STORY OF THE CHALDEAN MYTH 317 



But are we compelled to admit anything of the sort ? 

 And would it not be well before doing so to inquire a little 

 more closely into the credentials and character, of the 

 Chaldean story ? We have seen that the tablets on 

 which it occurs were found in King Assurbanipal's 

 library, and it is fairly certain that they were copied from 

 others much older preserved in the ancient city of Erecb, 



FIG. 96. Gizdubar and the Lion. British Museum. From 

 " Chaldea," Story of the Nations. 



the city of books. It is, indeed, probable that -the tablets 

 in Erech may date from the time of King Khammarubi, 

 or from about 2350 B.C. The tablets present themselves, 

 therefore, with good recommendations, and we proceed 

 to the character of the story itself. It does not occur 

 alone, but as one chapter out of twelve in a long poem of 

 about three thousand lines, concerning the adventures of 



