xiv OBITUARY NOTICES. 



These investigations led to one interesting discovery after another, 

 resulting in many contributions being made to our journals on the 

 subject of hepatoscopy or liver divination, and astrology, in Baby- 

 lonia and Assyria. Only those who have worked in cognate fields 

 can appreciate the amazing industry that such a monumental and 

 herculean effort required. There can be no question but that Jastrow 

 made himself the leading authority in the world on the religion of 

 the Babylonians and Assyrians. 



In 191 1 he published "Aspects of Religious Beliefs and Practices 

 in Babylonia and Assyria," which were the "American Lectures on 

 the History of Religion," delivered at various institutions. In this 

 work he summarized his investigations bearing upon the subject in 

 a popular and readable form. 



In 191 5 Jastrow published a noteworthy volume, beautifully illus- 

 trated, on " The Civilization of the Babylonians and Assyrians," 

 which is a survey of the entire subject on a larger scale for English 

 readers than had previously been attempted. The work exhibits the 

 comprehensive knowledge of the subject which the author possessed. 



In his " Religion of the Babylonians and Assyrians " his presenta- 

 tion of the Gilgamesh Epic was distinctly an advance upon anything 

 on the subject at that time. One of his latest contributions to 

 Assyriology is entitled " An Old Babylonian Version of the Gil- 

 gamesh Epic," in the production of which the present writer, as joint 

 author, took a minor part. It is a source of no little gratification to 

 him to have been thus identified with the work of his lamented teacher, 

 colleague and friend. 



Jastrow's contributions in the subject of Hebrew and the Old 

 Testament are also numerous. One of his early noteworthy papers 

 in this field is entitled " Hebrew Proper Names Compounded with Yah 

 and Yahu." Later researches show that in this work he had a re- 

 markable appreciation of Semitic nomenclature. Article after article 

 appeared in the Old Testament field, based upon a new interpretation 

 of the text, or a comparative study of Semitic beliefs, practices, and 

 modes of thought; these researches culminated in a valuable volume 

 entitled "Hebrew and Babylonian Traditions," being the Haskell 

 Lectures, delivered at Oberlin College, in 191 3. 



