Читать книгу The Ancient Mythology: Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Greek and Roman Myths - Lewis Spence - Страница 108

Asshur is mentioned in the oldest Assyrian inscription known to us, that of Samsi-Ramman (c. 1850 B.C.), the priest-chief of Asshur, who ruled in the days when as yet the offices of king and high priest were undivided. Indeed, when the title of 'king' had come into use some 350 years later, the monarchs of Assyria still retained the right to call themselves 'priests of the god Asshur.' The entire faith in and dependence on their beloved deity on the part of these early Assyrian rulers is touching. They are his children and rely wholly upon him first for protection against their cruel enemies the Kassites and afterwards for the extension of their growing empire. No wonder that with such a faith to stimulate her Assyria became great. Faith in her tutelar god was, indeed, the secret of her greatness. The enemies of Assyria are 'the enemies of Asshur,' her soldiers are 'the warriors of Asshur,' and their weapons are 'the weapons of Asshur.' Before his face the enemies of Assyria tremble and are routed, he is consulted oracularly as to the making and conduct of war, and he is present on the battle-field. But the solitary nature of Asshur was remarkable. Originally he possessed 'neither kith nor kin,' neither wife nor child, and the unnaturalness of his splendid isolation appears to have struck the Assyrian scribes, who in an interesting prayer attempted to connect their divinity with the greater gods of Babylonia, to find him a wife, ministers, a court and messengers.

A prayer to Asshur, the king of the gods, ruler over heaven and earth,

the father who has created the gods, the supreme first-born of heaven and earth,

the supreme muttallu who inclines to counsel,

the giver of the sceptre and the throne.

To Nin-lil, the wife of Asshur, the begetter, the creatress of heaven and earth,

who by command of her mouth ...

To Sin, the lord of command, the uplifter of horns, the spectacle of heaven,

To the Sun-god, the great judge of the gods, who causes the lightning to issue forth,

To Anu, the lord and prince, possessing the life of Asshur, the father of the great gods.

To Rammon, the minister of heaven and earth, the lord of the wind and the lightning of heaven.

To Ishtar, the queen of heaven and the stars, whose seat is exalted.

To Merodach, the prince of the gods, the interpreter of the spirits of heaven and earth.

To Adar, the son of Mul-lil the giant, the first-born ...

To Nebo, the messenger of Asshur (Ansar) ...

To Nergal, the lord of might and strength ...

To the god who marches in front, the first-born ...

To the seven gods, the warrior deities ...

the great gods, the lords of heaven and earth.