renewal of nature in spring, though sometimes it was applied in a manner that cannot be misunderstood to the hope of mankind. Of Samas, the Sun god, it is said, "to make the dead live, to free the captive lies in thy hand." The god Nebo is praised as he "who lengthens the days of life and raises the dead." But above all it is Marduk, god of the Early Sun and of the Spring Sun who is spoken of as "the compassionate one, whose joy is in raising the dead," or simply—as on the last of the creation tablets—as "the raiser of the dead." In a charm against demons and sickness he is hailed as follows: "Thou compassionate one among the gods, thou compassionate one, thou who lovest to raise the dead, Marduk, king of heaven and earth, king of Babylon, lord of Esagila, king of Ezida, lord of the mighty house of life, heaven and earth are thine, the space of heaven and earth is thine, exorcism of life is thine, the saliva of life is thine, the pure exorcism of the ocean is thine, black-haired mankind, living creatures, as many as dwell on the earth, all the quarters of heaven, all spirits in heaven and earth [turn?] their ears to thee; thou art Shedu, thou art Lamasu (the spirit of protection and blessing), thou makest alive, thou bringest to peace, thou art the compassionate one among the gods . . . to thee will I devote myself." Cyrus caused it to be said of himself, after he had taken Babylon,
