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The Book of the Cave of Treasures

The Book of the Cave of Treasures (32)

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

A HISTORY OF THE PATRIARCHS AND THE KINGS
THEIR SUCCESSORS FROM THE CREATION
TO THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST

TRANSLATED FROM THE SYRIAC TEXT OF THE
BRITISH MUSEUM MS. ADD. 25875

BY

SIR E. A. WALLIS BUDGE, KT.

M.A., LITT.D. (CAMBRIDGE), M.A., D.LITT. (OXFORD),
D.LIT. (DURHAM), F.S.A.
SOMETIME KEEPER OF EGYPTIAN AND ASSYIRIAN ANTIQUITIES, BRITISH MUSEUM;
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, LISBON; AND
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
With 16 plates and 8 illustrations in the text

LONDON
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY

MANCHESTER, MADRID, LISBON, BUDAPEST

1927


Front piece

Imdugud, in Imgig, the lion-headed eagle of Ningirsu, the great god of Lagash

cave-00-front

Sumerian relief in copper on wood representing Imdugud, or Imgig, the lion-headed eagle of Ningirsu, the great god of Lagash, grasping two stags by their tails. It is probable that it was originally placed over the door of the temple of Nin-khursag or Damgalnun at the head of the stairway leading on to the temple platform. This remarkable monument was made about 3100 B.C., and was discovered by Dr. H. R. Hall in 1919 at Tall al-`Ub, a sanctuary at "Ur of the Chaldees" in Lower Babylonia. It is now in the British Museum (No. 114308).


The Cave of Treasures, Interior House Ur

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


Interior of a private house at "Ur of the Chaldees"

cave-32-interior

Interior of a private house of a citizen of "Ur of the Chaldees" at the time of Abraham. The walls were built of clay bricks, and the floor of the courtyard was paved with flat tile-like bricks. The gallery and its roofs were supported on wooden pillars. The beasts were stabled and stores were kept in the rooms on the ground floor which were entered through arched doorways, and the sleeping and sitting rooms were entered from the gallery. A stairway led from the ground floor to the gallery and the roof. The water supply was kept in large porous pots on the ground floor. About 2100 B.C.

The Cave of Treasures, A Page of Cave of Treasures

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


A Page of the Syriac text

cave-31-syriac-cot

A page of the Syriac text, written in the Nestorian hand, of the "Cave of Treasures," from the British Museum MS. No. 25875. The text describes the appointment of Adam as priest and king and prophet, and the entrance of Satan into Paradise in the form of a serpent.

The Cave of Treasures, A Page of Adam and Eve

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


A page of the book of Adam and Eve

cave-30-adam-eve

A page of the Ethiopic text of the "Book of Adam and Eve" (British Museum MS. Orient. No. 751, Fol. 110b) containing a description of the horrible appearance of the snake into which Satan entered when he went into the presence of Eve.

The Cave of Treasures, A page of Enoch

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


A page of the Book of Enoch

cave-29-enoch

A page of the Ethiopic text of the "Book of Enoch" (British Museum MS. Orient. No. 485, Fol. 83b) containing a description of one of Enoch's visits to heaven, and how the archangel Michael took him by the hand and showed him the mysteries of heaven.

The Cave of Treasures, A page of Jubilees

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


A page of the Book of Jubilees

cave-28-jubilees

A page of the Ethiopic version of the apocryphal work known to ecclesiastical writers as the "Lesser Genesis," and the "Apocalypse of Moses" (British Museum MS. Orient. No. 485, Fol. 83b). Because each of the periods of time described in the book contains forty-nine to fifty years, the Ethiopians called it MAZHAFA K i.e. the "Book of Jubilees." The passage here reproducted describes the tale of Joseph in the 17th year of his age, his going down to Egypt, and his life in that country.

The Cave of Treasures, Plate XIV Toilet and Dagger

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


PLATE XIV

cave-26-p14-toilet-dagger

The cover of an ivory toilet box with a Phoenician inscription. The box was probably sent from Syria to "Ur of the Chaldees" about 600 B.C.

cave-26-p14-toilet-dagger

Gold dagger, with a handle of deep blue lapis lazuli studded with gold; the sheath in which it was found is also of gold.

The Cave of Treasures, Plate XIII Relief and Ram

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


PLATE XIII

1 cave-25-p13-relief-ram
2

1. Limestone plaque with reliefs representing the King and his sons pouring out a libation to Nannar, the Moon-god.
2. A priest pouring out a libation before a shrine. Behind him is the high priestess and men bearing offerings.

cave-25-p13-relief-ram

Alabaster rams from a throne.

The Cave of Treasures, Plate XII Street in Ur

THE BOOK OF THE CAVE OF TREASURES

part of the "forgotten" books of Eden


PLATE XII

cave-24-p12-street-ur

A street of private houses recently excavated in the city of "Ur of the Chaldees." The houses were built about 2100 B.C., i.e. about the time when Abraham and his father Terah were living in Ur; this street must have been seen by these patriarchs. They are the first private houses of the period to be discovered, and their state of preservation is such that it is possible to reconstruct the general plan of the house of a well-to-do citizen of Ur.

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