the religion of babylonia and assyria-第4章
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Idols。
With the Babylonians； the gods were represented by means of stone images at a very early date； and it is possible that wood was also used。 The tendency of the human mind being to attribute to the Deity a human form； the Babylonians were no exception to the rule。 Human thoughts and feelings would naturally accompany the human form with which the minds of men endowed them。 Whether the gross human passions attributed to the gods of Babylonia in Herodotus be of early date or not is uncertaina late period； when the religion began to degenerate； would seem to be the more probable。
The adoration of sacred objects。
It is probable that objects belonging to or dedicated to deities were not originally worshippedthey were held as divine in consequence of their being possessed or used by a deity； like the bow of Merodach； placed in the heavens as a constellation； etc。 The cities where the gods dwelt on earth； their temples； their couches； the chariot of the sun in his temple…cities； and everything existing in connection with their worship； were in all probability regarded as divine simply in so far as they belonged to a god。 Sacrifices offered to them； and invocations made to them； were in all likelihood regarded as having been made to the deity himself； the possessions of the divinity being； in the minds of the Babylonians； pervaded with his spirit。 In the case of rivers； these were divine as being the children and offspring of Enki （Aa or êa）； the god of the ocean。
Holy places。
In a country which was originally divided into many small states； each having its own deities； and； to a certain extent； its own religious system； holy places were naturally numerous。 As the spot where they placed Paradise； Babylonia was itself a holy place； but in all probability this idea is late； and only came into existence after the legends of the creation and the rise of Merodach to the kingship of heaven had become elaborated into one homogeneous whole。
An interesting list。
One of the most interesting documents referring to the holy places of Babylonia is a tiny tablet found at Nineveh； and preserved in the British Museum。 This text begins with the word Tiawthu 〃the sea；〃 and goes on to enumerate； in turn； Tilmun （identified with the island of Bahrein in the Persian Gulf）； Engurra （the Abyss； the abode of Enki or êa）； with numerous temples and shrines； including 〃the holy house；〃 〃the temple of the seer of heaven and earth；〃 〃the abode of Zer… pan？tum；〃 consort of Merodach； 〃the throne of the holy place；〃 〃the temple of the region of Hades；〃 〃the supreme temple of life；〃 〃the temple of the ear of the corn…deity；〃 with many others； the whole list containing what may be regarded as the chief sanctuaries of the land； to the number of thirty…one。 Numerous other similar and more extensive lists； enumerating every shrine and temple in the country； also exist； though in a very imperfect state； and in addition to these； many holy places are referred to in the bilingual； historical； and other inscriptions。 All the great cities of Babylonia； moreover； were sacred places； the chief in renown and importance in later days being the great city of Babylon； where ê…sagila； 〃the temple of the high head；〃 in which was apparently the shrine called 〃the temple of the foundation of heaven and earth；〃 held the first place。 This building is called by Nebuchadnezzar 〃the temple…tower of Babylon；〃 and may better be regarded as the site of the Biblical 〃Tower of Babel〃 than the traditional foundation； ê…zida； 〃the everlasting temple；〃 in Borsippa （the Birs Nimroud）notwithstanding that Borsippa was called the 〃second Babylon；〃 and its temple…tower 〃the supreme house of life。〃
The Tower of Babel。
Though quite close to Babylon； there is no doubt that Borsippa was a most important religious centre； and this leads to the possibility； that its great temple may have disputed with 〃the house of the high head；〃 ê…sagila in Babylon； the honour of being the site of the confusion of tongues and the dispersion of mankind。 There is no doubt； however； that ê…sagila has the prior claim； it being the temple of the supreme god of the later Babylonian pantheon； the counterpart of the God of the Hebrews who commanded the changing of the speech of the people assembled there。 Supposing the confusion of tongues to have been a Babylonian legend as well as a Hebrew one （as is possible） it would be by command of Merodach rather than that of Nebo that such a thing would have taken place。 ê…sagila； which is now the ruin known as the mount of Amran ibn Ali； is the celebrated temple of Belus which Alexander and Philip attempted to restore。
In addition to the legend of the confusion of tongues； it is probable that there were many similar traditions attached to the great temples of Babylonia； and as time goes on； and the excavations bring more material； a large number of them will probably be recovered。 Already we have an interesting and poetical record of the entry of Bel and Beltis into the great temple at Niffer； probably copied from some ancient source； and Gudea； a king of Laga？ （Telloh）； who reigned about 2700 B。C。； gives an account of the dream which he saw； in which he was instructed by the gods to build or rebuild the temple of Nin…Girsu in his capital city。
ê…sagila according to Herodotus。
As the chief fane in the land after Babylon became the capital； and the type of many similar erections； ê…sagila； the temple of Belus； merits just a short notice。 According to Herodotus； it was a massive tower within an enclosure measuring 400 yards each way； and provided with gates of brass； or rather bronze。 The tower within consisted of a kind of step…pyramid； the stages being seven in number （omitting the lowest； which was the platform forming the foundation of the structure）。 A winding ascent gave access to the top； where was a chapel or shrine； containing no statue； but regarded by the Babylonians as the abode of the god。 Lower down was another shrine； in which was placed a great statue of Zeus （Bel…Merodach） sitting； with a large table before it。 Both statue and table are said to have been of gold； as were also the throne and the steps。 Outside the sanctuary （on the ramp； apparently） were two altars； one small and made of gold； whereon only unweaned lambs were sacrificed； and the other larger； for full…grown victims。
A Babylonian description。
In 1876 the well…known Assyriologist； Mr。 George Smith； was fortunate enough to discover a Babylonian description of this temple； of which he published a /précis/。 According to this document； there were two courts of considerable extent； the smaller within the largerneither of them was square； but oblong。 Six gates admitted to the temple…area surrounding the platform upon which the tower was built。 The platform is stated to have been square and walled； with four gates facing the cardinal points。 Within this wall was a building connected with the great /zikkurat/ or towerthe principal edificeround which were chapels or temples to the principal gods； on all four sides； and facing the cardinal pointsthat to Nebo and Ta？m？t being on the east； to Aa or êa and Nusku on the north； Anu and Bel on the south； and the series of buildings on the west； consisting of a double housea small court between two wings； was evidently the shrine of Merodach （Belos）。 In these western chambers stood the couch of the god； and the golden throne mentioned by Herodotus； besides other furniture of great value。 The couch was given as being 9 cubits long by 4 broad； about as many feet in each case； or rather more。
The centre of these buildings was the great /zikkurat/； or temple… tower； square on its plan； and with the sides facing the cardinal points。 The lowest stage was 15 /gar/ square by 5 1/2 high （Smith； 300 feet by 110）； and the wall； in accordance with the usual Babylonian custom； seems to have been ornamented with recessed groovings。 The second stage was 13 /gar/ square by 3 in height （Smith； 260 by 60 feet）。 He conjectured； from the expression used； that it
