The seven evil spirits illustrate well the way in which a moral signification may come to be attached to what was originally a purely physical myth. They are frequently mentioned in the literature of ancient Accad. Thus the twenty-third book, on eclipses of the moon, of the great work on astronomy compiled for Sargon of Agané, states that: “When the moon shall describe a section (in) the upper circle (of its revolution), the gods of heaven and earth bring about dearth of men (and) their overthrow; and (there is) eclipse, inundation, sickness, (and) death; the seven great spirits before the moon are broken.” Elsewhere, an Accadian hymn, which has an interlinear Assyrian translation attached to it, speaks as follows of these dreaded spirits:— 1. Seven (they) are, seven they (are). 2. In the abyss of the deep seven they (are). 3. The splendours of heaven (are) those seven. 4. In the abyss of the deep, (in) a palace, (was) their growth. 5. Male they (are) not, female they (are) not. [The Accadian text, in accordance with the respect paid to women in Accad, reverses this order.] 6. As for them, the deep (is) their binder. 7. Wife they have not, son is not born to them. 8. Reverence (and) kindness know they not. 9. Prayer and supplication hear they not. 10. (Among) the thorns (?) on the mountain (was) their growth. 11. To Hea are they foes. 12. The throne-bearers of the gods (are) they. 13. Destroying the roads on the paths are they set. 14. Wicked (are) they, wicked (are) they; 15. seven (are) they, seven (are) they, seven twice again (are) they. Another Accadian poet, who lived at Eridu, the supposed site of Paradise, at the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates, has left another account of the Seven wicked spirits in the hymn to the fire-god mentioned above. He says of them:— 1. O god of fire, those seven how were they begotten, how grew they up? 2. Those seven in the mountain of the sunset were born; 3. those seven in the mountain of the sunrise grew up. 4. In the deep places of the earth have they their dwelling. 5. In the high places of the earth have they their name. 6. As for them, in heaven and earth wide is their habitation. 7. Among the gods their couch they have not. 8. Their name in heaven (and) earth exists not. 9. Seven they (are); in the mountain of the sunset do they rise. 10. Seven they (are); in the mountain of the sunrise did they set. 11. In the deep places of the earth did they rest their feet. 12. On the high places of the earth do they lift up their head. 13. As for them, goods they know not, in heaven (and) earth are they not learned.