THE CONQUEST BY THE PERSIANS (INSCRIPTION OF KING CYRUS) and . . to On ac begat him . . . the four regions of the world . . great coward was established as ruler over the land. a similar one he set over them; like Esagila he made . Ur and the rest of the cities a rule not suitable for them he planned daily and in enmity he caused the established sacrifice to cease. He appointed... he established within the city. The worship of Marduk, king of the gods . . . he wrought hostility against his city daily . . . his people all of them he destroyed through servitude, without rest. count of their lamentations the lord of the gods was exceedingly angry and left their territory; the gods who dwelt among them left their dwellings. In anger because he brought them into Babylon, Marduk. . . to return to all the dwellings, their habitations, which were overthrown. The people of Sumer and Akkad, who were like corpses, he brought back and . . . granted them a return. Through all lands he made his way, he looked, he sought a righteous prince, a being whom he loved, whom he took by the hand. Cyrus, King of Anshan, he called by name and designated him to rule over all the lands. The land of Qutu, all the Scythian hordes, he made to submit to his feet. The black-headed people (i.e., the Babylonians), whom he caused his hand to capture, in faithfulness and righteousness he sought. Marduk, the great lord, looked joyfully upon the return of his people, his kindly deeds and upright heart. To his city, Babylon, he commanded him to go; he caused him to take the road to Babylon, going as a friend and companion at his side. His numerous army, the number of which was, like the waters of a river, unknown, marched at his side girded with their weapons. He caused 1 Reprinted, by permission of the American Sunday-School Union, from "Archæology and the Bible," by Prof. G. A. Barton. He preserved him to enter Babylon without war or battle. He his city, Babylon, from tribulation; he filled his (Cyrus's) hand with Nabuna'id, the King, who did not fear him. All the people of Babylon, all of Sumer and Akkad, the princes and governor, prostrated themselves under him and kissed his feet. They rejoiced in his sovereignty; their faces shone. The lord, who by his power makes the dead to live, who from destruction and injustice had saved them, altogether they blessed him in joy; they revered his name. I am Cyrus, King of the world, the great King, the mighty King, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, King of the four quarters of the world, son of Cambyses, the great King, King of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus, the great King, King of Anshan, great-grandson of Teispes, the great King, King of Anshan; an everlasting seed of royalty, whose government Bel and Nabu love, whose reign in the goodness of their hearts they desire. When I entered in peace into Babylon, with joy and rejoicing I took up my lordly dwelling in the royal palace, Marduk, the great lord, moved the understanding heart of the people of Babylon to me, while I daily sought his worship. My numerous troops dwelt peacefully in Babylon; in all Sumer and Akkad no terrorizer did I permit. In Babylon and all its cities in peace I looked about. The people of Babylon I released from an unsuitable yoke. Their dwellings their decay I repaired; their ruins I cleared away. Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced at these deeds and graciously blessed me, Cyrus, the King who worships him, and Cambyses, my son, and all my troops, while we in peace joyfully praised before him his exalted divinity. All the kings who dwell in palaces, from all quarters of the world, from the upper sea to the lower sea, who live in palaces, all the kings of the Westland who live in tents, brought me their heavy tribute in Babylon and kissed my feet. From . . . to Ashur and Susa, Agade, Eshnunak, Zamban, Meturnu, Deri, to the border of Gutium, the cities beyond the Tigris, whose sites had been founded of old - the gods who dwelt in them I returned to their places, and caused them to settle in their eternal shrines. All their people I assembled and returned them to their dwellings. And the gods of Sumer and Akkad, whom Nabuna'id, to the anger of the lord of the gods, had brought into Babylon, at the command of Marduk, the great lord, I caused in peace to dwell in their abodes, the dwellings in which their hearts delighted. May all the gods, whom I have returned to their cities, pray before Marduk and Nabu for the prolonging of my days, may they speak a kind word for me and say to Marduk, lord of the gods, "May Cyrus the King, who fears thee, and Cambyses, his son, their caused all to dwell in peace THE END BIBLIOGRAPHY For the entire field of the history and civilization of the ancient Orient, the reader is referred to Sir Gaston Maspero's three elaborate volumes: "The Dawn of Civilization" (New York, 1894). These are a little out of date, especially for the earliest period, but are still extremely valuable. For the early and later history of Babylonia, the two most recent works are: (1) L. W. KING, "History of Sumer and Akkad" (London, 1910). L. W. KING, "History of Babylonia" (London, 1915). (To be followed by a third volume, a "History of Assyria.") (2) R. W. ROGERS, "History of Babylonia and Assyria" (6th ed., New York, 1915). A general view of the entire civilization of Babylonia and Assyria, with chapters on the excavation, the decipherment, the religion, commerce, law, art and literature, is given in "The Civilization of Babylonia and Assyria," by Morris Jastrow, Jr. (Philadelphia, 1915). For the texts themselves we have (in English translation): R. W. ROGERS, "Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament" (New G. A. BARTON, "Archæology and the Bible" (Philadelphia, 1916). L. W. KING, "Chronicles Concerning Old Babylonian Kings" (London, 1907, two volumes). L. W. KING, "The Letters and Inscriptions of Hammurapi" (London, 1900, three volumes). R. F. HARPER, "Assyrian and Babylonian Literature" (New York, 1901). L. W. KING, "Babylonian Magic and Sorcery" (London, 1896). R. C THOMPSON, "The Reports of the Magicians and Astrologers C. H. W. JOHNS, "Babylonian and Assyrian Laws, Contracts and For the many religious problems involved, with copious translations of hymns, prayers, incantations, omens and myths, the reader is recommended to the three works by Professor Morris Jastrow, Jr. "Religion of Babylonia and Assyria" (Boston, 1898). "Aspects of Religious Belief and Practice in Babylonia and Assyria" (New York, 1910). "Hebrew and Babylonian Traditions" (New York, 1914). |