The Semitic folks were not so highly thought of in the early Sumerian period.  It is not likely that the agricultural people regarded as models of gods the plunderers who descended from the hills, and, after achieving successes, returned home with their spoils.  More probably they regarded them as “foreign devils”.  Other Semites, however, who came as traders, bringing wood, stone, and especially copper, and formed communities in cities, may well have influenced Sumerian religious thought.  The god Ramman, for instance, who was given recognition all through Babylonia, was a god of hill folks as far north as Asia Minor and throughout Syria.  He may have been introduced by settlers who adopted Sumerian habits of life and shaved scalp and face.  But although the old cities could never have existed in a complete state of isolation from the outer world, it is unlikely that their inhabitants modelled their deities on those worshipped by groups of aliens.  A severe strain is imposed on our credulity if we are expected to believe that it was due to the teachings and example of uncultured nomads that the highly civilized Sumerians developed their gods from composite monsters to anthropomorphic deities.  Such a supposition, at any rate, is not supported by the evidence of Ancient Egypt.

CHAPTER VII.

CREATION LEGEND:  MERODACH THE DRAGON SLAYER

Elder Spirits of the Primordial Deep—­Apsu and the Tiamat Dragon—­Plot to Destroy the Beneficent Gods—­Ea overcomes Apsu and Muminu—­The Vengeful Preparations of the Dragon—­Anshar’s Appeal to Merodach—­The Festival of the High Gods—­Merodach exalted as Ruler of the Universe—­Dragon slain and Host taken captive—­Merodach rearranges the Pantheon—­Creation of Man—­Merodach as Asari—­The Babylonian Osiris—­The Chief Purpose of Mankind—­Tiamat as Source of Good and Evil—­The Dragon as the Serpent or Worm—­Folk Tale aspect of Creation Myth—­British Neolithic Legends—­German and Egyptian Contracts—­Biblical references to Dragons—­The Father and Son theme—­Merodach and Tammuz—­Monotheistic Tendency—­Bi-sexual Deities.

In the beginning the whole universe was a sea.  Heaven on high had not been named, nor the earth beneath.  Their begetter was Apsu, the father of the primordial Deep, and their mother was Tiamat, the spirit of Chaos.  No plain was yet formed, no marsh could be seen; the gods had no existence, nor had their fates been determined.  Then there was a movement in the waters, and the deities issued forth.  The first who had being were the god Lachmu and the goddess Lachamu.  Long ages went past.  Then were created the god Anshar and the goddess Kishar.  When the days of these deities had increased and extended, they were followed by Anu, god of the sky, whose consort was Anatu; and Ea, most wise and all-powerful, who was without an equal.  Now Ea, god of the deep, was also Enki, “lord of earth”, and his eternal spouse, Damkina, was Gashan-ki, “lady of earth”.  The son of Ea and Damkina was Bel, the lord, who in time created mankind.[152] Thus were the high gods established in power and in glory.