A Question for Bronson

Farrell Till errancy@infidels.org
Sun, 30 May 1999 00:26:16 -0700 (00928067176, 2.2.32.19990530072616.008d5de0@midwest.net) 

At 12:44 AM 5/29/99 EDT, you wrote:

>In a message dated 5/26/99 1:48:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 

>jftill@midwest.net writes:

>

>>  

>>  TILL

>>  Inscriptions at the entrance of an Assyria temple at Nimrud dates from the

>>  8th century B. C.  One of the inscriptions purporting to be by King

>>  Assur-Nasir-Pal claims that this king captured the city of Damdamusa and

>>  killed 600 of their warriors, burned 3,000 captives with fire, and did not

>>  leave a single one of the inhabitants alive.  He took Hulai, their 

>governor,

>>  flayed him, and then spread his skin upon the wall of the city.

>>  

>>  Now here is a question for Randy Bronson.  If this is a historically

>>  accurate report of what happen, was Assur-Nasir-Pal's conduct objective 

>> immoral?

>>  



>RANDY

>

>  Yes.

>


TILL
Good, maybe we are making some progress now.  Here is more of the
inscription, which you can find quoted in Crane Brinton's, *A History of
Western Morals,* Harcourt, Brace, & Co., p. 48:

        "An 8th-century B. C. inscription on the pavement slabs of the
entrance to the temple of Urta at Nimrud, attributed to King
Assur-Nasir-Pal: "At that time I received tribute of the land of
Isala--cattle, flocks, and wine.  To the mountain of Kahiari I crossed to
Kinabu, the fortified city of Hulai I drew near.  With the masses of my
troops and by my furious battle onset I stormed, I captured the city; 600 of
their warriors I put to the sword; 3,000 captives I burned with fire; I did
not leave a single one among them alive to serve as a hostage.  Hulai, their
governor, I captured alive.  Their corpses I formed into pillars; their
young men and maidens I burned in the fire.  Hulai, their governor, I
flayed, his skin I spread upon the wall of the city of Damdamusa; the city I
destroyed, I wasted with fire....

        "And now AT THE COMMAND OF THE GREAT GODS my sovereignty, my
dominion, my power, are manifesting themselves; I am regal, I am lordly, I
am exalted, I am mighty, I am honored, I am glorified, I am preeminent, I am
powerful, I am valiant, I am lion-brave, and I am heroic.  Assur-Nasir-Pal,
the mighty king, the king of Assyria, CHOSEN OF SIN, FAVORITE OF ANU,
BELOVED OF ADAD, MIGHTY ONE AMONG THE GODS, I am the merciless weapon that
strikes down the land of his enemies..." (emphasis added).
*****************************

Notice that Assur-Nasir-Pal claimed that these deeds were done at the
"command of the great gods," and that he was "chosen" of these gods to
"strike down the land of his enemies."  So if the gods commanded him to do
this things, why would it have been objectively wrong for him to obey?

I can't wait to see your answer.




Farrell Till
Skepticism, Inc.
jftill@midwest.net