The Dickinson press., 1888-11-17
BABYLONIAN BELIEF
CONCERNING THE MYSTERIES OF
THE LIFE AFTER DEATH.

DR.. Jercmias' Ecsearches-"Thc Land from
Which There Is No Return" Pictured a.,
Dark and Checrlcss-Tllc Present Life.
Funeral Rites.
DR.. Jeremias sets forth the conceptions
which We're current several thousand years
ago among the inhabitants of Mesopotamia
regarding the fate of the dead. lie has col
lected with commendabie diligence the I'm.
portant references in the Babylono Assyrian
literature bearing Oh this subject. Without
claiming to have exhausted the topic lie has
produced Il work which must be regarded us
thoroughly trustworthy--a merit 10y no
means so common III the works of AsSyriolo-
Gists as not To call for special mention.
THE NEITHER REGIONS.
According TO the Babylonians, there was
only one path which all mankind had to
tread after death. Deep in the bowels OF the
earth, underneath n huge mountain known
as the Mountain of the Universe which
was supposed to be situated in tho distant
north, lay the place where the dead We're
gathered. Separated from the ;.:it! of the
living by the waters of DEATH" there was
no hope for those who cnce entered it OF ever
retlacing their steps. 1t was therefore ap-
proprlately termed among other names. the
land from which there is no rcturn" The
land was pictured rs dark aud cherries, the
inhabitants, far from being content with
their lot, were supposed TO be longing for Il
sight of the upper world again. There are
no indications that the Babylonians looked
upon death as Il delivercr from evils. On the
contrary, the day of death WAS To them II
day of SORROW and the dead themselves
arc represented rs bewailing Their fate.
The moment that the deceased reaches the
shores Of the neither world his coming Is an
nounced to Nersal. the ruler of these REGIONS
he is then conducted through seven Gates. a:
each OF which he is obliged to lay aside Il
portion of his clothing, until, having happily
passed the seventh gate he stands naked be-
fore the Divine Judge. Nergal, and his con
sort, Allatn. There Judgment is pronounced
over him. Namtar, the demon of plaques.
is i'll readiness to remove the condemned to Il
place of special tortreS where painful dis
ease and privations Of all kinds rob him OF
his rest But even those who escape the ire
of the god are not much better of They
dwell i'll 4 place of darkness, With dust as
their food and with no pleasures to cheer
their spirits. Only the few favoritcs Of the
gods, that is, the popular heroes, We're ac-
corded more happy lot. They were re
moved by special decree to un island
vaguely described us lying ut thr "conllIx of
waters, where n seat is assigned to tn, IN IN
the assemblage of gods and they enjoy eternal
life.
LIFE AND DEATH.
The present life was accordingly considered
the all-importaut one by the Bahyloniuns,
and their relig ion bears witucss to this CON
cepton. The-dcities to whom prayers are
addressed are looked upon as god, of the liz,
ing and not of the dead. Tho petitions to the
gods, such as we tird il the cuneilorn. !ltcr:i-
ture, are concerned almost exclusively with
earthly blessings. The king, ask for n long
life, for sound health for victory over their
enemies, for numerous offspring, and for
an uninterrupted rule OF their dynasty With
death the favor OF the gods was Supposed to
cease and all relations between man am! ,lcil V
came to an end. The Bahy!omiaus rc-cchori
the sentiments of the Psalml,t that "tAo dead
do not praise Jah." Although the mos: recent
excavations in the mounds of Babylon would
seem to have established it beyond anv reason-
able doubt that the Bahvionans IN vory carly
days already burned Their dead, still Tie ttsti
mony of language points to buria! in the
clTlH as lIe olnci' form Ol I!>IlpnInt, u t!lHl
1t is on this supp",itlon a.ono that Wc run
account for the survival i'll late cunctorn
literature of such phrases Us May he have no
BURIAL" which continued to bet about Us s.'scre
Il curse as coulll he hlrlel AGAINST an "hrlny.
and is in itself sufficient to suuw hat The Wcl
fare of The dead, little as there WIS in store
for them, depended upon the proper obacrv
ance of funeral rites
The practice of placing food and tlrinA on.
the graves, which is found among so mluy
nations of antiquity, and has srgviVel to our
own days in China, Russia and other coun-
tries, also existed among tn BABY .onl;lns. 1t
has its origin no doubt in The Dei!et that lMe
dead have need OF these articles Jut the Gus
tom continued to be observed long after TIN,
belief had died out. Even the introduction
OF cremation brought abou. 10 change, fo:
with the clarred remains Of human bodies
discovered under the mound, there liv, be, "A
found the still recognizable traces of food
Dr.. Jerenias dsmsses this portion Of his
subject, regarding tie funeral rit3s OF the
Babylonians and .lssyrians, with few re
marks.-New York Times Boo; Rev!.w