The Roots of Judaism - Essay Example

In addition, knowledge about Babylon for a long time was scooped from the sacred books of Judaism and Christianity, as well as from the works of ancient authors, the appearance of the well-known tales about the Tower of Babel, the confusion of languages, the Hanging Gardens, the legendary queens Semiramis and Nitokris and other personalities which really existed - Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, etc are not surprising.

Under the Babylonian influence were formed ideas about angels and demons, as well as was created the belief in the resurrection of the dead and in the image of Satan was personified the world evil.Thus, particular attention on the development of Assyria and Babylonia religions should be paid, as they have much in common: Assyrian and Babylonian religious system fundamentals and almost all the deities have similar roots. Religious texts (hymns in honor of the gods, ritual prescriptions, etc.) which were found in the library of Assurbanipal as well as in other storerooms of Assyria, very often repeated Babylonian ones – sometimes just short mark in the end of the manuscript indicate that they were used by the Assyrian priests.

Of course, to some extent the local features imposed their marks on religious ideas, images of gods and goddesses, as well as on the rituals. Some impact on Jewish religious system, which was perceived from the Babylonians and partly inherited from the Sumerians, had characteristics of a tribe, an environment of a territory they occupied and historical destiny of the country. But all these borrowings were not mechanical; on the contrary, they were creatively processed.So the harmony in the name of the Babylonian and Assyrian sun god Shamash with the name of Hanukkah candle (which emerged later) is not surprising: they both had to dispel the darkness of expulsion (Hillel 44).

God Shamash in the prayers and hymns is called the king, a healer, a righteous judge. He gives fertility to fields and welfare to people; he frees prisoners and even raises the dead. At the same time, Hanukkah – is The Festival of Light and strength of the Jewish spirit. Sure, the attributes of the luminiferous Assyrian and Babylonian god Shamash could be transferred on the divine Hanukkah candle.Thus, Ancient mythology transformed smoothly into the modern religious practices. That is why much is still hidden from us, so we not always understand the ancient origin of our beliefs.