Ancient Oriental Nations (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... strong and fierce; " and "Under the auspices of Ninip, one hundred and twenty lions fell before me. " One of Asshur-bani-pal's sculptured inscriptions says: "I, Asshurbani-pal, king of the nations, king of Assyria, in my great courage fighting on foot with a lion, terrible for his size, seized him by the ear, and in the name of Asshur and Ishtar, Goddess of War, with the spear that was in my hand I terminated his life." Wherever the Assyrian monarch led his conquering hosts, he "set up the emblems of Asshur," or of "the great gods;" and compelled the vanquished to render them homage. The most precious of the spoils of conquest were dedicated as thank-offerings in the temples. The temples themselves were adorned, repaired, beautified, enlarged and multiplied numerically by most of the Assyrian sovereigns. The kings worshiped in these temples in person and offered sacrifices. They embellished their palaces with religious figures, such as emblems of chief deities and illustrations of acts of adoration, as well as with representations of their victories in war and their exploits in hunting. Their signets, and those of the Assyrians generally, are religious in character. In every respect religion occupies an important place among the Assyrians, who fight more for the honor of their gods than for their king, and aspire as much toward extending their religion as their dominion. As in the Jewish religion, we perceive in the Assyrian system a sensuousness contending with a higher and purer element, which in this case reigns uncontrolled, giving a gross, material and voluptuous character to its religion. This practical people cared very little for the spiritual and the ideal, and, not being...