The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-06-13
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vations about the dwellings of the middle classes
While German research has definitely fixed the
location of the Tower of Babel the origin Of the
biblical story of the confusion OF tongues has
not been found in Babylon. That 1t is a world
myth is the conclusion of scholars. 1t is inter
esting to note that similar legend is found N
Central America in connection with the pyramid
of Cholula which was also intended to reach
the heavens and which brought disaster to its
builders
But IL this legend has not been verified by re-
search the discoveries which have rewarded the
labors of explorers and archaeoogists in Baby
lonia have been many and of the highest value
Innumerable tablets have been collected which
when decphered will throw light upon civiza
ton which born than six thousand
years ago. The oldest temple in the world has
been unearthed at Bisya. Large square blocks
have been discovered which date back to the
reign of Sargon l., $500 years before Christ.
Even older is platform built of the peculiar
convex bricks used in B. G. $500. Inscriptions
on bricks found in the temple at Bisya are
stamped with the name of Dungl, b. c. 1850 A
crumpled piece OF gold bears the name of Param
Sim. B. G. 1850. So much for the age of the
antiquities of Babylon. The best preserved edi
hce Of ancient Babylon thus far unearthed IS
the gate of the goddess Ishtar. Of which the ma
sonry remains we'll nigh perfect after two thou
sand years of neglect
What is even more interesting to the general
public modern research is making the Baby.
lonians live again after thousands of years.
Much is known of their daily life, their aims
and occupations. their religious ceremonies. 1t is
possible to reconstruct something of the life Of
the prophet Daniel in Babylon. 1t is possible TO
follow the course of procession in honor OF
the god Marduk through the gate of Ishtar to the
palace OF Northumberland The sepultures OF
the people and Of the princes have been laid
open.
Everywhere the walls OF buildings are TO
be representations OF the bull which was
the sacred animal of Babylon
Though II is uncertain whether the ancient
Babylonians were more civilized than their
Egyptian contemporaries there is but little doubt
that they were the pioneers. OF civilization in
the whole OF western Asia before Greece and
Rome came to the front Four thousand years
b. G. their system OF writing had already been
developed. and applied also the Semitic Baby
lonian tongue. Fourteen hundred years b. c.
as the Tellel-Amarna tablets testify its use ex
tended over the whole of western Asia as far
as the Mediterranean and Egypt. Though not
warlike people the Babylonians possessed
more than once what might have been described
at the time worldwide empire They were
energetic, intelligent polished in their way and
fond of letters. Excellent sculptures and en-
cravings on hard stone exist to testify to theiI
skill and artistic instincts. Representations OF
musical instruments imply also that the art OF
harmony was not altogether unknown to them
To this must be added agriculture. mensuration
and mathematics, such as they were, and thelr