Being an archaeology buff, I knew that the ruins of Babylon were in Iraq and that Saddam Hussein had stamped his name on the bricks of the reconstructed "Ishtar Gate" of the ancient city as Nebuchadnezzar's had been originally. Lots of ancient kings have built magnificent buildings, monuments, busts, murals, bas reliefs and such to glorify and honour themselves...Sound familiar?
But I just heard that Hussein invisions himself as the reincarnation of sorts, or at least the counterpart, of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. This is interesting because, according to the Bible, the real Nebuchadnezzar ended up quite differently.
Da:4:28: All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. Da:4:29: At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. Da:4:30: The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? Da:4:31: While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. Da:4:32: And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Da:4:33: The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. Da:4:34: And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: Da:4:35: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Da:4:36: At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Da:4:37: Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
BTW, the ruins of "Ur of the Chaldees" (the birthplace of Abraham or "Ibrahim") are also in Iraq as well as the Assyrian city of Nineveh....remember Jonah and the whale?
Posted by Christian (Member # 66) on :
Nebuchadnezzar! I always loved that name from the Old Testament, it had that far away, exotic and kingly feel to it you just don't find with names like "Ed". (Not that I don't like Ed, they should name some big storms "Ed", there'd be less fear among the general populace). I think Twain said it best:
"There never was a throne which did not represent a crime"
"The institution of royalty in any form is an insult to the human race"
Saddam , I think, qualifies on both these points with knobs on...
One more quote for the road....
Kings is mostly rapscallions....
You decide
Christian
Posted by Mark Smith (Member # 298) on :
Rapscallions?
On-ION! On-ION! On-ION! On-ION!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
Is that like Rock Lobsters?
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
oh oh this post has diverted to one about B-52's, where will it go next? Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Wayne, yes I learned about the rebuilding of Babylon during Desert Storm. I have been told that Al Hillah on the Euphrates River is the sit of the former Babylon. Don't know how true it is, just something I heard.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Just out of curiosity, if the US does take over Iraq temporarily, does that mean some "Historic Committee" is going to get involved and regulate the type of signage?
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Could we get away with doing the signs in Hebrew just to tick Sadam off?
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