Analysis of Artifact #B-003 - Dr. Armstrong, Chief Historian.
The artifact recovered by archaeologists at the secure dig site in Iraq is an interesting example of Babylonian story-telling. Artifact #B-003 consists of a clay tablet written in the traditional Akkadian language which tells a rather compelling story of an important figure in Babylonian culture. His name was Immaru, which is a name derived from the Sumerian word for "Light". Immaru is described as a being who was entirely dependent on light, as he required the Sun's energy to assert his dominance over the mortal realm. The tablet goes into elaborate detail regarding his significance within Babylonian culture.
Immaru is first seen within the Babylonian myths as a wanderer. He arrives in Babylon in a "ball of fire" which fell from the sky. Unfamiliar with the mortal realm, Immaru then begins a campaign of unprecedented brutality. Immaru at first used a powerful weapon to project the voice of the gods into the mortal realm. These voices sometimes struck people dead, leaving holes in their bodies and causing them to bleed to death. Eventually, Immaru stopped using this weapon for some reason. He then revealed another deadly weapon, described as an "axe brighter than the sun" that supposedly shot forth and destroyed Immaru's enemies.
Immaru is first seen within the Babylonian myths as a wanderer. He arrives in Babylon in a "ball of fire" which fell from the sky. Unfamiliar with the mortal realm, Immaru then begins a campaign of unprecedented brutality. Immaru at first used a powerful weapon to project the voice of the gods into the mortal realm. These voices sometimes struck people dead, leaving holes in their bodies and causing them to bleed to death. Eventually, Immaru stopped using this weapon for some reason. He then revealed another deadly weapon, described as an "axe brighter than the sun" that supposedly shot forth and destroyed Immaru's enemies.
Immaru continued in this way for some time, until his weapon no longer functioned. It was then that Immaru gained his name. Immaru sat motionless in a field for many days and nights, and whenever someone would approach him, he would simply say "Immaru". Eventually, a local villager worked up the courage to kill Immaru. Taking a spear, the villager taunted Immaru, challenging him to a fight. Immaru refused, but the villager persisted. He thrust his spear towards Immaru, expecting to be destroyed like the others. Instead, he was rewarded with the sight of Immaru's impaled body. It was then that the villager realized that he was a mortal as well.
The villager rejoiced in his victory but was quickly overcome with fear. If he had vanquished such a powerful being, the villager feared what creature might take its place.
It is my interpretation that this story was intended as a cautionary tale. As with many civilizations, there was a fear that hubris and pride would lead to the degradation of their society. The story of Immaru seems to be a warning against those behaviors.
End Analysis
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