A CHALDEAN ACCOUNT OF THE DELUGE

 One of the most remarkable incidents of the month has been the story told at a meeting of the Biblical Archaeological Society by Mr. George Smith—a Chaldean version of the Deluge. It is now some 25 years since Mr. Layard transferred from Assyria to London the winged bulls and graven slabs on which, in cruciform characters, is written much of the early history of the world. The hieroglyphics could not for a time be deciphered, but at length, by the help of a Persian slab, Sir Henry Rawlinson constructed a vocabulary by which the arrow-headed writing could be interpreted. Mr. George Smith, an accomplished archaeologist, set to work, and has, after many years' labor at the old Assyrian tablets, brought out a legend of the Deluge 4,000 years old, which remarkably corresponds with the story in the Book of Genesis. The following condensed analysis of Mr. Smith's remarkable paper is given in a weekly journal :—

The story begins with the life and doings of the great King Izdubar, a potentate who probably lived and flourished very shortly after the flood had ceased, and the world had become in a measure repeopled. Covered with glory, happily married, sovereign of Erech, Izdubar is, however, mortal, and as the seeds of death begin to assert themselves in his system, he is like the rest of humanity then, and now, mightily disturbed. He learns, however, that one Sisit, who lives somewhere near the mouth of the Euphrates, has learnt the secret of immortality, and anxious to benefit, if possible, by the experience and advice of this fortunate being, he, in company with a pilot, sets sail to find him. After a voyage of a month and fifteen days he arrives at the " Waters of Death," discerns Sisit on the other side thereof, and with him discourses. He is first of all informed that "the Goddess Mamitu, the maker of fate to them their fate has appointed ; she has fixed life and death, but of death a day is not known." Izdubar then demands to know how it was that Sisit has been made a great exception to the general rule, and to him the immortal one relates the story of the Deluge, his own piety and subsequent reward.

It is here the strange story opens, and at once the similarity of the legend with the Biblical record is apparent. Men have sinned, the great God is angry. Sisit is informed that "He will destroy sinners and life," and receives the command to build a great ship, and to cause to go into it the seed of all life. The length and breadth of the vessel, though now undecipherable, are detailed by the Deity; and then comes the first great difference. Sisit is to launch the vessel. The fact is that the Babylonians were a maritime people, and that whereas in the Biblical record, written by and for an inland race, which knew nothing of the sea, mentions no pilot, and speaks not of launching, both these points are given in the Chaldean story, and even the ship is tried before her great voyage begins. More than this, the writer of the Jewish story, knowing nothing of ships, calls the vessel an ark or box, while the Chaldean historian, being acquainted with vessels and sea-craft, describes the medium of safety as a huge closed ship. Very detailed is the story as it proceeds. Sisit discovers leaks on the trial of the vessel, but with measures of bitumen fills those up. He builds an altar for an offering, roofs the ship with reeds, collects the seed of life, makes his family enter the vessel, and drives the beasts of the field into it also. Then he enters and "shuts the door," giving the helm to a pilot (not mentioned in the Holy Scriptures), and the rains begin to descend. A discrepancy here again occurs in the time given as to the duration of the storm. Sisit's flood only lasts seven days. Of its violence and general character, however, there can be no doubt. " The bright earth to a waste was turned; it swept, it destroyed all life from the face of the earth. The strong tempest over the people reached to heaven, Brother saw not his brother; it did not spare the people. In heaven the gods feared the tempest, and sought refuge." Ishlar now intercedes for man: " I have begotten man; let him not, like the sons of fishes, fill the sea." At length a calm ensues ; the ship is resting on the Mount Nizir, and a dove is sent forth. But Sisit's dove does no service, and a swallow is then dispatched, to return, however; a raven at last being dispatched, and staying away altogether. Then were the animals liberated, and sent forth to the four winds; an altar is built; the gods assemble at the burning of the sacrifice; the "Great God" also being present. Bel, the warrior god, at whose instance it appears the Deluge came, is somewhat blamed for the destruction he has caused. It is, however, announced, as in the Biblical record, that in future no such calamity shall occur, the god Hea addressing Bel in the following words, which clearly refer to such a promise :—

Thou prince of the gods warrior,

When thou wast angry a tempest thou madest,

The doer of sin did his sin; the doer of evil did

his evil.

May be exalted, not be broken; may be captive,

not be delivered.

Instead of thee making a tempest, may lions

increase and men be reduced.

Instead of thee making a tempest, may leopards

increase and men be reduced ;

Instead of thee making a tempest, may a famine

happen, and the country be destroyed

Instead of thee making a tempest,
may pestilence increase, and men be destroyed.

Sisit and his wife are then purified, and become immortal.

This discovery, or rather the success of this deciphering process, has produced so profound an interest that the Daily Telegraph, with great enterprise, has sent out Mr. Smith to Assyria to investigate the Assyrian mounds, regardless of expense. There seems to be no doubt much of the world's ancient history remains there imbedded, to await the result of patient research. It is not unlikely that Mr. Smith will be able both to find and decipher these precious memorials of the past which lie buried in the valleys of the Euphrates and Tigris. As that gentleman says, in a communication to the Daily Telegraph :— " The literature of Assyria has already thrown a remarkable light on the Bible story, and with renewed discovery must still largely and usefully illustrate and explain it. In effect, many questions as to the religions, arts, and sciences of antiquity, and the early history of the human race, can be solved only by renewed researches in the vast mines of the Euphrates valley."

Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), Tuesday 18 February 1873, page 3