Media, Babylon and Persia, including a study of the Zend Avesta from the fall of Nineveh to the Persian war

Front matter

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I. A Notable Religious Survival : the Parsis

Anquetil Duperron .... 1-16

§ I. The Parsis, descendants of the Persians and followers of Zoroaster. — § 2. The Parsis not heathens. — § 3. Conquest of Persia by the Arabs. — § 4. Oppression and conversion of the country. — § 5. Self-exile of the Zoroastrians. — § 6. Their wanderings and settlements in India. — § 7. Principal tenets of their religi' n. — g 8. Discovery of Parsi manuscripts. — g 9. Anquetil Duperron and his mission. — § 10. His departnre for India. — § il. Obstacles and hards'lips. — § 12. His translation of the Zend-Avesta. — § 13. He is attacked l)y William Jones. — § 14. His mistakes and disadvantages. — § 15. Eugene Burnouf, the founder of Eranian scholarship. — § 16. Advance and results of Eranian studies.

II. The Prophet of Eran — The Avesta , . 17-33

§ I. The religions that have sacred books, and their demands.— § 2. They claim to be supernaturally revealed. — § 3. The Veda and the Zend-Avesta — the sacred books of the Hindus and Aranians. — §4. "Zend-Avesta" a misnomer.— §§5,6. " Pehlevi " the Persian language of the Sassanian period. — § 7. Uncertainty and obscurity of most points concerning the Avesta. — § S-. Ancient writers on Zoroaster. — § 9. The " Gathas " (>ongsl the oldest portion of the Avesta. — § 10. Scant information on Zarathushtra (Zoroaster)in the Avesta. — § 11. King Vishtaspa, the friend iv CLASSIFIED CONTENTS.

and follower of Zarathushtra.— § 12. Loss of the greatest part of the Zoroastriaii literature. — § 13. Survival of some texts. The parts of the Avesta as we have it. — § 14. The Bundehesh : its lateness and its contents.

III

§§ 1,2. Impossibility of invention in a strict sense. — § 3. Zarathushtra not an inventor, but a reformer. — § 4. The Hindus and Eranians — sister nations of the Aryan or Indo- European race. — § 5. The Airyana-Vaeja, or first Aryan home of Eranian tradition. — § 6. The Rig-Veda, the most ancient sacred book of the Aryan Hindus, and its indications concerning the religion of the primitive Aryas. — § 7. The powers of nature — the gods of the Aryas. — § 8. The Aryan sky-gods, Dyaus and Varuna. — § 9. The Aryan light-god, Mitra. — § 10. The Aryan fire-god, Agni. — § II. Aryan-dualism. Gods and demons, light and darkness, rain and drought. — § 12. Aryan storm-myth.^ § 13. Indra, the god of the thunderbolt. — § 14. Vritra and Ahi, the cloud-fiends. — §§ 15, 16. Soma, plant, beverage and drink. — 17, 18. Efficacy of sacred texts — Mantra — and of sacrifice. — § ig. Crossness of some of these conceptions.— § 20. Richness of Aryan mythical epos. — § 2i. King Yama and the Pitris. — § 22. Aryan reverence toward the spirits of the departed — the Pitris. — § 23. The Pitris pass into heroic epos.

IV

Aryan Myths in the Avesta — Thetr Allegorical Transformation . . . 56-94

§ I. Enervating influence of the Indian climate on the Aryan population. — § 2. Bracing and hardening influence of the soil and climate of Eran. The nature of Eran all in extremes.— § 3. It intensifies the feeling of dualism, and develops the battle-myth almost exclusively. — § 4. Spiritual transformation of Aryan myths in Eran, — ^ 5. Ahura- Mazda, the supreme God and Creator, the successor of the

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Arj'an sky-gods. — § 6. The sacred mountain and paradise of the Eranians. — § 7. The heavenly sea, the celestial spring, and the tree of life and immortality. — § 8. Anthropomorism subordinate in Eranian myth. — §i^ 9, 10. Mithra, the successor of the Aryan Mitra, transparently mythical. — 11. His spiritual transformation : the god of light becomes the god of truth. — § 12. His allegorical attendants : Victory, Obedience, Uprightness, etc. — § 13. Allegory a distinctive feature of the Eranian mind. — g 14. The Amesha-Spentas, or " Bountiful Immortals," and their allegorical character. — § 15. The seven Amesha-Spentas and their functions. — § 16. Ahura-Mazda is the first of them and has created the others. — § 17. Atar — Fire — successor of the Aryan Agni. — § 18. The Hvareno, or " Kingly Glory," — § 19. Tishtrya, the chief of stars and Eranian storm -god. — § 20. The Fravashis, the successors of the Aryan Pitris. — §§ 21, 22. — Desire of the Eranian gods for sacrifice. — § 23, 24. The Manthra, or sacred text, and the Ahuna- Vairya, and their power over the fiends. — § 25. Angra- Mainyu, or the " Evil One." — § 26. Yima, the successor of the Aryan Yama ; history in the Avesta. — § 27. The fall of Yima. — § 28. The Sagdid.

V

The Gath as — The Yasn a of Seven Chapters, 95-1 1 2 § I. Mazdayasnians and Daevayasnians. — § 2. Zarathushtra's work. — § 3. Early period of the Gathas. — § 4. The prophet's denunciations of the Daevayasnians, or Fiendworshippers. — § 5. The Aryan, " Devas," — gods — transformed into the Eranian " Daevas " — fiends. " Ahura " and "Asura." — §6. Poetical prologue of the Gathas. — § 7. Proclamation of the new religion. — § 8. Essence of Mazdeism : moral dualism. — § 9. The hymn of questions. — § 10. Simplicity and literalness of the Gathas. — § 11,12. The " Yasna of Seven Chapters." Slight deterioriation in the spirit of Mazdeism ; formation and return to myth. — § 13. The Mazdayasnian " Profession of Faith." — § 14. Marriages between near relations.

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VI

Migrations and Foreign Influences — The Vendidad — Heathen Revival — The Khordeh Avesta .... 1 13-168 §1. Character of the Vendidad. — §2. The three fundamental principles of the priestly legislation. — § 3. Power of the priesthood. — § 4. The Athravans and Zoroastrian sacrifice. §§ 5, 6. Holiness of an agricultural life. — § 7. Care of the body enjoined ; asceticism denounced. — §§ 8, g. Exposing of the dead. — § 10. The Dakhma. — § 11. Questions on purity and pollution. — § 12. Impurity of the Dakhmas.— § 13. Treatment of corpses in winter. — § 14. Sinfulness of burying a corpse. — § 15. Impure creatures become clean by dying. — § 16. On sickness. — § 17. On thriftiness. — § 18. The Nasu, or corpse-fiend. Rights of purification. — § 19. Dangerous sinfulness of carrying a corpse alone. — § 20. On physicians. — § 21. Sacredness of the dog. — § 22. Of the cock. — § 23. Signs of nomadic life in the Vendidad. — § 24. 25. Turanian influences encountered by the Eranians in their westward migration. — §§ 26, 28. Traces of these influences in the Avesta. — § 29. Hebrew affinities. — §§ 30-31. Puzzling penal legislation. — § 32. The " Khordeh-A vesta." Heathen Revival. — § 33, 34. The Chinvat Bridge, and the trials of the soul after death. — § 35. High standard and beauty of Mazdeism. Its high place among religions.

VII

§ I. Affairs in Syria. — 2. Necho II. of Egypt plans an invasion of Asia, — § 3. His campaign in Syria. — § 4. Battle of Megiddo, and defeat of Josiah of Judah. — § 5. Battle of Karkhemish ; defeat of Necho by Nebuchadrezzar. — § 6. The Median and Babylonian empires — § 7. Submission of Syria. — § 8. The prophet Jeremiah, — § g. First taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar. — § 10-13. Jeremiah's preaching and unpopularity. — § 14. Destruction of Jerusalem.— §15, 16. The siege of Tyre. Nebuchadrezzar.

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VIII. Lydia and Asia Minor — The Balance of Power

55§ 1—3. The countries of Asia Minor independent of Babylon.— §§ 4, 5. Lydia. Kandaules and Gyges. — § 6. Rock-tombs of Lycia. — § 7. Languages of Asia Minor. — § 8. The Hittite element in Asia Minor. — § 9. Indo-European influences. — § 10. Hellas, the Doric migration and Ionian colonies. — § ii. Ionian colonies on the shore of Asia Minor — § 12. Mutual influence of the Greeks and Lydians. — §§ 13, 14. Invention of coinage by the Lydians. — § 15. Aggrandizement of Lydia. — § 16. Her wars against the Greek cities on the sea-shore. — § 17. War between Lydia and Media. ^§ 18. Battle of the Eclipse. Peace and intermarriages.— § 19. Death of Kyaxares.

IX. Babylon the Great — The House Egibi. 223-260

§ I. Little durability of a balance of powers. — § 2. Nebuchadrezzar's fear of Media. — His works of fortification. — § 4. The Median Wall. — § 5. His constructions at Babylon.— § 6. The great walls. — § 7. The great bridge and the embankments. § 8. The new palace. — §§ 9, 10. The Hanging Gardens. — § 11. The temple of Bel-Marduk. — § 12. Legends of Semiramis and Nitokris. — § 13. Nebuchadrezzar's greatness. — § 14. Herodotus' account of some Babylonian customs. — § 15. Discovery of the banking house of Egibi. — § 16. Long duration of the firm. — § 17. Their archive of private transactions. — § 18. Their business operations. — § 19. Legal transactions in property. — §§ 20- 22. Tablets of legal precedents. — § 23, 24. Dignified and independent position of Babylonian women. — § 25. Private letters. — § 26. Reading-books, and children's exercise books, § 27. Late use of cuneiform writing in contract-tablets.

X. Media and the Rise of Persia . . 261-288

§1. Astyages succeeds Kyaxares. His insignificance. — §2. Splendor of Median royalty. — § 3. Columnar architecture via CLASSIFIED CONTENTS.

introduced by the Medes. — §§ 4, 5. The palace at Agbatana. § 5. Uncertainty concerning the Medes. — § 7. The Median tribes, Aryan and un-Aryan. — § 8. The Magi — the priesthood of Media. — § g. Their probable un-Aryan origin. — § 10. Their political power. — § 11. The Perbians. Uncertainty about their origin. — § 12. Persia proper — its climate and productions. Character of the Persians. — § 13. The Persian tribes, Aryan and un-Aryan. Elam and Anshan. § 14. Reunion of the tribes under Akhsemenes. Beginnings of the Persian nation. — § 15. The double line of the Akhsemenian house ; the Anshan line, and the Persian line. § 16. The newly discovered cylinders of Nabonidus and Kyros. — § 17. The Rock and Inscription of Behistun. — § 18. The early Akhnemenian house reconstructed from these documents.

XI. KuRUSH, THE King, the AKHi^MENiAN . 289-332

§§ I, 2. Fall of the Median Empire. — §§ 3, 4. Herodotus' fabulous account of the birth and childhood of Kyros. — § 5. Explanation of the account. — § 6. Probable details. — § 7. Extension of the Persian Empire in the East. — § 8. Kyros' wise rule. Fusion of the Medes and Persians. — § 9. The ruins of Pasargadse, Kyros' royal city in Persia. — § 10. Persian art, as shown in the monuments at Pasat^gadse, imitated from Assyrian art. — § 11. The balance of powers threatened by Kyros. — § 12. Alyattes of Lydia succeeded by Kroisos. — § 13. Kroisos prepares to make war against Kyros, and seeks alliances. — § 14. His embassy and gifts to the Delphic temple. — § 15. Beginning of the war. — § 16, 17. The fall of Sardis and capture of Kroisos. — § 18. Attempted self-immolation of Kroisos. His rescue from the pyre. — § 19. Subjection of the Ionian cities and the rest of Asia Minor. — § 20. First and unsuccessful attack on Babylon. Complete subjection of Elam. Susa one of the capitals of the Persian empire. — § 21. The successors of Nebuchadrezzar at Babylon. Accession of Nabonidus. — § 22. He indisposes the priesthood of Babylon. First and unsuccessful attempt of Kyros. — § 23. The priesthood call

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in Kyros. — § 24. The Jews support him. — § 25. Surrender of Babylon and triumphal entry of Kyros. — § 26. He conciliates the priests and delivers the Jews. — § 27. Obscurity of his last years, and death.

Appendix to Chapter XI. , . , 333-343

The last discoveries at Susa.

XII

§ I. Accession of Kambyses. — § 2. His unfortunate nature and jealousy of his brother Bardiya. — § 3. He plans the conquest of Egypt. — § 4. — Preparations on both sides. — § 5. Assassination of Bardiya. — § 6. Battle of Pelusion and conquest of Egypt. — § 7. — Kambyses' religious tolerance and mild rule in Egypt. — § 8. — His reluctance to return and further campaigns. — § g. Tidings of an impostor personating Bardiya, and of a general revolt. Kambyses confesses his crime and puts an end to his life. — § 10. Record of the event in the Behistun inscription.

XIII. Dareios I., THE Son of Hystaspes. 522-485 B.C

First Period : Civil Wars . , 361-383

§ 1-3. Gaumata the Magian slain by the seven Persian princes. Accession of Dareios I. — § 4. The Behistun inscription on the subject. — § 5. Dareios a Mazdayasnian. — § 6. The Persians not strictly followers of the Vendidad. — § 7. Breaking out of the civil war. — § 8. Revolt of nine provinces. — § 9. Revolt of Media. — § 10. Capture of the Median pretender. — § 11. End of the civil war. — § 12. Sculptures at Behistun. — § 13. List of nations.

XIV

Dareios I. Second Period : Years of Peace, 384-411

§ I. Dareios' wise home rule. — § 2. His system of taxation. § 3. Construction of roads, and institution of a postal ser-

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vice. — § 4. The Nile canal and uniformity of coinage. — § 5. Susa and Persepolis. — § 6. Great platform at Persepolis. § 7. Stairs at Persepolis. — § 8. The palace of Dareios. — § 9. The Hall of Hundred Columns. — § 10. The audience-hall at Susa, in the Book of Esther. — §11. Buildings of Xerxes at Persepolis. — § 12. Conjectures about the walls of the palaces. — § 13. The royal tombs at Persepolis.