This is not exactly a collection of stories and can instead be treated as an introduction to Babylonian and Assyrian history, culture, and religion. Several important subjects are covered which the student or casual reader might find useful in understanding the myths of the people sustained by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
In summary, the book discussed the following: the peoples and movements in the area collectively called Mesopotamia, these include emphasis on the Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Kassites, Egyptians, and the Hebrews; possible origins and ancestry of the different peoples and their customs and laws with emphasis on Hammurabi's laws; summary of the wars and succession of kings in different regions; evolution of the pantheon from "monsters" to anthropomorphic deities and their parallels in other myths; nature of ghosts, fairies, and other minor creatures; and the development of astrology and astronomy.
There are separate chapters as well for the following: worship of the heroic patriarch and the mother goddess; creation legends; deluge legends; Etana and Gilgamesh; and the god Ashur. These subjects will help the reader understand the myths. The heroic patriarch and mother goddess worship for example will explain why some deities are more prominent in certain periods depending on the dominant group of people. Mackenzie gives comparisons of the creation and deluge legends with their parallels. In the chapter about the Deluge Legend, the author also discusses the burial rites and customs and the idea of the afterlife. Summaries are given for the stories of Etana and Gilgamesh. While a chapter dedicated to Ashur discusses his possible origins through the symbols that represent him and the available data.
Mackenzie's writing is easy to understand although I must warn the reader that the volume of information in this book, especially the chronicles about the wars and succession of rulers, might be too much to handle.
I'm giving this book a 10 out of 10 rating.
