Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-12-08
Liz in 1,ahrlonia and Assyria.

It is now known that the standard
of private morality was high, ootn III
Babylon and Assyria. The Babylon
ians had passed far beyond the stase
of making the satisfaction Of ones own
desires the standard OF right anu
wrong. Their kings prided them
selves upon being the promoters OF
justice. Even the Assyrian rulers, who
seemed, while conducting their wars
to be bereft Of all the soft emotlons'
declare that their highest aim Is to
spread plenty and happiness. SIENNA
cherlb calls himself king who loves
righteousness, and he. as well as
many a predecessor, busted himself In
making good the rights Of those OF his
subjects who had been wrongfully de-
prived of their possessions. The legal
and commercial tablets prove that due
consideration was given to the treat
ment of women, the most satisfactory
index of high ethical conditions. she
could hold property and dispose Of 1t.
Before the courts her status did not
differ materially from that of men. A
husband could not divorce his wife
without sufficient cause, and children
owed obedience to the mother as well
as to the father. Polygamy, no doubt,
prevailed, but according to some able
writer's, it must be deemed an error
to suppose that polygamy in ancient
times was inconsistent with high
ideals Of family life Such vices as
adultery, hatred, lying, cheating, and
tnsincerity, together with the use OF
false measures and the removal OF
landmarks, are denounced in the in
cantation texts, and in accordance
with this standard, are to be found in
the records Of lawsuits and agreements
between parties clear indications OF
the stringent laws enacted for the pur-
pose OF protecting citizens against In
Engagements of their rights. It Is q
testimony to the prevalence of a sense
of justice in Assyria that Ashurbana-
bal lays emphasis upon the fact that
he established ordinances to the end
that the strong might do no harm to
the weak. 1t is true that the institu-
ton of slavery flourished in Babylonia
| and Assyria throughout all periods OF
| their history There were various
grades of slaves, however. Some
grades differed but little from servants
| indentured for longer or shorter pc
Rod and expected to render certain
specified services. The temple attend
ants seemed to have belonged mostly
to this class. A benign treatment OF
slaves was enjoined and was the rule.
Slaves were often the confidential
agents of their masters, and attended
to the business affairs of the latter
Slaves are found holding property in
their own right. Contracts entered
into by them were binding. Injuries
inflicted upon them by their master.
were punished, and they were protect
ed against losses and mishaps encoun
tered while in service. We observe
finally, that while there is no evidence
to show that the laws of Assyria were
on lower ethical plane than those o.
Babylonla, still it may be assumed thai
as the Assyrians were the pupils ane
imitators Of the Babylonians In almos
everything pertaining to civilization
and religion, the general tone OF life
In Assyria was scarcely as high as II
the south. The warlike spirit OF thu
rulers was probably but symptom
Of the fiercer character of the people.