6 Fish Stories 



common in mythology. It doubtless arose from the imagi- 

 nation of some ancient who had seen a seal, or some similar 

 animal, splashing about the surf. A fish-head god, Oannes, 

 is mentioned by Berosus the Chaldean, who describes 

 Oannes as being similar to the Greek Cronos. Clay repre- 

 sentations of this god have been found at Khorsabad as 

 well; and some of the most beautiful seals and gems of 

 early times bear the picture of Oannes, or Hea. Berosus 

 describes this fish-like man as follows: 



" In the beginning there were in Babylon a great num- 

 ber of men of various races, who had colonized Chaldea. 

 They lived without laws, after the manner of animals. But 

 in the first year there appeared, coming out of the Erythrian 

 Sea (Persian Gulf) on the coast where it borders Baby- 

 lonia, an animal endowed with reason, named Oannes. He 

 had all the body of a fish, but below the head of the fish, 

 another head, which was that of a man ; also the feet of a 

 man, which came out of its fish's tail. He had a human 

 voice, and its image is preserved to this day. This animal 

 passed the daytime among men, taking no nourishment. 

 It taught them the use of letters, of sciences, and of arts of 

 every kind ; the rules for the foundation of towns, and the 

 building of temples, the principles of laws and geometry, 

 the sowing of seeds, and the harvest; in one word, it gave 

 to men all that conduced to the enjoyment of life. Since 

 that time, nothing excellent has been invented. At the time 

 of sunset, this monster Oannes, threw itself into the sea, 

 and passed the night beneath the waves, for he was am- 

 phibious. He wrote a book upon the beginning of all things, 

 and of civilization, whiGh he left to mankind." 



Pictures of this god are found on the rocks at Nimroud, 

 Helladice and Hyginus. Old writers tell the story again, 

 but, calling the fish god Oes and Euahanes. Alexander 

 Polyhistor states that similar figures were to be seen in the 

 temple of Belus at Babylon. When the palace of Khorsabad 

 was excavated, the story of the expedition of Sargon, the 



