The book begins with an exhaustive historical outline of early Babylonia, tracing the confederacies of Sumer and Akkad, the racial affinities of the Sumerians, and the influence of the physical environment created by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. McKenzie examines the primary pantheons and representative deities, focusing on Ea the god of the deep, Anu the sky god, and Enlil the storm god, while detailing their evolution from animistic spirit groups to anthropomorphic divine rulers. The narrative then explores the vast and complex world of Babylonian demons, fairies, and ghosts, illustrating how early animistic fears and magical practices survived within popular folk religion despite the efforts of official priesthoods. A major focus of the volume is the myth of Tammuz and Ishtar, tracing the ancient dying god of fertility and the amorous Queen of Heaven through their seasonal cycles of descent into Hades and triumphant return.
The historical chapters detail the rise and fall of prominent city-states like Lagash, Kish, and Ur, highlighting the reigns of rulers such as Ur-Nina, Eannatum, Urukagina, and Gudea, and examining social reforms and conflicts with Elamite and Akkadian rivals. The theological framework is further illuminated by the Babylonian Creation Legend, detailing Merodach's victorious battle against Tiamat, the chaos dragon, and his subsequent establishment of cosmic order and the creation of mankind. Throughout the work, comparative notes draw extensively on Indian epics, Egyptian mythology, and European folklore to demonstrate deep-seated racial and cultural connections between ancient civilizations.
