Nevertheless, it is anticipated that it will be to the modern reader who loves the romance of antiquity that this book will especially appeal. It is claimed that the greater part of Chaldean romance clusters around the wonderful mythology and religion of that land; it is therefore of these departments of Chaldean lore that this volume chiefly treats. But the history of Babylonia and Assyria has not been neglected. The great names in its records will be found to recur constantly in these pages, in most instances accompanied by a tale or legend which will illuminate the circumstances of their careers and serve to retain these in the mind of the reader. Nor has the Biblical connexion with Chaldea been forgotten; the reader will find as he proceeds frequent references to the pages of the most picturesque Book in the world. L. S. CONTENTS I. BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA IN HISTORY AND LEGEND II. BABYLONIAN COSMOGONY III. EARLY BABYLONIAN RELIGION IV. THE GILGAMESH EPIC V. THE LATER PANTHEON OF BABYLONIA VI. THE GREAT GOD MERODACH AND HIS CULT VII. THE PANTHEON OF ASSYRIA VIII. BABYLONIAN STAR-WORSHIP IX. THE PRIESTHOOD, CULT, AND TEMPLES X. THE MAGIC AND DEMONOLOGY OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA XI. THE MYTHOLOGICAL MONSTERS AND ANIMALS OF CHALDEA XII. TALES OF THE BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN KINGS XIII. THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN RELIGIONS XIV. MODERN EXCAVATION IN BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA XV. THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS GLOSSARY AND INDEX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS