Myths of Babylonia and Assyria


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(3.7 stars; 48 reviews)

Donald Alexander Mackenzie (1873 – March 2, 1936) was a Scottish journalist and prolific writer on religion, mythology and anthropology in the early 20th century. His works included Indian Myth and Legend, Celtic Folklore and Myths of China and Japan.
As well as writing books, articles and poems, he often gave lectures, and also broadcast talks on Celtic mythology.

This volume deals with the myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria, and as these reflect the civilization in which they developed, a historical narrative has been provided, beginning with the early Sumerian Age and concluding with the periods of the Persian and Grecian Empires. Over thirty centuries of human progress are thus passed under review.
(Summary extracted from Wikipedia and the Preface of this book) (16 hr 13 min)

Chapters

00 - Preface 14:07 Read by Adam Tomkins
01 - Introduction 32:52 Read by Stephanie Lee
02 - Chapter 1: The Races and Early Civilization of Babylonia 33:44 Read by Caeliveres
03 - Chapter 2: The Land of Rivers and the God of the Deep 33:58 Read by zcameo
04 - Chapter 3: Rival Pantheons and Representative Deities 37:34 Read by Marilyn Mack
05 - Chapter 4: Demons, Fairies, and Ghosts 35:03 Read by Becky Cook
06 - Chapter 5: Myths of Tammuz and Ishtar 59:53 Read by JoeD
07 - Chapter 6: Wars of the City States of Sumer and Akkad (Part 1) 24:58 Read by Ann Boulais
08 - Chapter 6: Wars of the City States of Sumer and Akkad (Part 2) 31:57 Read by Ann Boulais
09 - Chapter 7: Creation Legend: Merodach the Dragon Slayer 45:22 Read by Caeliveres
10 - Chapter 8: Deified Heroes: Etana and Gilgamesh 39:35 Read by Dennis Blake
11 - Chapter 9: Deluge Legend, the Island of the Blessed, and Hades 47:35 Read by Caeliveres
12 - Chapter 10: Buildings and Laws and Customs of Babylon 36:59 Read by Kalynda
13 - Chapter 11: The Golden Age of Babylonia 33:35 Read by Jean Bascom
14 - Chapter 12: Rise of the Hittites, Mitannians, Kassites, Hyksos, and Assyri… 48:18 Read by janesandberg
15 - Chapter 13: Astrology and Astronomy (Part 1) 48:12 Read by JoeD
16 - Chapter 13: Astrology and Astronomy (Part 2) 40:19 Read by JoeD
17 - Chapter 14: Ashur the National God of Assyria (Part 1) 25:41 Read by Becky Cook
18 - Chapter 14: Ashur the National God of Assyria (Part 2) 26:24 Read by Becky Cook
19 - Chapter 15: Conflicts for Trade and Supremacy 32:55 Read by Stephanie Lee
20 - Chapter 16: Race Movements that Shattered Empires 30:15 Read by Stephanie Lee
21 - Chapter 17: The Hebrews in Assyrian History 43:00 Read by janesandberg
22 - Chapter 18: The Age of Semiramis 51:13 Read by janesandberg
23 - Chapter 19: Assyria's Age of Splendour (Part 1) 36:39 Read by Examinfo
24 - Chapter 19: Assyria's Age of Splendour (Part 2) 36:12 Read by Ann Boulais
25 - Chapter 20: The Last Days of Assyria and Babylonia 47:38 Read by Leda

Reviews

Not a beginner's introduction.


(1 stars)

I'm not sure why the title says Babylonian and Assyrian because the author jumps around a lot, with slightly more focus on the above mentioned groups. I wanted to hear their actual myths, not suddenly jump to comparisons and interpretation until I had a good understanding of the story. I would not recommend this book, unless someone was already familiar with the myths and would find the outdated anthropological terms of "savage" and "primitive" kind of amusing. I would have loved the book if he'd just tell me the myth, then the interpretation, and then similarity to other myths.

listen for the information and knowledge


(3 stars)

The audio levels are a little shabby. Especially from near raider near raider, but the information quite valuable.


(4 stars)

Text is great - I do wish it was one reader throughout, but it is really a great listen!

MYTHS OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA.


(5 stars)

EXCELLENT, VERY INFORMITIVE AND ENTERTAINING. I LIKED THE STORY VERY MUCH. MS. SAGITTARIUS.


(3 stars)

uneven quality of reading made it at times painful to listen to

listened to this book at least 20 times...and STILL learn someth


(5 stars)


(5 stars)

This is an excellent book on comparative myths of the Ancient Near East. It’s a book that was targeted to Assyriologists and the select contingent of the public that was already self-educated on the subject. If you are unfamiliar with Marduk, Tammuz, Ištar, and Osiris, then this is not the book for you. If you are put off by the use of dated vocabulary that was appropriate at the time, but is not in use in academia today (e.g. “savage”), then this is not the book for you. For everyone else, it’s a wonderful book that makes broad, lateral connections across cultures of the ANE.