Amongvariousrudetribeswefindsurvivalsofaprimitiveideathattheearthisaflattableordisk，ceiled，domed，orcanopiedbythesky，andthattheskyrestsuponthemountainsaspillars。Suchabeliefisentirelynatural；itconformstotheappearanceofthings，andhenceataveryearlyperiodenteredintovarioustheologies。

　　InthecivilizationsofChaldeaandEgyptitwasveryfullydeveloped。TheAssyrianinscriptionsdecipheredintheselatteryearsrepresentthegodMardukasinthebeginningcreatingtheheavensandtheearth：theearthrestsuponthewaters；withinitistherealmofthedead；aboveitisspread“thefirmament“——asoliddomecomingdowntothehorizononallsidesandrestinguponfoundationslaidinthe“greatwaters“whichextendaroundtheearth。

　　Ontheeastandwestsidesofthisdomedfirmamentaredoors，throughwhichthesunentersinthemorninganddepartsatnight；

　　aboveitextendsanotherocean，whichgoesdowntotheoceansurroundingtheearthatthehorizononallsides，andwhichissupportedandkeptawayfromtheearthbythefirmament。Abovethefirmamentandtheupperoceanwhichitsupportsistheinteriorofheaven。

　　TheEgyptiansconsideredtheearthasatable，flatandoblong，theskybeingitsceiling——ahuge“firmament“ofmetal。Atthefourcornersoftheearthwerethepillarssupportingthisfirmament，andonthissolidskywerethe“watersabovetheheavens。”Theybelievedthat，whenchaoswastakingform，oneofthegodsbymainforceraisedthewatersonhighandspreadthemoutoverthefirmament；thatontheundersideofthissolidvault，orceiling，orfirmament，thestarsweresuspendedtolighttheearth，andthattherainswerecausedbythelettingdownofthewatersthroughitswindows。ThisideaandothersconnectedwithitseemtohavetakenstrongholdoftheEgyptianpriestlycaste，enteringintotheirtheologyandsacredscience：

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