Author Description

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. 1901 edition. Excerpt:... the god. II But it is not Nebuchadrezzar's walls or palaces, magnificent and mighty as they are, or even his temples, which we have journeyed so far to see. Rather do we wish to make acquaintance with the Babylonians themselves, to walk among them, see how they live, and watch their daily occupations. The religion also of these people will interest us; we shall observe their funeral rites and the way they bury their dead, shall step into their law offices, and visit the market places. Having taken courteous leave of our Babylonian guide, let us wander along to the markets. These are in all respects very similar to those we visited in ancient Thebes, and in fact resemble those of any other tropical Eastern land. All goods are displayed in the open air. The people pass along, a never-ending procession. Here comes a priest. Observe his curious flounced robe, which you will find to be always the distinguishing dress of a Babylonian priest. Over it he has thrown a goat skin. One would imagine it very uncomfortable in this hot sun, but the goat is a sacred animal in Babylonia, and the priest must wear its skin. Our priest stops to bargain and chaffer over some incense for the temple. Yonder person just alighting from his litter is a rich Babylonian gentleman. We recognize his wealth by his apparel. That linen tunic, so fine and transparent, came all the way from India. He wears on his head a queer peaked hat of quilted cotton, which is nevertheless quite modern. In ancient times, Babylonian gentlemen wore hats of quite a different pattern, trimmed with ribbons, and some kind of horn-shaped ornament which projected front and back. Our gentleman's outer garment is a heavy robe, gayly embroidered with figures of animals and flowers, and edged with...