Chaldean account of Genesis : containing the description of the creation, the fall of man, the deluge, the tower of Babel, the times of the patriarchs, and Nimrod : Babylonian fables, the legends of the gods, from the cuneiform inscriptions

Front matter

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Cornell University Library BS 1236.S64 1876a

Chaldean account of Genesis xontaining

Introduction

iOME explanation is necessary in introducing my present work. Little time has elapsed since I discovered the most important of these inscriptions, and in the intervening period I have had, amidst other work, to collect the various fragments of the legends, copy, compare, and translate, altering my matter from time to time, as new fragments turned up. Even now I have gone to press with one of the fragments of the last tablet of the Izdubar series omitted.

The present condition of the legends and their recent discovery alike forbid me to call this anything more than a provisional work; but there was so general a desire to see the translations that I have published them, hoping my readers will take them with the same reserve with which I have given them. I have avoided some of the most important comparisons and conclusions with respect to Genesis, as my desire was first to obtain the recognition of the evidence without prejudice.

viii INTBODUGTION.

The chronological notes in the book are one of its

weak points, but I may safely say that I have placed

, the various dates as low as I fairly could, considering

the evidence, and I have aimed to do this rather than

to establish any system of chronology.

I believe that time will show the Babylonian traditions of Genesis to be invaluable for the light they wiU throw on the Pentateuch, but at present there are so many blanks in the evidence that positive conclusions on several points are impossible. I may add in conclusion that my present work is intended as a popular account, and I have introduced only so much explanation as seems necessary for the proper understanding of the subject. I have added translations of some parts of the legends which I avoided in my last work, desiring here to satisfy the wish to see them as perfect as possible ; there still remain however som-e passages which I have omitted, but these are of small extent and obscure.

CHAPTER I. — The Discovekt of the Genesis Legends

Cosmogony of Berosus. — Discovery of Cuneiform Inscriptions. — Historical Texts. — Babylonian origin of Assyrian literature. — Mythological tablets- — ^Discovery of Deluge texts. — Izclubar, his exploits. — Mutilated condition of tablets. — Lecture on Deluge tablets. — " Daily Telegraph" offer. — Expedition to Assyria. — Fragments of Creation tablets. — Solar Myth. — Second journey to Assyria. — Tower of Babel. — Clay records. — Account of creation in " Telegraph." — " Daily Telegraph" collection. — Interest of Creation legends.— The Fall New fragments. — List of texts • . . page 1

Chapter II. — ^Babylonian and Assybian LiTEEAruEE

Babylonian literature. — Kouyunjik library. — Fragmentary condition. — Arrangement of tablets. — Subjects. — Dates. — Babylonian source of literature. — Literary period. — Babylonian Chronology. — Akkad. — Sumir.— ^Urukh, king of Ur. — Hammurabi. — Babylonian astrology. — War of Gods. — Izdubar legends. — Creation and fall. — Syllabaries and bilingual tablets.^ — Assyrian copies. — DiflSculties as to date. — Mutilated condition. — Babylonian library. — Assyrian empire. — City of Assur. — Library at Calah. — Sargon of Assyria. — Sennacherib. — ^Removal of Library to Nineveh. — Assurbanipal or Sardanapalus. — His additions to library. — Description of contents. •—Later Babylonian libraries , . , , , ,19

X CONTENTS.

Chapter III. — Chaldean Legends teansmitted throitgh Bbbosus and oiheb Ancient AuTHoas

Berosus and his copyists. — Cory's translation. — Alexander Polyhistor. — Babylonia. — Cannes, his teaching. — Creation. — Belus. — Chaldean kings. — Xisuthrus. — Deluge. — The Ark. — Return to Babylon. — ApoUodorus. — Pantibiblon. — Larancha. — Abydenus. — Alorus, first king. — Ten kings. — Sisithrus. — Deluge. — Armenia. — Tower of Babel. — Cronos and Titan. — ^Nicolaus Damascenus. — Dispersion from Hestiseus. — Babylonian colonies. — Tower of Babel. — The Sibyl. — Titan and Prometheus. — ^Damascius. — Tauthe. — Moymis. — Kissare and Assorus. — Triad. — Bel ... 37

Chaptee IV. — Babylonian Mttholooy.

Greek accounts. — Mythology local in origin. — Antiquity. — Conquests. — Colonies. — Three great gods. — Twelve great gods. — Angels. — Spirits. — Anu. — Anatu. — Vul. — Ishtar. — Equivalent to Venus. — Hea. — Cannes. — Merodach. — Bel or Jupiter. — Zirat-

bauit, Succoth Benoth. — Elu Sin the moon god. — Niuip. — Sha-

mas. — Nergal. — Anunit. — Table of gods . . . .51

Chaptee V. — Babtlonian Legend oe the Creation.

Mutilated condition of tablets. — List of subjects. — Description of chaos. — Tiamat. — Generation of gods.— Damascius. — Comparison with Genesis. — Three great gods. — Doubtful fragments. — Fifth tablet. — Stars. — ^Planets. — Moon. — Sun. — Abyss or chaos. — Creation of moon. — Creation of animals. — Man. — His duties. — Dragon of sea. — Fall. — Curse for disobedience. — Discussion. — Sacred tree — Dragon or serpent. — War with Tiamat. — Weapons. — Merodach. — Destruction of Tiamat. — Mutilation of documents. — Parallel Biblical account. — Age of story ..... 61

Chaptee VI. — Othee Babylonian Accounts op the Ceeation. Cuneiform accounts originally traditions. — Variations. — Account of Berosus. — ^Tablet from Cutha. — Translation. — Composite animals. — Eagle-headed men. — Seven brothers. — Destruction of men. — Seven vcicked spirits. — War in heaven. — ^Variations of story. — Poetical account of Creation .... 101

Chaptee VII. — The Sin op the God Zu.

God Zu. — Obscurity of legend. — Translation. — Sin of Zu.

CONTENT 8. xi

Anger of the gods. — Speeches of Anu to Vul Vul's answer. —

Speech of Anu to Nebo'. — Answer of Nebo. — Sarturda. — Changes to a bird. — The Zu bird. — Bird of prey. — Sarturda lord of Amarda ......... 113

Chapter VIII. — The Exploits of Ltjbaea.

Lubara. — God of Pestilence. — Itak. — The Plague. — Seven warrior gods. — Destruction of people. — Anu. — Goddess of Karrak — Speech of Elu. — Sin and destruction of Babylonians. — Shamas. — Sin and destruction of Erech. — Ishtar. — The great god and Duran. — Cutha. — ^Internal wars. — Itak goes to Syria. — Power and glory of Lubara. — Song of Lubara. — ^Blessings on his worship. —God Ner. — Prayer to arrest the Plague . . .123

Chapter IX. — Babylonian Fables.

Fables. — Common in the East. — ^Description. — ^Power of speech in animals. — Story of the eagle. — Serpent. — Shamas. — The eagle caught. — Eats the serpent. — Anger of birds. — Etana. — Seven gods. — ^Third tablet. — Speech of eagle. — Story of the fox. — His cunning. — Judgment of Shamas.; — His show of sorrow. — His punishment. — Speech of fox. — Fable of the horse and ox. — They consort together. — Speech of the ox. — His good fortune — Contrast with the horse. — Hunting the ox. — Speech of the horse. — Offers to recount story. — Story of Ishtar. — ^Further tablets . 137

Chapteh X. — ^Fragments of Miscellaneous Texts.

Atarpi. — Sin of the world. — Mother and daughter quarrel. — Zamu. — Punishment of world. — Hea. — Calls his sons. — Orders drought. — Famine. — ^Building. — Nusku. — Riddle of wise man. — Nature and universal presence of air. — Gods. — Sinuri. — ^Divining by fracture of reed. — Incantation. — Dream. — ^Tower of Babel. — Obscurity of legend. — Not noticed by Berosus. — Fragmentary tablet. — ^Destruction of Tower. — Dispersion. — ^Locality of Babylon. — Birs Nimrud. — ^Babil. — Assyrian representations .... 153

Chapter XI. — The Izdubar Legends.

Account of Deluge. — Nimrod. — Izdubar. — Age of Legends. — Babylonian cylinders, — Notices of Izdubar. — Surippak. — Ark City.

xii CONTENTS.

— Twelve tablets. — Extent' of Legends. — Description. — Introduction. — Meeting of Hcabani and Izdubar. — ^Destruction of tyrant

Hurababa. — Adventures of Ishtar Illness and wanderings of

Izdubar. — Description of Deluge and conclusion. — First Tablet. — Kingdom of Nimrod. — Traditions. — Identifications. — Translation. — Elamite Conquest. — Dates . . . . .167

Chapter XII. — Meeting of Heabani and Izdubae.

Dream of Izdubar. — Heabani. — His wisdom. — His solitary life. — Izdubar's petition. — Zaidu. — Harimtu and Sambat. — Tempt

Heabani Might and fame of Izdubar. — Speech of Heabani. —

His journey to Erech. — The midannu or tiger. — Festival at Erech. — Dream of Izdubar.^— Friendship with Heabani . • 193

ChAPIEB. XIII. DESTRnCTION OF THE TyEANT HuMBABA.

Elamite dominion. — Forest region. — Ilumbaba. — Conversation. — ^Petition to Shamas. — Journey to forest. — Dwelling of Ilumbaba. — Entrance to forest. — Meeting with Humbaba. — Death of Humbaba. — Izdubar king ...... 207

Chapter XIV. — The Adventures of Ishtak.

Triumph of Izdubar. — Ishtar's love. — Her offer of marriage. — Her promises. — Izdubar's answer. — Tammuz. — Amours of Ishtar. — His refusal.— 7-Ishtar's anger. — Ascends to Heaven. — The bull. — Slain by Izdubar. — Ishtar's curse. — Izdubar's triumph. — The feast. — Ishtar's despair. — Her descent to Hades. — Description. — The seven gates. — The curses. — Uddusunamir. — Sphinx. — Release of Ishtar. — Lament for Tammuz ..... 217

Chapter XV. — Illness and Wanderings of Izdubar.

Heabani: and the trees. — Illness of Izdubar. — ^Death of Heabani. — Journey of Izdubar. — His dream. — Scorpion men. — The

Desert of Mas. — The paradise. — Siduri and Sabitu. — Urhamsi.

Water of death. — Ragmu. — The conversation. — Hasisadra 241

Chapter XVI. — The Story of the Flood and Conclusion. Eleventh tablet. — The gods. — Sin of the world. — Command to build the ark. — Its contents. — The building. — The Flood. — Destruction of people. — Fear of the gods. — End of Deluge. — Nizir.

CONTENTS. xiii

Eesting of Ark. — The birds. — The descent from the ark.^-The sacrifice. — Speeches of gods. — Translation of Hasisadra. — Cure of Izdubar. — His return. — Lament over Heabani.— Eesurrection of Heabani. — ^Burial of warrior. — Comparison with Genesis. — Syrian nation. — Connection of legends. — Points of contact. — Duration of deluge. — Mount of descent. — Ten generations. — Early cities. — Age of Izdubar ........ 263

Chapieb XVII. — Conclusion.

Notices of Genesis. — Correspondence of names. — Abram. — Ui of Chaldees. — Ishmael. — Sargon. — His birth. — Concealed in ark. — Age of Nimrod. — Doubtful theories. — Creation. — Garden

Eden. — Cannes. — ^Berosus. — Izdubar legends. — ^Urukh of Ur

Babylonian seals. — ^Egyptian names. — Assyrian sculptures . 295

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

^^^fRONTISPIECE, Photograph. Izduhar (Nimrod) in JSJ ^5 conflict with a lion, from an early Babylonian

cylinder. 2. Reverse of inscribed terra cotta tablet, containing the account of the Deluge, showing the various fragments of which it is composed, 10.

3. Cannes and other Babylonian mythological figures, from cylin-

4. Composite animals, from cylinder, 41,

5. Fight between Merodach (Bel) and the dragon, to face p. 62.

6. Sacred tree or grove, with attendant cherubim, from Assyrian

cylinder, 89.

7. Sacred tree, seated figure on each side and serpent in background,

from an early Babylonian cylinder, 91.

8. Bel encountering the dragon, from Babylonian cylinder, 95.

9. Merodach or Bel armed for the conflict with the dragon, from

Assyrian cylinder, 99.

10. Fight between Bel and the dragon, from Babylonian cylinder,

11. Eagle-headed men, from Nimroud sculpture, to face p. 102.

12. Sacred tree, attendant figures and eagle-headed men, from the

seal of a Syi-ian chief, ninth century B.C., 106.

13. Men engaged in building, from Babylonian cylinder, 158.

14 and 15. Men engaged in building, from Babylonian cylinders, 159.

xvi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

16. View of Birs Nimrud, the supposed site of the Tower of Babel,

17. View of the Babil mound at Babylon, the site of the temple of

18. Tower in stages, from an Assyrian bas-relief, 164.

19. Izdubar strangling a lion, from Khorsabad sculpture, to face

20. Migration of Eastern tribe, from early Babylonian cylinder, 188.

21. Bowareyeh Mound at Warka (Erech), site of the temple of

Ishtar, 237.

22. Izdubar and Heabani in conflict with the lion and bull, 239.

23. Izdubar, composite figures, and Hasisadra (Noah) in the aik,

from early Babylonian cylinder, 257.

24. Composite figures (scorpion men), from an Assyrian cylinder,

25. Hasisadra, or Noah, and Izdubar, from an early Babylonian

cylinder, 283.

26. Mugheir, the site of Ur of the Chaldees, 297.

27. Oannes, from Nimroud sculpture, to face p. 306.

Chapter I. THE DISCOVEEY OF THE GENESIS LEGENDS

Cosmogony of Berosns. — Discovery of Cuneiform Inscriptions. — ^Historical texts. — Babylonian origin of Assyrian literature. — Mythological tablets. — Discovery of Deluge texts. — Izdubar, his exploits. — Mutilated condition of tablets. — Lecture on Deluge tablets. — "Daily Telegraph" offer. — Expedition to Assyria. — Fragments of Creation tablets. — Solar Myth. — Second journey to Assyria. — Tower of Babel. — Clay records. — Account of creation in "Telegraph." — "Daily Telegraph" collection. — Interest of Creation legends. — The Fall. — New fragments. — List of texts.

fHE fragments of the Chaldean historian, Berosus, preserved in the works of various later writers, have shown that the Babylonians were acquainted with traditions referring to the Creation, the period before the Flood, the Deluge, and other matters forming parts of Genesis.

Berosus, however, who recorded these events, lived in the time of Alexander the Great and his successors, somewhere about B.C. 330 to 260; and, as this was three hundred years after the Jews were carried captive to Babylon, his works did not prove

B

2 TEE BISOOVEBY OF

thnt these traditions were in Babylonia before the Jewish captivity, and could not afford testimony in favour of the great antiquity of these legends.

On the discovery and decipherment of the cuneiform inscriptions, Oriental scholars hoped that copies of the Babylonian histories and traditions would one day be discovered, and we should thus gain earlier and more satisfactory evidence as to these primitive histories.

In the mound of Kouyunjik, opposite the town of Mosul, Mr. La5'^ard discovered part of the Royal Assyrian library, and further collections, also forming parts of this library, have been subsequently found by Mr. H. Rassam, Mr. Loftus, and myself Sir Henry Rawlinson, who made the preliminary examination of Mr. Layard's treasures, and who was the first to recognize their value, estimated the number of these fragments of inscriptions at over twenty thousand.

The attention of decipherers was in the first in* stance drawn to the later historical inscriptions, particularly to those of the Assyrian kings contemporary with the Hebrew monarchy ; and in this section of inscriptions a very large number of texts of great importance rewarded the toil of Assyrian scholars. Inscriptions of Tiglath Pileser, Shalmaneser, Sargon, Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, Nebuchadnezzar, Nabonidus, and numerous other ancient sovereigns, bearinodirectly on the Bible, and giving new light upon parts of ancient history before obscure, for a lono-

THE QENESIS LEGENDS. 3

time occupied almost exclusively the attention of students, and overshadowed any work in other divisions of Assyrian literature.

Although it was known that Assyria borrowed its civilization and written characters from Babylonia, yet, as the Assyrian nation was mostly hostile to the southern and older kingdom, it could not be guessed beforehand that the peculiar national traditions of Babylonia would be transported to Assyria.

Under these circumstances, for some years after the cuneiform inscriptions were first deciphered, nothing was looked for or discovered bearing upon the events of Genesis ; but, as new texts were brought into notice, it became evident that the Ass yrians copied their lit erature largely from_ Babylonian sourcfiS,_-and it_appe*ared likely that search among the fragments_i3f Ass5Tian inscriptions would yield traces at least of some of these ancient Babylonian legends.

Attention was early drawn to these points by Sir Henry Rawlinson, who pointed out several coincidences between the geography of Babylonia and the account of Eden in Genesis, and suggested the great probability that the accounts in^Genesis had_a_Babylonian origin.

WheiT at work preparing the fourth volume of Cuneiform Inscriptions, I noticed references to the Creation in a tablet numbered K 63 in the Museum collection, and allusions in other tablets to similar legends ; I therefore set about searching through the

4 TEH DISGOVEBY OF

collection, which I had previously selected under the head of " Mythological tablets," to find, if possible, some of these legends. This mythological collection was one of six divisions into which I had parted the Museum collection of cuneiform inscriptions for convenience of working. By placing all the tablets and fragments of the same class together, I had been able to complete several texts, to easily find any subject required, and at any time to get a general idea of the contents of the collection.

The mythological division contained all tablets relating to the mythology, and all the legends in which the gods took a leading part, together ' with prayers and similar subjects.

Commencing a steady search among these fragments, I soon found half of a curious tablet which had evidently contained originally six columns of text; two of these (the third and fourth) were still nearly perfect; two others (the second and fifth) were imperfect, about half remaining, while the remaining columns (the first and sixth) were entirely lost. On looking down the third column, my eye caught the statement that the ship rested on the mountains of Nizir, followed by the account of the sending forth of the dove, and its finding no resting-place and returning. I saw at once that I had here discovered a portion at least of the Chaldean account of the Deluge, I then proceeded to read through the document, and found it was in the form of a speech from the hero of the Deluge to a person

THE GENESIS LEGENDS. 5

whose name appeared to be Izdubar. 1 recollected a legend belonging to the same hero Izdubar K. 231, which, on comparison, proved to belong to the same series, and then I commenced a search for any missing portions of the tablets.

This search was a long and heavy work, for there were thousands of fragments to go over, and, while on the one side I had gained as yet only two fragments of the Izdubar legends to judge from, on the other hand, the unsorted fragments were so small, and contained so little of the subject, that it was extremely difficult to ascertain their meaning. My search, however, proved successful. I found a fragment of another copy of the Deluge, containing again the sending forth of the birds, and gradually collected several other portions of this tablet, fitting them in one after another until I had completed the greater part of the second column. Portions of a third copy next turned up, which, when joined together, completed a considerable part of the first and sixth columns. I now had the account of the Deluge in the state in which I published it at the naeeting of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, December 3rd, 1872. I had discovered that the Izdubar series contained at least twelve tablets, and I afterwards found this to be their exact number. Of this series the tablet describing the Deluge was the eleventh and K 231. the sixth. Numerous other fragments turned up at the same time; but these, while they increased my knowledge of the legends,

6 TEB DISCOVEBY OF

could not be arranged in order from want of indication of the particular tablets to which they belonged.

Some other fragmentary legends, including the war of the gods and three fables, I also found at the same time, but these were in such mutilated condition that I could not make a connected translation of them.

In my lecture on the Deluge tablets, I gave a sketch of the Izdubar legends, and expressed my belief that the Chaldean inscriptions contained various other similar stories bearing upon the Book of Genesis, which would prove of the highest interest.

Just at this time happened the intervention of the proprietors of the " Daily Telegraph " ncAVspaper. Mr. E. Arnold, who is on the direction of that paper, had already sent to me expressing his interest in these discoveries, and immediately after my lecture he came armed with a proposition from the proprietors of the " Daily Telegraph " to re-open, at their cost, the excavations in Assyria, and gain some new information on the subject of these legends. This proposition was submitted to the trustees of the British Museum, and they directed me to go to Assyria and make a short excavation, leave o± absence for six months being granted to me for this purpose. I have related, in my work, "Assyrian discoveries," the history of this expedition, which brought me the next fragments of these legends. Soon after I commenced excavating at Kouyunjik, on the site of the palace of Assurbanipal, I found a

THE GENESIS LEGENDS. 7

new fragment of the Chaldean account of the Deluge belonging to the first column of the tablet, relating the command to build and fill the ark, and nearly filhng up the most considerable blank in the story. Some other fragments, which I found afterwards, still further completed this tablet, which was already the most perfect one in the Izdubar series. The trench in which I found the fragment in question must have passed very near the place where the Assyrians kept a series of inscriptions belonging to the early history of the world. Soon after I discovered the fragment of the Deluge tablet, I came upon a fragment of the sixth tablet of the same series in this trench, and not far from the place of the Deluge fragrtient. This fragment described the destruction of the bull of Ishtar by Izdubar and Heabani, an incident often depicted on early Babylonian gems. My next discovery here was a fragment evidently belonging to the creation of the world; this was the upper corner of a tablet, and gave a fragmentary account of the creation of animals. Further on in this trench I discovered two other portions of this legend, one giving the Creation and fall of man ; the other having part of the war between Ae gods and evil spirits. At that time I did not recognize tFe^ importance of these fragments, excepting the one with the account of the creat ion o f animals, and, as I had immediately afterwards to return to England, I made no further discoveries in this direction.

8 ' TEH DI8G0VEBY OP

On my return from the east, I published some of the discoveries I had made, and I now found, on joining the fragments of the Deluge or Izdubar series, that they formed exaclly twelve tablets. The fact that these legends covued twelve tablets led to the impression that they were a form of the solar myth, that is, that they symbolized the passage of the sun through the heavens, each tablet representing a separate sign of the zodiac. This opinion, first started by Sir Henry Rawlinson, was at once accepted by M. Lenormant, Rev. A. H. Sayce, and other scholars; but I think myself it rests on too insecure a basis to be true. In a subsequent chapter I will give as nearly as I can the contents of the Izdubar legends, which I think do not warrant this view. Some months further passed, during which I was engaged in my second journey to Assyria, and in realizing the results of that expedition. • I again brought from Assyria several fragments of the Genesis legends which helped to complete these curious stories, and in January, 1875, I commenced once more a regular search for these fragments. \ Very soon afterwards I succeeded in discovering a \ notice of the building of the tower of Babel, which I at once attracted attention, and a notice of it, which * appeared in the " Athenaeum," No. 2468, was copied into several of the papers. I was, however, at that time hardly prepared to publish these legends, as I had not ascertained how far they could be completed from our present collections.

THE GENESIS LEGENDS. 9

Subsequent search did not show that any further fragments of the Babel tablet were in the British Museum, but I soon added several fresh portions to the fragmentary history of the Creation and Fall. The greatest difficulty with which I had to contend in all these researches was the extremely mutilated and deficient condition in which the tablets were found. There can be no doubt that, if the inscriptions were perfect, they would present very little difr ficulty to the translator.

The reason why these legends are in so many fi-agments, and the different parts so scattered, may be explained from the nature of the material of which the tablets are composed, and the changes undergone by them since they were written. These tablets were composed of fine clay and were inscribed with cuneiform characters while in a soft state ; they were then baked in a furnace until hard, and afterwards transferred to the library. These texts appear to have been broken up when Nineveh was destroyed, and many of them were cracked and scorched by the heat at the burning of the palace. Subsequently the ruins were turned over in search of treasure, and the tablets still further broken; and then, to complete their ruin, the rain, every spring soaking through the ground, saturates them with watfer containing chemicals, and these chemicals form crystals in every available crack. The growth of the crystals further splits the tablets, some of them being literally shivered.

TEH DI8G0VERY OF

Some idea of the mutilated condition of the Assj'- rian tablets, and of the work of restoring a single text, will be gained from the engraving below, which exhibits the present appearance of one of the Deluge tablets. In this tablet there are sixteen fragments.

iS,ii

V r

I

Ebvekse of Inscribed Tekra Cotta Tablet containing the Account OP the Delbge, showing the variods fragments op which it IS composed.

The clay records of the Assyrians are by these means so broken up, that they are in some cases divided into over one hundred fragments ; and it is only by collecting and joining together the various fragments that these ancient texts can be restored. Many of the old fragmentary tablets which have been twenty years in the British Museum have been added to considerably by fragments which I found during

TEE GENESIS LEGENDS. 11

my .two journeys, and yet there remain at least 20,000 fragments buried in the ruins without the recovery of which it is impossible to complete these valuable Assyrian inscriptions.

■Being now urged by many friends who were interested in the subject, I sent the following account to the editor of the " DaUy Telegraph," which was printed in that paper on the 4th of March, 1875 : —

" Having recently made a series of important discoveries relating to the Book of Genesis, among some remarkable texts, which form part of the collection presented to the British Museum by the proprietors of ' The Daily Telegraph,' I venture once mbre to bring Assyrian subjects before your readers.

" In my lecture on the Chaldean Account of the Deluge, which I delivered on Dec. 3, 1872, I stated my conviction that all the earlier narratives of Genesis would receive new light from the inscriptions so long buried in the Chaldean and Assyrian mounds ; but I little thought at that time that I was so near to finding most of them.

" My lecture, as your readers know, was soon followed by the proposal of your proprietors and the organizing of ' The Daily Telegraph ' expedition to Assyria. When excavating at Kouyunjik during that expedition, I discovered the missing portion of the first column of the Deluge tablet, an account of which I sent home ; and in the same trench I subsequently found the fragment which I afterwards recognized as part of the Chaldean story of the

12 THE DISGOVEBY OF

Creation, which relic I have noticed already in your columns. I excavated later on, while still working under your auspices, another portion belonging to this story, far more precious — ^in fact, I think, to the general pubKc, the most interesting and remarkable cuneiform tablet yet discovered. This turns out to contain the story of man's original innocence, of the temptation, and of Jhe fall. I was, when I found it, on the eve of departing, and had not time to properly examine my great prize. I only copied the two or three first Hues, which (as I had then no idea of the general subject of the tablet) did not appear very valuable, and I forthwith packed it in the box for transport to England, where it arrived safely, and was presented by the proprietors of ' The Daily Telegraph,' with the rest of their collection, to the British Museum. On my return to England I made some other discoveries among my store, and in the pursuit of these this fragment was overlooked. I subsequently went a second time to Assyria, and returned to England in June, 1874 ; but I had no leisure to look again at those particular legends until the end of January in this year. Then, starting with the fragment of the Creation in ' The Daily Telegraph' collection, which I had first noticed, I began to collect other portions of the series, and among these I soon found the overlooked fragment which I had excavated at Kouyunjik, the first lines of which I took down in the note-book of my first expedition. I subsequently found several smaller