登陆注册
3224000000015

第15章 巴比伦——沙尘掩盖下的沉睡文明(1)

巴比伦文明是距今6000年到2500年间,两河流域(幼发拉底河和底格里斯河)附近一系列城市文明的总称。生活在这块沙土地上的人们凭借着智慧和劳动,将这个地区灿烂的文明一步步推向顶峰,取得了举世瞩目的成就。这里诞生了世界上第一座城市,颁布了世界上第一部成文法典,创造了最早的文字。

1. Babylon:The great history and construction of the short lived Empire

Available historical resources suggest that Babylon was at first a small town which had sprung up by the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. The town flourished and attained independence with the rise of the First Amorite Babylonian Dynasty in 1894 BC. An Amorite king named Hammurabi first created the short lived Babylonian Empire; After his death and Babylon spent long periods under Assyrian, Kassite and Elamite domination. Babylon again became the seat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 612 to 539 BC which was founded by Chaldeans and whose last king was an Assyrian.

巴比伦:短命帝国的伟大历史和宏大工程

有关历史表明,巴比伦原先是公元前3000年如雨后春笋般兴起的首个小城镇。这座小城的繁荣和独立归因于公元前1894年第一个亚摩利人巴比伦王朝的崛起。一位名叫汉谟拉比的国王首创了短命的巴比伦帝国,他死后巴比伦陷入亚述人和埃兰人的长期统治之下。公元前612年到公元前539年,巴比伦再次成为帝国,那是迦勒底人成立的新巴比伦帝国,最后一个国王是亚述人。

Old Babylonian period:Being the biggest nation in the worldtwice

The First Babylonian Dynasty was established by an Amorite chieftain named Sumu-abum in 1894 BC. The Amorites were not native to Mesopotamia, but were semi nomadic Semitic invaders from the lands to the west. Babylon controlled little surrounding territory until it became the capital of Hammurabi’s empire a century later (1792 BC–1750 BC). Hammurabi is famous for codifying the laws of Babylonia into the Code of Hammurabi that has had a lasting influence on legal thought. Subsequently, the city of Babylon continued to be the capital of the region known as Babylonia. Hammurabi’s empire quickly dissolved after his death, although the Amorite dynasty remained in power until 1595 BC when they were overthrown by the invading Hittites from Asia Minor.

Following the sack of Babylon by the Hittites, the Kassites invaded and took over Babylon, ushering in a dynasty that was to last for 435 years until 1160 BC. The city was renamed Karanduniash during this period. The Kassites originated from the Zagros Mountains to the north east of Mesopotamia. However, Kassite Babylon eventually became subject to domination by Elam and Assyria, both nations often interfering in or controlling Babylon during the Kassite period. The Assyrian king TukultiNinurta I took the throne of Babylon in 1235 BC, becoming the first native Mesopotamian to rule there.

It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the world from ca. 1770 to 1670 BC, and again between ca. 612 and 320 BC. It was perhaps the first city to reach a population above 200000.

古巴比伦时期:两次成为世界最大的国家

巴比伦第一王朝是由亚摩利人首领阿布姆于公元前1894年建立的。亚摩利人不是美索不达米亚本地人,他们是来自平原向西入侵后处于半游牧状态的闪米特人。巴比伦控制的周边地区很狭小,直到一个世纪后成为汉谟拉比帝国的都城(公元前1792~前1750年)。汉谟拉比因将巴比伦王国的法律制成汉谟拉比法典而闻名天下,此法典对法律思想产生了持久的影响。随后,巴比伦市一直是巴比伦王国的都城。在汉谟拉比死后,帝国迅速瓦解,但是亚摩利人王朝依然在掌权,直到公元前1595年被来自小亚细亚的希泰人侵略者征服。

在希泰人颠覆巴比伦之后,加喜特人又入侵并占领了巴比伦,迎来一个时间长达435年的王朝,这个王朝直到公元前1160年才消亡。在那个时期,城市改名为加喜特巴比伦。加喜特人来自扎格罗斯山脉,向东朝美索不达米亚东北部进军。然而,加喜特巴比伦最终屈膝在埃兰人和亚述人的统治之下。在加喜特时期,这两个民族经常干涉或控制巴比伦。亚述王图库尔蒂-尼努尔塔一世于公元前1235年登上了巴比伦王位,成为第一个美索不达米亚本土国王。

据估计,大约在公元前1770~前1670年,巴比伦是世界上最大的城市,大约在公元前612~前320年间,它又再次成为世界上最大的国家,也许它是第一个人口达到20万以上的城市。

Assyrian period:The sons made atonement fortheir father Sennacherib

During the Babylonian war,Sennacherib of Assyria saved the capital Nineveh palace. Throughout the duration of the Neo Assyrian Empire (911 BC to 608 BC) Babylonia was under Assyrian domination or direct control. During the reign of Sennacherib of Assyria, Babylonia was in a constant state of revolt, led by Mushezib-Marduk, and suppressed only by the complete destruction of the city of Babylon. In 689 BC, its walls, temples and palaces were razed, and the rubble was thrown into the Arakhtu. This act shocked the religious conscience of Mesopotamia; the subsequent murder of Sennacherib by two of his sons was held to be in expiation of it, and his successor Esarhaddon hastened to rebuild the old city, to receive there his crown, and make it his residence during part of the year. After his death, Esarhaddon"s elder son the Assyrian prince Shamash-shum-ukin, started a civil war in 652 BC against his own brother and master Ashurbanipal, who ruled in Nineveh.

Once again, Babylon was besieged by the Assyrians and starved into surrender. Ashurbanipal purified the city and celebrated a "service of reconciliation". After the death of Ashurbanipal, the Assyrian empire began to unravel due to a series of bitter civil wars. Eventually Babylon, like many other parts of the near east, took advantage of this to free itself from Assyrian rule. In the subsequent overthrow of the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonians saw another example of divine vengeance.

亚述时期:儿子为父王辛那赫里布赎罪

在巴比伦战争期间,亚述王辛那赫里布解救了首都尼尼微皇宫的危机。在整个新亚述帝国时期(公元前911~前608年),巴比伦都屈从于亚述人的统治或直接控制之下。在亚述王辛那赫里布统治期间,巴比伦是一个持续不断发生叛乱的地方,由穆塞吉布-马尔都克领导。只有把巴比伦城彻底毁灭,才能镇压叛乱。公元前689年,它的城墙、庙宇和宫殿都被夷为平地,垃圾被倒入了阿拉图江。这种行为震惊了美索不达米亚的宗教良知,随后辛那赫里布的两个儿子就开始谋杀他来为他赎罪,他的继承人阿萨尔哈东加速了对旧城的改造,在那里接受了冠冕并曾经在那里居住。阿萨尔哈东死后,他的大儿子亚述王子沙马什·舒姆·乌金亚述于公元前625年发动了内乱,他背叛了自己的亲兄弟,也即在尼尼微执政的亚述巴尼帕国王,从而将政权揽到自己的手中。

巴比伦再一次地被亚述所包围,听任于亚述。亚述巴尼帕国王净化了城市,举行了一种“和解仪式”。亚述巴尼帕去世后,亚述帝国因不堪一系列的激烈内战而开始瓦解,最终巴比伦像近东地区许多其他的地方一样,利用这一点来摆脱亚述的统治。在后来推翻亚述帝国的行为中,巴比伦目睹了神复仇的另一个例子。

Neo-Babylonian Empire:themagnificent architecture of human beings

Under Nabopolassar, Babylon threw off Assyrian rule in 612 BC and became the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

同类推荐
  • 鲁滨逊漂流记(纯爱·英文馆)

    鲁滨逊漂流记(纯爱·英文馆)

    《鲁滨逊漂流记》是英国作家丹尼尔·笛福的一部小说作品,主要讲述了主人公鲁滨逊因多出海遇难,先被海盗攻击,再到种植园,最后漂流到无人小岛,并坚持在岛上生活,最后回到原来所生活的社会的故事。
  • 鲁滨逊漂流记(中小学生必读丛书)

    鲁滨逊漂流记(中小学生必读丛书)

    本书是被称为“现代小说之父”的英国著名作家丹尼尔·笛福的代表作。在西方文学史上, 鲁滨孙的形象众所周之, 他航海遇险, 一个人漂流到南美洲某荒岛, 靠着双手和工具, 造房子, 修田地、种粮食, 养牲畜, 还从土著的刀下救了一个人, 取名礼拜五, 收为自己的奴隶……鲁滨孙用28年的时间把荒岛建设成为一个世外桃源, 最后又奇迹般地回到欧洲, 成为巨富。
  • 那些给我勇气的句子(每天读一点英文)

    那些给我勇气的句子(每天读一点英文)

    这是一套与美国人同步阅读的中英双语丛书,该丛书由美国英语教师协会推荐,特点有三:内文篇目取自世界上最经典、最有影响的寓言故事,适于诵读,“实战提升”部分,包括单词注解、实用句型和智慧点津。
  • 英文爱藏:我在回忆里等你

    英文爱藏:我在回忆里等你

    杨一兰编著的《我在回忆里等你》是英文爱藏丛书之一,为中英双语 对照版,《我在回忆里等你》既是英语学习爱好者、文学爱好者的必备读 物,也是忙碌现代人的一片憩息心灵的家园,让读者在欣赏原法原味和凝 练生动的英文时,还能多角度、深层次地品读语言特色与艺术之美,再配 合文章后附加的多功能、全方位巩固题型,更有助于理解并学习英……
  • 我的故事

    我的故事

    海伦·凯勒——人类永远的骄傲!了解了海伦·凯勒语录,你就了解了这本书,你也就了解了海伦·凯勒其人:黑暗将使人更加珍惜光明,寂静将使人更加喜爱声音。身体上的不自由终究是一种缺憾。我不敢说从没有怨天尤人或沮丧的时候,但我更明白这样根本于事无补,因此我总是极力控制自己,使自己的脑子不要去钻这种牛角尖。忘我就是快乐。因而我要把别人眼睛看见的光明当作我的太阳,别人耳朵听见的音乐当作我的乐曲,别人嘴角的微笑当作我的快乐。如果静止的美已是那么可爱的话,那么看到运动中的美肯定更令人振奋和激动。
热门推荐
  • 于无声处

    于无声处

    《于无声处》是第一本平民化视角的当代反间谍小说,这本书抛开了传统反间谍斗争的“高大上”,直面并还原了这些“无声的人”的人生状态。用平凡描绘不平凡,再现了真实的反间谍故事和国家安全侦察员用忠诚和信仰铸造的一生。
  • 龙朝遗传

    龙朝遗传

    看龙朝小厨师如何玩转他传奇的一生,在正邪之间游走,阴谋的背后又有怎样的隐情。一切的一切为何开始,又为什么结束?一个朝代的兴衰里又饱含了怎样九曲回肠的故事呢?一切尽在龙朝遗传。
  • 妙手神医在都市

    妙手神医在都市

    山村少年王铮,自幼研习医术,在山中一十八年方才下山入世修行,自此纵横花丛,行医天下!
  • 祸水英雌
  • 弑神之刃

    弑神之刃

    “我不是全盘否定法律,但它存在漏洞,受到这样或那样的局限,却是不容置疑的事。有一些罪犯,他们所做的事伤天害理,但却在法律的管辖范围之外;也有一些罪犯,因为警方没能找到证据而无法把他们定罪,让他们逍遥法外;还有一些罪犯,或家财万贯,或位高权重,利用各种关系,狂妄地凌驾于法律之上。这些败类,都是我们要制裁的目标。我们,是正义的审判之神!”
  • 太古神煌

    太古神煌

    神州大陆,以武为尊,强者生存,弱者淘汰。人族柳玉偶得吞天兽内丹,获吞天兽吞噬天赋,废材变天才,只在一念之间,实力得以突飞猛进的柳玉,最终成为一代绝世神皇。
  • 隐婚之冷面总裁俏皮妻

    隐婚之冷面总裁俏皮妻

    一觉醒来,身边怎么躺着一个男人!想骗钱?她可不是好惹的!神马?!签约隐婚?滚粗,老娘削你信不信!
  • 幻巷

    幻巷

    常音和南笙满十五岁的时候,她们的父母才回到玲珑巷。鱼怜生比她们小了一岁多,他会把从留过洋的父亲那里听来的东西,都说给常音和南笙听。他的语气有着一般孩子没有的从容,常音和南笙常盯着他熠熠生辉的双眸愣神。被封起来的图书馆就在南笙家后面那块废弃的建筑群里。出事那天和前几次并无差别,常音、南笙还有鱼怜生顺利进入了图书馆,在里面找书来看。南笙和鱼怜生看了一会儿聊起天来,他们嬉笑打闹弄到了小部分书籍,发出不小的声响。先听到脚步声的是常音,而连一贯大胆的南笙也害怕得屏住吸呼。
  • 焚天武帝

    焚天武帝

    焚天大道,通晓阴阳,逆转生死,诸无上道境;武者修行,本就是逆天而为,生亦何欢,死亦何苦,焚天者,当世无双!
  • 庄周今读

    庄周今读

    故事是在战国中后期广阔的背景下展开的。在那样的社会里,充斥了杀伐、兼并、权谋,无正义可言。庄周始终追求自由、平等,不愿意同流合污,注定他……