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:...thus bestowing order and life upon the earth. Ever since, the Chaldaeans, and especially the Babylonians, have worshiped him and raised temples in his honor. Here in Babylon he has a most fitting and magnificent dwelling, which Nebuchadrezzar takes pride in embellishing. This temple is a sort of pyramid of masonry, in eight stages or towers which decrease in size as they mount upward, each tower being smaller than the one upon which it rests. A path winds up the sides, and upon the topmost tower is a little temple, the dwelling place of the god. People say that he often comes down from his bright, heavenly abode, and rests upon the couch in this temple, and feasts from the golden table placed before it. Not far away is a shrine, with a statue of Bel, all of solid gold, upon a golden throne. There are also altars of gold, upon which the Babylonians offer daily sacrifices to 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 b...