that the bodies whose remains are unearthed
prove to be those of the original proprietors.

[Illustration: 242.jpg VALLEY OF THE TOMB OF THE KINGS]

[Illustration: 242-text.jpg]

The gods and legends of Chaldaea had penetrated to the countries of
Amauru and Canaan, together with the language of the conquerors and
their system of writing: the stories of Adapa's struggles against the
south-west wind, or of the incidents which forced Irishkigal, queen of
the dead, to wed Nergal, were accustomed to be read at the courts
of Syrian princes. Chaldaean theology, therefore, must have exercised
influence on individual Syrians and on their belief; but although we
are forced to allow the existence of such influence, we cannot define
precisely the effects produced by it. Only on the coast and in the
Phoenician cities do the local religions seem to have become formulated
at a fairly early date, and crystallised under pressure of this
influence into cosmogonie theories. The Baalim and Astartes reigned
there as on the banks of the Jordan or Orontes, and in each town
Baal was "the most high," master of heaven and eternity, creator of
everything which exists, though the character of his creating acts was
variously defined according to time and place. Some regarded him as the
personification of Justice, Sydyk, who established the universe with the
help of eight indefatigable Cabiri. Others held the whole world to be
the work of a divine family, whose successive generations gave birth
to the various elements. The storm-wind, Colpias, wedded to Chaos, had
begotten two mortals, Ulom (Time) and Kadmon (the First-Born), and these
in their turn engendered Qen and Qenath, who dwelt in Phoenicia: then
came a drought, and they lifted up their heads to the Sun, imploring
him, as Lord of the Heavens (_Baalsamin_), to put an end to their woes.
At Tyre it was thought that Chaos existed at the beginning, but chaos
of a dark and troubled nature, over which a Breath (_ruakh_) floated
without affecting it; "and this Chaos had no ending, and it was thus for
centuries and centuries.--Then the Breath became enamoured of its own
principles, and brought about a change in itself, and this change was
called Desire:--now Desire was the principle which created all things,
and the Breath knew not its own creation.--The Breath and Chaos,
therefore, became united, and Mot the Clay was born, and from this clay
sprang all the seed of creation, and Mot was the father