225. If he has treated an ox or an ass for a severe wound and has
caused its death, he shall pay one-fourth of its price to the
owner of the ox or the ass.

226. If a barber-surgeon, without consent of the owner of a
slave, has branded the slave with an indelible mark, one shall
cut off the hands of that barber.

227. If any one deceive the surgeon-barber and make him brand a
slave with an indelible mark, one shall kill that man and bury
him in his house. The barber shall swear, "I did not mark him
wittingly," and he shall be guiltless.


ESTIMATES OF BABYLONIAN SCIENCE

Before turning from the Oriental world it is perhaps worth while
to attempt to estimate somewhat specifically the world-influence
of the name, Babylonian science. Perhaps we cannot better gain an
idea as to the estimate put upon that science by the classical
world than through a somewhat extended quotation from a classical
author. Diodorus Siculus, who, as already noted, lived at about
the time of Augustus, and who, therefore, scanned in perspective
the entire sweep of classical Greek history, has left us a
striking summary which is doubly valuable because of its
comparisons of Babylonian with Greek influence. Having viewed the
science of Babylonia in the light of the interpretations made
possible by the recent study of original documents, we are
prepared to draw our own conclusions from the statements of the
Greek historian. Here is his estimate in the words of the quaint
translation made by Philemon Holland in the year 1700:[23]


"They being the most ancient Babylonians, hold the same station
and dignity in the Common-wealth as the Egyptian Priests do in
Egypt: For being deputed to Divine Offices, they spend all their
Time in the study of Philosophy, and are especially famous for
the Art of Astrology. They are mightily given to Divination, and
foretel future Events, and imploy themselves either by
Purifications, Sacrifices, or other Inchantments to avert Evils,
or procure good Fortune and Success. They are skilful likewise in
the Art of Divination, by the flying of Birds, and interpreting
of Dreams and Prodigies: And are reputed as true Oracles (in
declaring what will come to pass) by their exact and diligent
viewing the Intrals of the Sacrifices. But they attain not to
this Knowledge in the same manner as the Grecians do; for the
Chaldeans learn it by Tradition from their Ancestors, the Son
from the Father, who are all in the mean time free from all other
publick Offices and Attendances; and because their Parents are
their Tutors, they both learn every thing without Envy, and rely
with more confidence upon the truth of what is taught them; and
being train'd up in this Learning, from their very Childhood,
they become most famous Philosophers, (that Age being most
capable of Learning, wherein they spend much of their time). But
the Grecians for the most part come raw to this study, unfitted
and unprepar'd, and are long before they attain to the Knowledge
of this Philosophy: And after they have spent some small time in
this Study, they are many times call'd off and forc'd to leave
it, in order to get a Livelihood and Subsistence. And although
some, few do industriously apply themselves to Philosophy, yet
for the sake of Gain, these very Men are opinionative, and ever
and anon starting new and high Points, and never fix in the steps
of their Ancestors. But the Barbarians keeping constantly close
to the same thing, attain to a perfect and distinct Knowledge in
every particular.

"But the Grecians, cunningly catching at all Opportunities of
Gain, make new Sects and Parties, and by their contrary Opinions
wrangling and quarelling concerning the chiefest Points, lead
their Scholars into a Maze; and being uncertain and doubtful what
to pitch upon for certain truth, their Minds are fluctuating and
in suspence all the days of their Lives, and unable to give a
certain assent unto any thing. For if any Man will but examine
the most eminent Sects of the Philosophers, he shall find them
much differing among themselves, and even opposing one another in
the most weighty parts of their Philosophy. But to return to the
Chaldeans, they hold that the World is eternal, which had neither
any certain Beginning, nor shall have any End; but all agree,
that all things are order'd, and this beautiful Fabrick is
supported by a Divine Providence, and that the Motions of the
Heavens are not perform'd by chance and of their own accord, but
by a certain and determinate Will and Appointment of the Gods.

"Therefore from a long observation of the Stars, and an exact
Knowledge of the motions and influences of every one of them,
wherein they excel all others, they fortel many things that are
to come to pass.

"They say that the Five Stars which some call Planets, but they
Interpreters, are most worthy of Consideration, both for their
motions and their remarkable influences, especially that which
the Grecians call Saturn. The brightest of them all, and which
often portends many and great Events, they call Sol, the other
Four they name Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter, with our own
Country Astrologers. They give the Name of Interpreters to these
Stars, because these only by a peculiar Motion do portend things
to come, and instead of Jupiters, do declare to Men before-hand
the good- will of the Gods; whereas the other Stars (not being of
the number of the Planets) have a constant ordinary motion.
Future Events (they say) are pointed at sometimes by their


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