The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-09-10
cuneiferm Document Of Babylon.

| prepared by the National Geographic 30
ciety Warrington D. CO
The loss of a pen today Is not Of
much consequence; but If one Of oul
pens could be found in perfect con
dition 1000 years from now it might
tell the scholars of that future day
many interesting things about our civ
ilization. Archeologists dug up a few
weeks ago on the site of ancient Kish
near Babylon. the oldest known pen
in the world, and it has helped to
piece out fascinating picture of life
in that region where man probably
first built cities and lived an ordered,
law-guided existence.
One has a tendency to look upon
this old civilization az little known to
the modern world. But thanks to
pens" such Sd the bone stylus recent
ly unearthed i'll MesOpotamia and the
unfading and ineradicable marks
which they made on soft clay, subse-
quently baked, we know more Of the
history of certain eras In Babylonia
and Assyria than we do of that Of
many comparatively modern states.
One of the surprises these clay
documents afford are the striking like
nesses of a civilization of 1000 years
ago to that of the Twentieth century.
One scholar AYERS that "a right-think-
ing citizen of a modern city would
probably feel more at home in ancient
Babylon than in medieval Europe"
Another astounding revelation of
these writings is that Israel, instead
of being one of the foremost nations
of antiquity, was small power, rela-
lively inconspicuous. Moreover, in
stead of the patriarch, Abraham, be-
longing to the beginning of time, hui
manly considered, it is now found that
he occupies middle chapter in the
history of mankind.
Tablets Reliable Records.
In one respect the historian Of these
early times has an advantage over
his colleague who seeks details In
documents written on paper. The
baked and sun-dried tablets Of the
Babylonlans may be hard to decipher
but, when read, they are Original
sources" reliable, and not altered or
revised by subsequent generations.
The well-kneaded clay, which had
been washed to free 1t from grit and
sand, while in plastic condition was
shaped into the form and size desired.
AS the style of paper used at the
present time is frequently an indica-
ton of the character Of the writing,
the same is true, In a general way, Of
an ancient Babylonian clay tablet or
cylinder In most instances the
trained Assyriologist at glance can
determine the character in general
way, Of an inscription by Its shape
or appearance.
The stylus with which these re-
cuneiform records were
made is seen at its best In the recent |
discovery at Kish. That implement |
Is q little rod Of bone about six |
inches long. triangular in cross-sec-
lion, cut off sharply at one end so
hat when this end was pressed into
lamp clay 1t left wedge-shaped i'm
)ressions.
The civilization that these little
hree-cornered jabs picture for us Is
Life was about as thor
,ughly organized and carefully regu-
ated as our own. Even the Ills Of
present day civilization existed in
Raids on gay road-house
,arties were common. Wine selling
vas regulated and the enforcement
vas put squarely up to the vender.
A maid might sue for breach Of
,romise, a landholder had to pay a
Ieavier tax II he did not cultivate his
llotment, guardians were provided
or estates of widows and orphans.
Formal contracts and deeds had to
re attested by notary, and in swear
ny the person taking the oath raised
is right hand An official copy Of the
on clay tablet, with the
otary's attestation was deposited In
he temple, the court house Of those
avs.
Interest Rates Were High.
There was an excellent reason for
ayins ene's rent promptly In Baby