onal
a
.

accounts o f the d e al i ngs o f t he gods on e w i th a noth e r

gav e a d i v i n e sancti on to i mmoral i ty o r pr e v e nt e d ,

t he R omans from look i ng up to th e i r d i v in i t i e s as at

once gre ate r and b e tte r than th e ms e lv e s T he moral .

law was r e cogn is e d as an acce pte d standard w i th th e m ,

and i ts v i nd i cati on wh e n e v e r i t was transgr e ss e d

re ste d w i th the d e i ty w i th i n whos e sp e ci al sph er e t he
o ffe nce w as conc e i ve d t o fall H e rcul e s ave ng e d
.

brok e n fa i th ; Ops and C e r e s pun i sh e d t h e l azy

culti vator ; i ll conduct e d matrons i ncur r e d t he ange r
-

o f Ju n o ; t he v i olat i on o f pare ntal or fil i al duty fe ll

und e r t he cogn i sance o f Jup i te r W h e n e v e r conduct .

was fe lt to b e wrong ye t the ci v i l law v i s i te d t he

,

m i sconduct w i th no p e nalty t he d i spl e asure o f t he ,

gods suppl e m e nte d t he l egal d e fe ct and caus e d the ,

o ffe nd e r i n cours e o f t i me to m ee t wi th d ue pun ish

m e nt . T h e i r b e l i e f o n th i s h e ad was i n part t he , ,

e ffe ct ,
but i t was also i n part t he ca us e o f thos e
, ,

profou n d moral conv i ct i ons wh i ch d i sti ngu i sh e d the

R omans among anc i e nt nat i ons T h e y w e r e d e e ply.

i mpr e ss e d w i th t he r e al i ty o f moral d i st i ncti ons and ,

conv i nce d that S in was i n all cas e s followe d by suffe r

S
1 ee F t
e s us , s ub vo c .V “
um
er d
sac r mp L i v xx i i i
, an co ar e . .

9 1 0 ; xxx i v 4 4 ; S v i u
, . er d V i g ZE
s a vi i 7 9 6
r .t n . .
, e c .
 CONCLUDING R EMA R K S .

“ ”
IT has b ee n mai nta i n e d i n t he Introduc ti on to
th i s work , that t he t i m e i s not ye t com e for th e con
“ ”
structi on o f a S c ie nc e o f R e l i g i on and that t he
,

pr e s e nt n ee d i s rath e r to accumulate mater ials o ut o f ,

wh i ch ult imat e ly such a S c ie nce may p e rhaps be

‘

e volv e d . S ti ll the accumulat i on o f mate r i als natur

,

ally sugg e sts c e rta i n thoughts o f a mor e ge n eral char

acte r ; and t he S p i r i t o f t he Bacon i an ph i losophy do e
n o t forb i d t he draw i ng o f i nfe r e nc e s from groups o f

ph e nom e na e v e n wh i l e t he gre ate r porti on o f t he

,

ph e nom e na ar e unknown or un i nv e sti gate d W h i l e .

,

th er e fore w e absta i n from bas i ng any pos i ti v e th e ory

,

upon a surv ey o f r e l i g i ons wh i ch i s con fe ss edly i n

compl e te w e th i nk that c erta i n n e gati v e conclus i ons
,

o f no l i ttl e i nt e r e st may b e drawn e v e n from t h e data

now b e fore us ; and th e s e n egat i v e conclus i ons i t s ee ms

to be ou r duty to lay b e fore t he r ead e r at any rate,

for hi s cons i d e rati on .

In t he first place i t s ee ms i mposs i bl e to trace back

,

to any o n e fundam e ntal concepti on to any i nnate i d e a

, ,

o r to any common e xp e r i e nc e or obs e rvati on t he ,

var i ous r e l ig i o ns wh i ch w e hav e b ee n cons id e r i ng .

T he v e i l e d monoth e i sm of Egypt t he du a l ism of

,

P e rs ia th e shaman i sm o f Etrur i a t he pronounce d

, ,
24 0
 C on c lu di n g R em ar ks . 24 1

polyth e i sm o f Ind ia are too contrari ant too absolute ly

, ,

unl ike to adm i t of any o n e e xplanati on or to b e de

, ,

r i va t i ve s from a S i ngl e sourc e T he human m i nd

.

crave s un i ty ; but Natur e i s wond e rfully compl e x .

T he ph e nom e na o f anc i e nt r e l i g i ons so far as th ey ,

hav e b ee n i nv e st i gate d favour the v i e w that r e l i g i ons

,

had not o n e or i g in but s e v e ral d i sti nct ori g ins

,
.

S e condly i t i s cl e ar that from non e o f t he r e l i g i ons

,

h e re treate d o f could the r e l ig i on o f t he anci e nt H e

br ews have or ig i nate d T he Israe l i te p e opl e at d i f
.

fer e n t p e r i ods o f i t s h i story cam e and r e ma i n e d fo r a

,

cons i d e rabl e t i m e und e r Egypti an Babylon i an and

, , ,

Pe rs ian i nflue nc e ; and th e re hav e not b e e n wanti ng

“ ”
p e rsons o f ab i l i ty who have r egard e d Juda i sm as a
m e re offshoot from t he re l i g i on o f o n e o r oth e r of th e s e
three p e opl e s But wi th t he k n owl edge that w e
.
,

have now obtai n e d o f t he fe l ig i o n s i n qu e sti on such ,

v i e ws hav e b ee n r e nd e re d unt e nabl e if not h e nce forth ,

i mposs i bl e .Juda i sm stands out from all oth e r an

c ie nt r e l i gi ons as a th i ng s ui g en er is o ffe r i ng t he
, ,

sharp e st contrast to t he syste ms pr e val e nt i n the re st

o f t he East and so e nt i r e ly d i f
,
fe r e nt from th e m i n i t s
S p i r i t and i ts e ss e nc e that i ts or i g i n could n o t but

hav e be e n d i sti nct and s e parate .

T h i rdly t he sacr e d Boo k s o f t he H e bre ws cannot

,
.

poss i bly have b e e n d e ri v e d from t he sacr e d wr i ti ngs

o f any of th e s e nati ons No contrast can be gre ate r
.

“
than that b e twe e n the Pe ntate uch and the R i tual of
”
t he D e ad ,
unl e ss i t be that b e twe e n t he P e ntate uch
and the Z e nda ve st a or b etwe e n t he sam e work a n d
,

t he V e das .A sup e rfic i al r e s e mblanc e may p e rhaps

16
242 The R e li g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

be trac e d b e tw e e n porti ons o f th e P e ntat e uch and

c e rtai n o f t he myths of anci e nt Babylon but t he ton e
and sp i r i t o f t he two ar e so mark e dly d iffe r e nt that ,

n e i th e r can b e r e gard e d as t he or i g i nal o f t h e oth e r .

t e r e th e y approach most n e arly as i n t h e accounts ,

g iv e n o f t he D e luge wh i l e t he facts r e cord e d a r e t he

,

sam e o r n e arly the sam e t h e r e l i g i ous stand po i nt i s

, ,
-

1
utte rly unl i k e .

Fourthly th e h i stor i c r e vi e w wh i ch has b e e n h e re

,

mad e l e nds no support to t he th e ory that th e re i s a ,

un i form growth and progr e ss o f r e l i g i ons from

fe ti sh i sm to polyth e i sm from polyth e i sm to mono ,

th e i sm and from monoth e i sm to pos it i v i sm as mai n

, ,

t a i n e d by t he follow e rs of Comt e Non e o f t he .

r e l igi ons h er e d e scr ib e d shows any s igns o f havi ng

b ee n d e ve lop e d out of fe ti sh i s m unl e ss i t b e the ,

shaman i sm of t he t r us c a n s In most o f th e m t he .

monoth e i st i c i d e a i s most prom i n e nt a t the fir s t and ,

gradually b e com e s obsc ur e d and g i v e s way b e for e a ,

polyth e i st i c corrupti on In all th e r e i s o n e e l e m e nt

.
,

at l e ast wh i ch app ears to b e trad i t i onal v i z sacr i

, ,
.
,

fic e for i t can scarce ly ha ve b e e n by t he e x e rci s e o f

,

h is r e ason that man ca m e so g e n e rally to b e l ie v e that

t h e sup e ri or pow e rs what e v e r th e y w e r e would be
, ,

pl e as e d by t he v i ol e nt d e ath o f o n e or mor e o f th e i r
cr e atur e s .

A ltoge th e r t h e th e ory to wh i ch t h e facts app e ar

,

o n t he whol e to po i nt i s t h e e x i st e nc e o f a pr i m i t i v e
,

r e l i gi on commun i cate d to man from w ithout w h e re

, ,

1
C m p e b v e pp 6 8 —72 ;
o ar a o ,
. an d see th e A ut h o r s
’
E ss a y in
A i d s t o F i th E y vi pp
a .
”
ssa . 27 5 , 27 6 .
244 The R e li g i ons f
o the A n c i en t Wor ld .

knowl e dg e be i ng lost r e lig i on was e volv e d afre sh

,

o u t of t he i nn e r consc i ousn e ss T h e r e w e r e oth e rs

.

wh i ch lost a port i on w i thout los i ng the whol e o f

,

th e i r i nh e r i te d knowl e dg e T h e re w e re oth e rs aga i n

.

who lost scarce ly anyth i ng ; but hi d up t he truth i n

mysti c language and strang e symbol i sm T he only .

—
th e ory wh i ch accounts for all t he facts for the un i ty
as we ll as the d i v e rs i ty o f Ancie nt R e l ig i ons i s that ,

o f a pr i m e val r e v e lati on var i ously corrupt e d through

,

t he man i fold and multi form d e t e r i orat i on o f human

nature i n d iffer e nt race s and places .
 I N D E X :

A r at u s q u ot e d ,
1 84 As s YR I A N S —c ontinued .

A s h e r ah s , 157 I d z u b ar , 57
War i n h ea v en , 6 4, 6 5
A SY R I A N A N B A B Y L O N I A N S
S S D
P l y th i m 3 5 —3 7
o e s ,
A t l D i ti 5 2—5 9
s ra e es, P yra 60 6 1
er s ,
fu t u e l i f 6 2—6 4
,
B l i ef i
e n a r e, S ifi
ac r 62 c es ,

D e i ti es
Sup ti ti o
er s 64 ns,

A t o A t 51 T m pl 6 0
e es,
na a,

An n , 4 2, 4 3
r na ,
T i d 40—5 0
r a s,

A s s h u r , 3 8 41 -
W hi p 60—6 2
ors ,
0

B el , 4 3 , 4 4 At n m s
s ro o j tu es f l
er , c on e c r o ,

B il a t , 5 1
D av—i n a 5 1k B l t y m l gy f 1 3 3 1 3 4
aa ,
e o o o , ,

G ul a , or
,

A
n nui t , 5 1
B byl
a t y m l gy of 144
on , e o o ,

H e a , or H o a , 4 3 , 4 4 B l k q t d 1 54
a a uo e ,

II , or R a , 3 7, 3 8 B e l i f i a futu e l i fe
e n r

Is h t a r , 5 7 5 9 , 72— 76 A s y i n d B b yl on i an
s r a an a ,

M d
er o ac h , 5 3 , 5 5 6 2—6 4
N eb o , 5 8 Egyp t i a n , 24—29
g
N e r al , 5 5 , 5 6 E tr u s c a n , 1 6 5—1 6 8
N i n o r B a r , 5 2—5 5
,
Ir a n i a n , 9 2, 9 3

S h a l a , or a l a , 5 2 T R o m a n , 23 6
S h a m a s , 4 7— 49 S a n s r i t i c n i a n , 1 25 —1 27
k I d
S i n , 4 5— 47
V ul , 4 9 , 50
B i dg
r e of th e g th e
a r er , le g d en

o f, 9 2, 9 3
L e s s er g dso , 59 B u n s e n s l i st
’
of Egyp ti an D ei
Lg d
e en s
t i es , 9 n .

Cr e a t i on
( B e r os u s
) , 6 5—6 7 C r e at i o n , le gen d of
( B e r osus
) ,
D el u g6 8 —72
e, 6 5 —6 7
D e s c en t of s h t ar I i n to
H a e s , 72—76
d D ag on , e t y m ol gy of o ,
1 42
24 5
246 I n dex .

D ar i u s , s c u l p tu r es on th e t omb D ei ti es — c o n ti nu ed .

o f, 88, 89 M e n r va or M e n r fa 1 6 3
D g d
e f l i gi o
ra a t i o n 24 2 o re n,
Ti na , or
,

16 1 , 162Ti ni a ,
,

D l u g l e g d f 4 4 6 8 —7 2
e e, en s o , , Us i l a n d osn a , 1 6 3 L
D u l i s m o f I ni s 8 1 9 3 9 4
a ra an , , , E
l e m e n t al o s , 1 6 4 g d
G p
e n i i , or s i ri ts , 1 6 7 , 1 6 8
E GY P T I A N S A N C I E N T , L
ar e s , t h e , 1 7 1

B l i e f i n fut u e l i f 24—29
e a r e, N a ti e o s , 1 6 4 v g d
C l i fi t i of d i ti s 8
as s ca on e e N o ve n s i l es , t h e , 1 6 5
D d t e t m e t of th e 28
ea r a n
,
Pr i e s t s , 1 6 9 —1 7 1

D e i ti es
, ,
fi
Sa c r i c e s , 1 70 , 1 7 1

Amm n 10 o
p
Su e r s ti t i on , 1 6 0 , 1 74 , 1 75

Kh m 1 1
,
Tom bs 1 6 7 , 1 7 2, 1 7 4
Wor s h l p, 1 6 9 —
e ,
1 71
K n e ph , 1 2
N e i th , o r N e t, 1 5 , 1 6 E ty m l gi s o o e

O si r i s , 1 5 A hu M d r a- 8 1 —8 3
az a,

Ph t h ah , 1 2, 1 3 An g r o M a i n y u s , 8 2, 8 3
-

R a , 1 3 —1 5 B
a al 1 3 3 , 1 3 4
,

A n i m al o s , 20 — 23g d B y
ab l on 1 44 ,

N at u r e o s , 1 8 g d D g
a on 142 ,

M a l e ol e n tv o s, 1 8, 19 g d M
e l c h i z e e , 1 33 d k
M o on g d
o s, 1 7, 18
P
h ar a oh 1 4 ,

g d
Sun o s , 1 6, 1 7 Se n n a c h e r i b , 4 7
B ’
u n s e n s l i s t o f, 9 n
E u s e bi u s , E x
t r ac t s r om “ an f Ev
P p P
.
”
W k g e li c al r e a r a t i o n , o n h oe
’
il i n s o n s l i s t o f, 9 n
R g
.

mi c i a n e l i i on , 1 3 0 , 1 3 1
E mb l m i g 28
a n , F D v y
ire, i s c o e r o f, 14 9
Ev il b l i f i 3 1 —33
e e n,
Hym 3 1
,

ns, G EE S A C I E N T
R K , N

P l y th i sm 6 7
o e , . D i ti e es :

P i t k w l dg e of 3 0 3 1
r es s, no e , ,
Ap h d i t e 1 9 9 —20 2 ro ,

S ifi e
acr 24 c s, Ap ll 1 8 8 —1 9 0 o o,

T m p l 23
e es, A 1 90 1 9 1 res, ,

T h l gi l y s t em f e du
eo o ca s o A t mi 1 98 1 99 r e s
, ,

c at e d c l as s e s , 29 —3 4 A th e 1 9 7 1 9 8 en , ,

T om b s , 28 D m t 20 2—20 4 e e er ,

T ria d s, 1 9 , 20 , 3 4 Di y 20 4 —20 6 on s us ,

T ri nit y su pp os e d d oc t r i n e o f, H d 20 6 20 7 a es ,

H ph t 1 9 2 1 93
, ,

33 e ae s u s ,

H
,

Wo r sh i p 22—24 1 9 5 —1 9 6
er a ,
H m 194 195
,

er es ,

H ti 20 2
,

E TR U S C A S N es a,

B eli f i n futur e l i fe 1 6 5 1 6 8
e a
Lt Lt
e o , or 20 6 a on a ,
, P e r s e ph o n é , 20 6 , 20 7
D i ti s e e
P d
o s e i o n , 1 8 6 —1 8 8

C ha un 1 6 6 1 6 7 r Z eus , 1 8 1— 186
L
, ,

C p 16 1 162 u ra , ,
e ss er o s , 1 79—G d181
M tu d M i a 1 6 6
an s an an ,
Cl ass i c a t i o n o f, 1 7 9 —1 8 1
fi
248 I n dex .

D ei ti es — con tinued . R l i gi
e on , hi s t or o f, 2— 4 y
Amm on , 151 S c i e n c e o f 3 , 24 0 —24 4
,

A ht s or e t h , or A sta rte ,
g
O r i i n o f, 24 0
D g d
e r a a t i o n o f, 24 2

B 1 38 1 89
a al ,
R e s u r r e c ti o n of th e
bo dy n ot
B a al ti s , 1 4 7 d by t h e I
h el r an i a n s , 9 3
D g
a on 1 4 1 , 1 42 ,

E l , 1 44 RO M A C IE T
AN S , N N
E s hm u n , 1 48
K a bi r i , t h e , 1 4 9 , 1 5 0
B l i f i n fu tu e l i f 23 6
e e a r e,

M el k a r t h , 1 40 , 1 4 1
C p i t l i T i d t h 21 7
a o ne r a ,
e,

M o l o c h , or M
ol e c h , 1 4 6 ,
Cl i fi tiass f D i ti e s 21 4
ca on o e , ,

21 5 , 220 , 227
1 47
O si r i s , 1 5 1 C ol l gi th e
e a :

Sa dyk,
1 48
A u gu 23 0 rs, 23 1
S h a m as , or S h e m esh , 1 4 6 ,

T a n i t h , o r Ta n a t h 1 5 1 ,
D m vi i uu r s a c r or u m ,

F e t i al s , 23 1
,

1 52
Po n t i fi c e s , 23 0
E tym l gy of n am es
o o ,
1 3 3—1 3 6 F C
l a m i n e s u r i al e s 229
F ti v l 1 5 8
.

es a s,
F r atr e s Av
r a l e s , 229
Li 1 53
c e n t i o u s n es s , L p
u e r c i , 229
g
O r i i n a l w or s h i m on oth ei s p C
S al i i ol l i n i , or Ag on al e s ,
t i c , 1 3 3 —1 3 7 229
P i l l a r w or s h i , 1 5 7 p P
S al i i al a t i n i , 228
P y
ol t h e i s m 1 3 2, 1 3 3 , T
S o d al e s i t i i , 229
S a c r i c e s , 1 5 4—1 5 8
fi V e s tal V g
i r i n s , 229
S un -
W or s h i , 1 4 5 p
T p
em l es 1 56
D e iti e s

W p
or s h i , 1 4 3 , 1 5 3 , 1 5 4 , 1 5 7 , C er es , 221
1 58 H e r c ul es , 224 225
”
P q d
.

P oen u l u s of l autus u ot e , J u n o , 21 6 21 7 ,

137 J p
u i t e r , 21 5 , 21 6

P ol y th ei s m M a r s , 21 8 , 21 9

A ci t 5
n en 6
M e r c u r i u s , 225

A yi a
ss r an
, ,

nd B ab yl on i an 3 5 M vi n e r a , 21 7 , 21 8
N e pt u n u s , 226
37
O ps , 223 , 224
Egyp ti 6 an ,
S a t u r n u s 222, 223
G k 1 7 6 —1 8 1
r ee ,
V e s t a , 220 , 221
,

P h i i 1 3 2 1 33
oe n c a n , ,
A bstra c t q
u al i t i e s , g ds
o
S k i t i c I d i 1 0 5—1 0 9
an s r n an
,
o f t h e 227
,
P ye s
ra r C ou ntr y ,
g dso of th e ,
A yi ss n d B ab y l o n i a n 6 0
r an a , ,
227
61 G r e c i an G d s 227 o ,

G ree k
208 ,
N a t ur e g d 227 o s,

Ir an i an , 9 0 S tat e , g d of t h e
o s ,
227 ,
R o m a n 235 228
L
,

S a n s r i t i c n i a n , 1 21 —1 23
k I d ar e s , 23 4
 I n d ex . 249

D i ma j or e s , 21 4 M an tr a s , 1 20
E xp i a t i on , d oc t ri n e o f, 236 , g
O ffe r i n s , 1 23 , 1 24
23 7 P y
o l th e i s m
,
1 0 5 —1 0 9
v
F e s t i al s , 23 5 P y
r a er s, 1 21 1 23 -

F l a m i n e s , t h e , 227 , 228 P r i e s t s , 1 20

H ym n s , 23 5
S a c r i c e s , 1 23 —1 25
fi
M g
or a l l a w r e c o n i s e , 23 8 d p
S om a l a n t , 1 1 9
P y
r a e r s , 23 5 V d p
e ic o e m s , e t r ac t s x fr om ,

P r i e s t s , 227 , 228 , 23 3 — 23 5 1 27—1 29

g
R e l i i o n , c h a ra c t er o f, 23 5 W o r s hi , 1 1 9 —
p 1 25
238
fi
S a c r i c es , 23 7 Sup t i ti
er s on s

gi
S t a t e r e l i o n , 233 A yi ss r an a n d B byl
a on i a n , 64
Th a n k offe r l n g s , 23 5 E tr u s c an , 1 6 0 , 1 74 , 1 75
V o w s , 23 5

W p
or s h i , 227 , 23 4 , 235 T empl e s

Sacrifi c es A yiss r an a n d B b yl
a on i a n , 60

A yi r a n an d B b yl
a on i a n , 62
Egyp t i an , 23
ss

E gyp t i 24
an ,
Ph i oe n c i a n a n d C a r th a gi n i an ,

1 56
Et u
r s c a n , 1 70 , 1 7 1

Gr e c i a n , 21 0 , 21 1 T era p hi m , w or s h i p o f, 24 3
P C
h oe n i c i a n a n d ar th a i n i a n , g
1 5 4—1 5 8 T om b s
Ro m a n , 23 7
Egyp ti 28
S an s r i t i c n i a n , 1 23 —1 25
an ,
k I d Et 1 6 7 1 7 1 —1 7 3
r u s c an , ,

S AN SK R ITIC I IAN
N D S
T i i ty pp d E gyp t i
r n , su os e an d oc
tr i n e of th e , 3 3
B el i e fi n a futu e f r li e, 1 25 —1 28
D e i ti e s War in h e a en , l e env g d f 64 6 5
o , ,

—
W k ’
i l i n s on s l i st of E gyp ti a d i n e
Ag i n ,
1 1 2 1 14 ti es , 9 n
Dy
.

aus , 1 1 7, 1 18

I d
n ra , 1 1 0 , 1 1 1 W p
or s hi

Mit ra , 1 1 1 , 1 12 A yi
ss r an an d B b yl o
a n i an ,
g d
N a tu r e o s , 1 1 4 6 0 —6 2
P v
r i t hi i , 1 1 7 , 1 1 8 Egyp t i a n , 22—24
S om a , 1 1 8 E t r u s c an , 1 6 9 1 7 1 -

y
S ur a , 1 1 6 , 1 1 7 G r e c i an , 1 76— 1 7 9 , 20 5 , 206 ,
Ush a s , 1 1 5 20 8 —21 2
V ar u n a , 1 1 0 I r a n i a n , 9 8 —1 0 4

Vy a u, 1 1 7 P h oe n i c i a n a n d C
ar th a i n i a n , g
L e ss er gd
o s, 1 18

F i r e w or s hi , 1 1 2—1 1 4
p R o m an , 227 , 23 4— 23 5
H e n ot h e i s m , o r K a th e n o t h e Sa n s k r i ti c n i an , 1 1 9 —
I d 1 25
i sm , 1 0 8
Hy m n s , 1 20 , 1 26 —1 29 Z en d a ve s t a , t h e , 80 , 8 1
L i b at i o n s , 1 23 , 1 24 Z or oa s t e r , 7 8 , 7 9
 T he O ri g i n and Gro w t h of R e l i g i on , as Illus t r at e d by

E H E L /G/O /V O F
AN GI E /V7 5 0
By P . L E PAGE R E N OU F
l T/ze s be r t L ee t u r e s fo r

O ne v o lu m e ,
1 2m 0 ,

M
’
. L e Pag e R e no u f s g r e a t r e pu t a t i o n a s an E g y pt o l o g i s t l e d t o h i s
s ele ct io n t o d e live r t h e s e c o nd c o u rs e of the a l re a d y c e l e b ra t e d H i b b e rt
s e ri e s . H i s l e c t u re s a re t h e fi t co m pa n i o n s o f P r o fe s s o r M ul l e r ’
s ,
bo th in
l e a rn i n g and i n i nt e re s t g l i m ps e s l a b o r i o u s l y g a i n e d b y t h e a i d o f
. T he
l o n g u n d e c i ph e r e d h i e r o g l y p h i c s i n t o o n e o f t h e m o s t m y s t i c a l a n d pr o fo u n d
o f a l l t h e a n c i e n t b e l i e fs , h a v e a l w a y s h a d a S p e c i a l fa s c i n a t i o n ; a n d t h e
t im e h as now c om e w h en it is po s s i b l e t o jo i n t h e i r r e s u l t s i n t o a fa i r l y
c om pl e t e pi c t u r e D one as . t h i s i s by M R e n o u f, w i t h a c e r t a i n
. F re nc h
v i vi d n e s s a nd c l e a r n e s s , i t h a s a v e ry u n u s u a l , a n d , i n d e e d , u n i q u e i n t e re s t .

C R I T I C A L N O T I C E S .

The n a r ra t i v e is w e ll
pu t t o g e th e r t h e c h a i n o f re a s o n i n g a n d
so ,

v
i n fe r e n c e s o o b i o u s , a n d th e i l l u s t r a t i o n s o a pt t h a t t h e g e n e r a l r e a d e r ,

c a n g o t h r o u g h i t w i th u n a b a t e i n te re s t — ’
d
H a r tfo r a P os t . .

N O one c an ris e fro m re a d in g t h i s b o o k , i n w hi c h , b y th e w a y , th e

a u th o r is c a r e fu l ab o u t d ra w i n g h i s c onc lusions , v
w i th o u t h a i n g i n c re a s e d
r e s pe c t fo r th e r e l ig i o n O f an c i e n t Eg t, yp an d h a rd l yl e ss th a n a d m i ra t i o n

fo r i t s e th i c a l s y s t e m .
— T/ze C /zu r e /zm a n .

T h e s e l e c t u re s a re i n va l u a b l e t o s tu d e n ts E g ypt o l o g y a n d a s t h e
of ,

r e l ig i o n o f a n c i e n t
E g ypt s t a n d s a l o n e a n d u n c o n n e c t e d w i th o t h e r r e l i g i o n s ,

x v fi
e c e pt t h o s e w h i c h h a e b e e n m o d i e d b y i t i t s e l f b e i n g a ppa r e n t l y o r i g i n a l ,

a n d u n d e r i ve d
, th e y sh o ul d b e h i g hl y i n t e r e s ti n g
t o a l l s tu d e n ts o f re l ig io u s

h i s to ry . I t i s i m po s s ib l e i n a b ri e f n o t i c e t o c o n ve y an a d e q ua te

i de a o f P ro fe s s o r R e no u f ’
S a d m i ra b l e l e c t u re s . Y . W or l d .

T he p re s e nt wor kf o rm s a r e m a rk a b l y i n t e ll i g e n t a n d a c u t e l y c ri t i c a l

c o n t r ib u t i o n t o th e h i s o r t y of th e o ri g in and g ro w t h o f r e l ig io n , a s i l l u s t ra t e d
b y th e re l i g i o n o f a n c i e n t
E g ypt . As a S pe c i a l i s t , P ro fe s s o r R e no u f is ab l e

t o b r i n g fo r t h m u c h i n fo r m a t i o n n o t o r d i n a r i l y a c c e s s ib l e to th e g e n e ra l

r e a d e r a n d th i s h e d o e s i n s u c h
, a c a r e fu ll y d i g e s t e d fo r m as t o m a ke th e

w o rk e n t e rt a i n i n g a n d i n s tr u c t i v e i n th e h i g h e s t d e g r e e .
—B os t on C o u r i er .

F or s a le by a ll — r ec e i f
bo o ks e l l e r s , or s en t , p os t pa i d , po n
u pt o

p r ice, y
C H A R L E S S C R I B N E R S S O N S, P U B L I S H ’
E R S,

74 3 AN D 74 5 B R O AD W A Y ,
N E W YO R K .
R E LIG IO N AN D C H E M I STR Y .

By P ro f .
J O S I A H P . C O OKE ,

O F H AR VA R D UN IV E R SI T Y .

A N e w E d itio n , w i th A d d iti o n s .

O ne Vo l u m e, 1 2 m o,

T he fa c t s o f a st r o no m y ,
as t he yh v a e be en re v e al e d by a l o n g lin e o f
S pl e n d id d i sc o v e ri e s , ha v e a l re a d yb e en a p pl i de m an y ti m es to t he gu
ar

m en t of d e s ig n i n n a t ur e ; P f
r o e ss o r C oo k h
e e re a pp li t es o i t t he h a rd l y
l e ss w o n de r ful f a c t s o f c he m i s t r y .

T he w o r k ha s s to o d the t e s t o f t i m e , a n d is n o w re g a rd e d b y th e b e s t t h in k e r s a s a
”—
o f s c re n t i fi c - r e li g i o u s
po s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t he li t e r a t u r e t ho u g h t B os t o n T r a v e l l e r
. .

I n t he s e d a y s o f s c i e n t ific s c e pt ic i s m a b o o k u po n a d e pa r t m e n t o f s c i e n c e , w h i c h i s
”—
no t o n l y t he i s t i c b ut po s it i ve l y C h r i s t i a n , i s a r e a l l ux u r y N e w Yo r k C h r i s t i a n 1 n .

t e l l ig e n e e r .

“
T he d i s c u s s io n s a r e i n po pu la r ra t he r t h a n i n t e c h n i c a l l a n g u a g e , a n d t h e y a re r i c h
i n s c i e n t i fic i n fo r m a t i o n t h e a rg u m e n t s a re fo rc i b le , a n d t h e w ho le w o r k o n e t ha t m a y be
r e a d W i t h d e e p i n t e re s t
”
N e ru E n g l a n d e r
.
— .

H i s s t yle i s a m o d e l o f c le a r n e s s a n d d ire c t n e s s , a n d, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , h a s a c e r t a i n
.

w a rm t h a n d be a u t y , w h i c h o c c a s i o n a ll y r i s e s i n t o e lo q u e n c e a n d t h e r e a re pa s s a g e s i n
”—
t h e vo lu m e w hi c h a r e m o re t ru ly po e t i c a l t ha n t h e m ajo r i t y o f po e m s
’
P o r t l a n a P r es s . .

H i s b o o k i s e m in e n t ly fa i r a n d c a n di d , a fi n e e x a m ple o f t h e f s w e e t r e a s o n a bl e
s o m u c h c o m m e n d e d n o w a d a s , a n d i s w e l l fi t t e d a l i ke t o n o u ri s h t h e fa i t h o f a b e
’
ness y
”—
l i e ve r a n d t o g ive a n u n b e li e ve r re a s o n t o c o n s i d e r a n d c h a ng e hi s V i e w s N e w Yo r k .

O bs e r v e r .

“ ’
P ro f C . o o ke s s ty le
i s e a s y a n d po pul a r, a s w e ll a s c l e a r a n d a c c u ra t e H e do e s .

n o t pre s u ppo s e a t ho ro u g h k n o w l e d g e o f c h e m i s t r y i n t he re a d e r b u t h a s a d a pt e d h i s ,

b o o k fo r g e n e ra l re a d in g A c o py o u g h t t o b e pu t i n t he h a n d s o f e ve ry y o u n g m a n o f
—
.

”
t h e c o un t ry R i c h 7n o m l R e l ig i o u s H e r a l d
. .

R e l i g i o n a n d C he m i s t r y ’ pre s e n t s th e h a ppie s t c o m bi n a t io n o f re lig io n , philo s o phy ,

a n d n a t u ra l S c i e n c e i n a h a r m o n io u s t r in i t y th a t w e h a e s e e n 0 t h i n ki n g b e i n g c a n v .

r e a d i t W i t ho u t d e r i v in g fro m i t i n t e ll e c t u a l i m pr o ve m e n t , m o r a l c o m fo r t, a n d t h e ple a s u r e
t ha t i s a l w a y s a ffo r d e d fro m a g o o d l i t e ra r y pr o d u c t io n
”
P h i l a d e lph i a B u l l e t i n .
— .

V ie w e d i
as
.
a b sc en t ific
o o k a lo n e o n i t s s pe c ia l s u bje c t , w e k n o w o f n o n e t ha t c a n
.
o

c o m e i n C O U l pC t l t t ll R e l i g i o n a n d C he m i s t r y , w h i le t h e po li s h e d a n d e l e g a n t s ty le
’
‘ ’
I l

o f t h e a u t h o r , a n d h i s e a r n e s t c o n v i c t io n , e ve r y w h e re a ppa re n t t ha t t h e t r u t h s h e e x pla i n s .

o w e t h e i r c h i e f v a l u e t o t h e g li m ps e s t h e y a f fo r d u s o f t h e D ivm e e c o no m y o f c r e a t io n , im
”—
p t t
a r o i t a pe c ul i a r a d
n S i n l
g a va l u e N e w Yo r k T i m e s . .

F or s a le by a ll bo o ks e l l e r s , or s en t , p os t- p a id, up on r ec e ipt f
o

p r i ce, by

C H AR L E S S C R I B N E R S S O N S
’
,
PUBL I S H E R S.

74 3 AN D 74 5 B R O AD W Y A
,
N E W YO R K .
 O ne V ol .
, 8 vo , P a pe r , 5 0 C ts .
; C l o t h , 75 C ts .

T h e fo u r a rt i c le s w h i c h m ake up t h is litt le volum e are

( 1 ) A n A d v e r t i s e m e n t fo r a N e w R e l i g i o n B y a n E v o l u t i o n i s t . .

( 2 ) T h e C o n fe s s i o n o f a n A g n o s t i c B y an Ag no s tic . .

( 3 ) W h a t M o r a l i t y h a v e w e l e ft P B y a N e w L i g h t M o r a l i s t -

F ig h F
.

( 4) R e vie w o f the t . By a Ya n k e e a r m e r.

T he s e c re t o f it s a ut h o rs hip h a s no t y e t t r a n s pi r e d , a n d t h e r e v i e w e rs

s eem b a d l y pu z z l e d i n t h e i r att em pt s t o s ol v e t h e m y s t e r
y .

C R I TI C AL N O T I C E S.

N o w he re c a n a n o r d i n a r y r e a d e r s e e i n a m o re s i m ple a n d pl e a s i n g fo rm the
a b s u r d i t i e s w h i c h l i e i n t h e m o d e r n s pe c u l a t i o n s a b o u t t ru t h a n d d u t y
.
W e ha ve n o ke y .

t o t h e a u t h o r s hi p, b u t t h e w r i te r e v i d e n t ly h o l d s a pr a c t i c e d pe n , a n d kn o w s h o w t o g i ve
t h a t a i r o f pe r s ifl a g e i n t r e a t i n g o f s e ri o u s s u bje c t s w h ic h s o m e t im e s i s m o r e e ffe c t i ve
t h a n t h e m o s t c o g e n t d i a le c t i c — C h r i s t i a n l n t e l l ig e n c e r
. .

“
I t i s th e k e e n e s t , b e s t s u s t a i n e d e x po s u re o f t h e w e a k n e s s e s i nhe re n t i n c e r t a in
s c ho o l s o f m o d e r n t ho u g h t , w h i c h w e h a v e y e t c o m e a c ro s s , a n d i s c o u c h e d i n a v e i n o f

fi n e s a t i re , m a k i n g i t e x c e e d i n g ly re a d a b l e F o r a n i n s i g ht i n t o t h e s y s t e m s i t t o u c he s
.

u po n , a n d fo r i t s s u g g e s t i o n s o f m e t h o d s o f m e e t i n g t h e m , i t i s c a pa b l e o f b e i n g a g r e a t
h l I d i l i h ”
l
h e p to t e c e r gy t
. i s a n e w e
p a r t u r e n a po o g e t i c s , q u i t e n t e s p i t o f t he t i m e
i r .

T h e L i vi n g C h u r c h .

“
T he w ri t e r h a s c h o s e n t o a ppe ar a n o n y m o u sly ; b u t h e h o l d s a pe n k e e n a s a
D a m a s c u s b la d e . I n d e e d , t h e r e a r e fe w m e n l i v i n g c a pa bl e o f w r i t in g t he s e pa pe rs ,
a n d o f d i s s e c t i n g s o t h o ro u g h ly t h e po pu l a r c o n c e i t s a n d S h a m s o f t h e d a y I t i s d o ne , .

t o o , W i t h a c o o l n e s s , s e l f po s s e s s i o n a n d s a ng f r o i d , t h a t a re i n im i t a ble , h o w e ve r un
—
- -

v
,

c om f o r t a b l e i t m a y s e e m t o t he w r i t hi n g i c ti m s 7 h e Gu a r d i a n . .

T he s e fo u r pa pe rs a re u n q u a lifi e d ly g o o d T h e y S ho w a t ho ro u g h a c q u a in ta n c e
.

w i th t h e w h o le r a n g e o f ph i l o s o ph i c t h o u g h t i n i ts m o d e r n ph a s e s o f d e v e lo pm e n t , e v e n
d o w n t o t h e l a t e s t i n v o l u t i o n s a n d c o n v o l u t io n s o f t h e E v o l u t i o n i s t s , t h e s a g e u n k n o w
”
a ble n e s s o f t h e A g n o s t ic , a n d t h e N e w L i g h t n o ve l t y o f E t hic s w i t ho u t a c o n s c i e n c e .

L u th e r a n C h u r c h R e vi e w .

T he s e p a pe r s a re a s a ble a s th e y a re r e a d ab l e , a n d a re n o t o ffe n s iv e in th e i r s piri t ,

b e y o n d t h e n e c e s s a ry o ffe n s i ve n e s s o f b e li e f t o t he be l i e ving m i n d ”
ZV. .
— Y C hr is ti a n
.

A d voc a t e .

T he d i s c u s s i o n i s s pr ig h tl y , i n c i s ive , a n d w i t t y ;
” —
an d W ho e v er b e g in s t o re a d it
W ll b e l i ke ly t o re a d i t th ro u g h
i N e w E ng l a n d e r
. .

'
F or sa le by a ll book s e l l e r s , or s en t, pos tpa id , u pon r ec e i pt of
pr i c e , by
C H A R L E S S C R I B N E R S S O N S, P U B L I S H E R S,
’

74 3 AN D 74 5 B R O AD W AY ,
N E W YO R K .
 T H E O R I GI N O F N A T I O N S
By P ro fe s s o r GE O R GE R AW L IN SO N , M A . .

O ne V o l u m e , 1 2m o . W i th m a p s ,

T h e fi r s t pa r t o f t h is bo ok, E a rly C i v il iz a t i o n s , d i s c u s s e s t h e a nt iq ui ty

o f c iv i liz a t io n in E g y pt a n d t h e o t h e r e a r l y n a t i o n s of t he E ast . T he
s e c o nd pa r t , E t h n i c A ffi n i t i e s i n t h e A n c i e n t W o r l d , i s a n e xa m i nat ion o f
t he e t h no l o g y o f G e ne s is , s h o w i ng i t s a c c o rd a n c e w i t h t h e la t es t re s u lt s o f

m o d e r n e t h n o g r a ph i c a l s c ie nc e .

An a t t r a c t iv e vo l u m e , w hi c h i s w e ll w o r thy o f th e c a re fu l c o n s i d e ra t io n o f e v e ry
re a d e r .
” —0 bs e r v e r .

A w o r k o f g e n u in e s c h o la rl y e x c e ll e n c e , a n d a u s e fu l o ffs e t t o a g re a t d e al o f t he
”
.

s u pe r fi C I a l c u rre n t l i t e r a t u re o n s u c h s u b je c t s . C o ng r eg a t i on a l i s t .

D r R a w l in s o n b r in g s t o t h i s d is c u s s io n lo n g a n d pa t i e n t r e s e a r c h , a va s t k n o w l e d g e
.

”
a n d i n t i m a t e a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h w h a t h a s b e e n w r i t t e n o n b o t h s i d e s o f t he q u e s t i o n .

B r ook ly n U n i o n A r g us -
.

TH E D AW N O F H I ST O R Y .

AN I N T R O D U C T IO N TO PR E H -
IS T O R IC ST UD Y .

E di t e d by c . F . K E A R Y, M A . .
,

O F T H E BR I T I SH M U S E UM .

O ne V o lu m e , 12m o .
,
1 . 2 8 .

T his w o rk t re at s s u c c e s s iv e ly o f the e a rl i e s t t ra c e s o f m an in the

m a i ns d i s c o v e re d i n h e r e i n d i fi e r e n t pa r t s o f E u r o pe ; o f
els ew
’

re ca ve s or

l a ng uag e , it s g ro w t h , a n d t h e s t o ry i t t e l l s o f t h e p r e h i s t o ri c u s e r s o f i t ;
-

o f the ra c e s o f m a n k i n d , e a r l y s o c i a l l i fe , t h e r e l i g i o n s , m y t h o l o g i e s , a n d

fo l k t a l e s
-
o fm a nki n d , a nd o f t h e h i s t o ry o fw rit i ng . A lis t o f a u t h o ri t ie s

is a ppe n d e d , a nd an i n d e x h a s b e e n p re pa r e d s pe c i a l l y fo r t h i s e dition .

T he b o o k m a y b e he a rt il y r e c o m m e n d e d as pro b a b ly t he m o s t s a t is fa c t o ry s u m m a ry
”—
o f t h e s u bje c t t ha t t h e re i s N a t ion . .

“
A fa s c i n a t i ng m a n u a l, w i t ho u t a ve s t ig e o f t h e d u l ln e s s u s u a ll y c h a r g e d a g a in s t
s c 1e n t i fi c w o r k s . I n i t s w a y , t he w o r k i s a m o d e l o f w h a t a po pu la r s e i e n t ifi c
!

w o r k s ho u l d b e i t i s r e a d a ble , i t i s e a s i l y u n d e r s to o d , a n d i t s s t vle 1 5 S i m ple , y e t d i g

”
n i fi e d , a vo i d i n g e q ua lly t he a ffe c t a t io n o f t h e n u rs e ry a n d o f t h e la b o r a t o r y .

B o s t o n S a t E ve Ga z e t t e . .

F or s a le by a ll boo ks e l l e r s , or s e n t,
p os t -

p a id, po n
u r ec e i pt f
o

pr i c e , y
C H AR L E S SC R I B N E R S S O N S, PU BL I S H E R S ,
’

74 3 AN D
74 3 B R O AD W AY , N E W YO R K .