Page 36 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies

most of us lock our doors when we
leave the house. Locks and keys
were invented in Assyria. They
also invented a system that kept
time and ascribed 360 degrees to
a circle. They are given credit for
inventing paved roads, the first
postal system, the first use of iron,
the first libraries, the first
plumbing, flush toilets, and
aqueducts. They came up with the
first governmental administration
of dividing territories ruled by local
governors reporting to a central
authority.

The Book of Jonah, set in the days
of the Assyrian empire, describes it as an "exceedingly great city of three days' journey in breadth",
whose population at that time is given as "more than 120,000". The city wall was probably around 60
miles in circumference, with 15 magnificent gates, and surrounded by a moat of water. The Assyrians
considered the city impregnable.

Their Religion

The Assyrians worshipped many gods, including a moon god, a sun god, a
weather god, a god of woodworkers, and so on. But most Assyrians ignored all
the multitude of Gods and officially worshiped the god of the nation, Ashur.
Ashur was the “husband” of Ishtar, as their gods took on human relationships.
They constructed elaborate worship centers or temples to each of their gods.
The Assyrians were known to cook a morning and evening meal and place it
before their idol images. Of course, it was never consumed, as their gods were
made of wood and stone.

Nineveh was also famous in the ancient world because it was a center for the
worship of Ishtar (Astarte), the fertility goddess. She, along with Asherah and
Anath, was one of three great goddesses of the Canaanite religion. She was
associated primarily with love and fertility. She was also associated with war
because pictures of her display her carrying weapons of war, and she was
eventually celebrated as Artemis. She is associated with Venus, the morning and
evening star.

Offerings to Astarte typically included libations of food and drink. As with many
deities, offerings are an important component of honoring Astarte in ritual and
prayer. Many gods and goddesses of the Mediterranean and Middle East
appreciate gifts of honey and wine, incense, bread, and fresh meat.

The Bible condemns the worship of Astarte repeatedly (Judges 2:13, I Samuel 7:3). Solomon introduced
this goddess to Israel in Jerusalem and made an altar to worship her outside Jerusalem.

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