Introduction. VII 



has preached at all times and in all climes moderation and 

 so also in the ancient Orient. The morality of the ancient 

 Near East was, after all, not much inferior to our modern 

 morality, only customs have become more refined. Examples 

 of very lofty ideals are found quite early both in Babylonia 

 and in Egypt. 



If the history of mankind should really teach us absolutely 

 nothing-, it teaches us at least this one thing, that mankind 

 has by no means kept equal pace in its intellectual and moral 

 development. Even though we may have become wiser, we 

 certainly have not improved very much morally. Therefore 

 we should not sit in judgement over the ancient Orientals, but 

 should rejoice with them in our journey through their world, 

 in which we see them engaged in preparing the precious juice 

 of the grape and in the brewing of beer, in order to gladden 

 their hearts at festivals and to drive away the dull cares of 

 every-day life. Perhaps after the perusal of this book there 

 may arise in the minds of some of its readers the painful 

 thousfht: 



^tj* 



Sic transit gloria mundi! 



