Myths and Legends

Myths and Legends: Babylonia and Assyria is a book by Lewis Spence that explores the ancient myths and legends of these two civilizations. The book is divided into two parts, with the first section focusing on the myths and legends of Babylonia and the second section exploring those of Assyria. In the first section, Spence delves into the creation myth of Babylonia, which tells the story of how the god Marduk defeated the goddess Tiamat and created the world from her body. He also explores the story of the hero Gilgamesh, who goes on a quest for immortality, and the myth of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war. The second section of the book focuses on the myths and legends of Assyria, including the story of the god Ashur, who became the chief god of the Assyrian pantheon, and the tale of the goddess Astarte, who was associated with fertility and war. Spence also discusses the Assyrian creation myth, which tells the story of how the god Ashur created the world from the body of the dragon Tiamat.Throughout the book, Spence provides historical context for these myths and legends, discussing the cultures and societies that produced them. He also explores the symbolism and meaning behind these stories, revealing how they were used to explain the mysteries of the natural world and to provide moral guidance for the people of these ancient civilizations.Overall, Myths and Legends: Babylonia and Assyria is a fascinating exploration of the rich mythology of these two ancient civilizations, providing insight into their beliefs, values, and worldviews.The purpose of this book is to provide not only a popular account of the religion and mythology of ancient Babylonia and Assyria, but to extract and present to the reader the treasures of romance latent in the subject, the peculiar richness of which has been recognized since the early days of archaeological effort in Chaldea. Contents: Babylonia and Assyria in History and Legend; Babylonian Cosmogony; Early Babylonian Religion; Gilgamesh Epic; Later Pantheon of Babylonia; Great God Merodach and His Cult; Pantheon of Assyria; Babylonia Star-Worship; Priesthood, Cult, and Temples; Magic and Demonology of Babylonia and Assyria; Mythological Monsters and Animals of Chaldea; Tales of the Babylonian and Assyrian Kings; Comparative Value of the Babylonian and Assyrian Religions; Modern Excavation in Babylonia and Assyria; Twilight of the Goods; Glossary and Index.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.