With the important exception of reference to the change effected in the Jewish doctrine of spirits, and its resulting influence on Christian theology, by the transformation of the mythical Ahriman of the old Persian religion into the archfiend Satan, but slight allusion has been made in these pages to the myths and legends of the Semitic race. Under this term, borrowed from the current belief in their descent from Shem, are included extant and extinct people, the Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Syrians, Jews, and Ethiopians.
The discussion has largely avoided the myths and legends of the Semitic race, except for a brief mention of how the transformation of the Persian figure Ahriman into the Christian Satan influenced Jewish and Christian theology. The term "Semitic," derived from the belief in their descent from Shem, encompasses both living and ancient peoples, including the Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Syrians, Jews, and Ethiopians.
Apart from the notable exception regarding the shift in Jewish beliefs about spirits and its impact on Christian theology—specifically the evolution of the mythical Ahriman from ancient Persian religion into the figure of Satan—there has been minimal discussion of the myths and legends associated with the Semitic peoples. This term, drawn from the common belief in their ancestral link to Shem, encompasses both existing and historical groups, including the Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Syrians, Jews, and Ethiopians.
Besides the exception of the change in Jewish spirit belief and its influence on Christian theology (the transformation of the mythical Ahriman from the ancient Persian religion into the Satan), there has been little attention paid to the myths and legends of the Semitic peoples. This term, derived from the general belief in their ancestry to Shem, includes both present and past groups such as the Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Syrians, Jews, and Ethiopians.
Except for the exception of the change in Jewish ideas about spirits and its effect on Christian theology, namely the transformation of the mythical Ahriman from ancient Persian religion into the Satan of Christian mythology, there has been little attention paid to the myths and legends of the Semitic peoples. This term, based on the widespread notion of their descent from Shem, refers to both present and past peoples, such as the Assyrians, Chaldeans or Babylonians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Syrians, Jews, and Ethiopians.