ed the cult of the female
principle, and warfare became habitual, the power and role of the female
ruler must have become more and more "shadowy" and finally dwindled to the
utterance of sacred oracles in dark concealed places of retirement and
safety. Ultimately the cult of Ishtar appears to have become absolutely
secret and hidden and shrouded in mystery and darkness. Its priestesses
became the most famous oracle-givers of Assyria who imparted "divine
knowledge concealed from men." In the eighth century B.C., Arbela became
the centre of the cult of Ishtar and "developed a special school of
theology marked by the attempt to accord a superior position to the
goddess. In a series of eight oracles addressed to Esarhaddon six are
given forth by women" (Jastrow, p. 342).

Inevitable as was the disintegration of the original state and religion,
continual efforts appear to have been made even in Babylonia itself, to
check the growth of a debasing ritual and the constant increase of the
gods and goddesses which were installed as the rulers of each new town
that was founded on the plan of the metropolis. Professor Jastrow tells us
that "whenever the kings in their inscriptions mention the regular
sacrifices, it is in almost all cases with reference to their
re-institution of an old custom that had been allowed to fall into neglect
(owing to the political disturbances which always affected the temples)
and not as an innovation" ... (_op. cit._ p. 667). The tablet of Sippara,
on which the image of Shamash is restored by the king on an ancient model,
has already been described and on it appears the four-spoked wheel, the
expressive symbol of a "primitive Sun." The primeval conception of a
single, stable, changeless and central celestial power was evidently
adhered to in ancient Babylonia by a small but faithful minority, and the
constant growth of debasing practices and the manufacture of symbolical
images to which reverence was paid and which were ultimately worshipped,
awakened its constant disapproval and abhorrence. At a remote period we
find the adherents to a stern monotheism establishing the Babylonian
province of

CANAAN.

The following account of the Hebrew religion, translated from Spamer's
work (p. 297) already cited, will be found instructive:

"Originally there was no difference between the religion of the Hebrews
and that of the neighboring tribes. The lord=Baal of Moab was named
Kamosh, that of the Hebrews Yahwe