The Origin of Brutal Regimes is Ancient History

“‘Violence is the common origin of all regimes. Life, discussion, and political choice occur only against a background of violence.’ ~ Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908–1961), “Humanism and Terror”

Image: "The Legend of Sargon (The Goddess Ishtar Appears to Sargon, the Gardener's Lad)" By the contemporary artist, Edwin J. Prittie"

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I AGREE with Mr. Merleau-Ponty. Ever notice when most people speak of a regime they usually describe it as brutal? The use of violence is unrestrained and motivated by either the lust for power (control over a landmass and the people who live on it) and/or a desire for revenge (action required against some wrong done to them). The blood of innocents (and of some who are guilty) must be shed for the rise of the empire and must continue to be shed in defense of the realm.

People have free will and know the difference between good and evil. They choose evil. I blame Sargon. He started it. Many historians give him credit for being the first empire-builder.  I trace the origin of brutal regimes back to him.  He may be written in the historical records as The Great or The Magnificent but I say the man was nothing but a troublemaker and a hell-raiser.  (NOTE: Sharp contrast. Abraham never lifted a finger to build an empire or become ruler, yet he is the father of many nations. God called him out of the land that Sargon bathed in blood building his empire.)

The origin of brutal regimes may be ancient history, but sadly, brutal regimes still exist today all over the world.

• Do you have an opinion, one way or the other about, the Merleau-Ponty quote? (Or about my insightful and simplistic philosophical points of view?)

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Original Source

Links of Interest:

• Sargon of Akkad - Ancient History Encyclopedia
• The Legend of Sargon of Akkad - Ancient History Encyclopedia
• King Sargon of Akkad—facts and information \ National Geographic
• Abraham, the Patriarch
• Genealogy: Modern Day Arabs and Their Father Abraham | Express Yourself! | Medium

Ancient History : People and Places : Nimrod and the ‘Gate of God’

If you come from a Judaeo-Christian background, then you might be familiar with the story of Babel because you were probably taught about it as a child. If you are unfamiliar with the biblical account, it tells of the time when everyone on earth all spoke the same language but God confused the languages. Why? Because there was a king who was trying to build a tower to reach heaven, where God lives. 

This ambitious and over-reaching endeavor was displeasing and as a punishment, God confused the languages of the people. This lack of communication prevented the laborers from working together and completing the building project. The unfinished structure is often referred to as the tower of Babel and symbolizes human pride and rebellion. The entire account of this event is all of nine (9) verses. You can read it in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 11, verses 1 through 9.

If you believe that Babel existed, then you might also believe that there was a king who angered God.

Now about that king. What was his name?

NIMROD

Scholars are in disagreement as to the identity of Nimrod. Some say he was Sargon the Great. Others say he was an Assyrian king, Tukulti-Ninurta I. Others speculate that he could have been Amenophis III, an Egyptian leader. Yet another group believes that he was Merodach-Baladan, a man who insisted on being king of Babylon, however, he never achieved his ambition.

The biblical record identifies Nimrod as the son of Cush, the grandson of Ham, and the great-grandson of Noah. He is described as “mighty” in two instances: “a mighty one on the earth” and “the mighty hunter before the Lord”. Furthermore, the Bible account states: “And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”  Shinar, the land of Southern Mesopotamia, became known as Babylonia.

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Content first published at Blogjob.com on Jun 5, 2017.  Site shut down.

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Other Posts in This Series:

Lydia and Persia

Who Were the Philistines?

Mark Antony and Antonia Fortress

Seven Wonders Plus One (or Two)

The Oxford Guide to People & Places of the Bible

♦  Related Links, Tweets, and Suggested Books and Literature:

What is a Universal Language of Light?

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All Those “ites”

King Nimrod Built 4 Cities: “Babel, Erech, Akkad and Calneh in the land of Shinar” (Mesopotamia) - Virily ~ https://t.co/J6eaA9B8jA via @flipboard @virilycom #ancienthistory #peopleandplaces

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) January 3, 2020

♦ Why didn’t somebody STOP Sargon? ~ https://t.co/KKDWzCOUGL #ancienthistory #peopleandplaces ~ See also a related link: ♦ The Origin of Brutal Regimes ~ https://t.co/l1Qnadv3bL

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) January 3, 2020

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