brennen
/
lurkers-guide


								(Not to be viewed by J. Michael Straczynski for legal reasons.

								This article contains what might be considered "story ideas" that

								are drawn from parallels with Babylonian history.  This article was

								not, and should not be, posted on alt.tv.babylon-5 or on GEnie,

								both of which JMS currently reads.  Further, although this is

								essentially a list of guesses and possibilities, some may consider

								it to be a list of "spoilers" and might not want to read it.)

								================================================================


								PARALLELS BETWEEN BABYLONIA AND B5:

								(Last update: February 27, 1994)


								     It's interesting to note that, while parallels clearly and

								distinctly exist between ancient Babylonia and Babylon 5, as far as

								I can tell, the parallels don't remain with specific cultures for

								very long time intervals.  In other words, while at one time, we

								may draw a clear relationship between the Assyrians and the Narn,

								that doesn't allow us to chart the entirety of Narn history through

								that of Assyrians.

								     In any case, here's my best (and first) attempt to draw up a

								list of the most important parallels between Babylonian history and

								the B5 series.  Of course, more parallels may be revealed as the

								series progresses--at which time, I guess, I'll just have to add to

								this list.  Here's the list for now, though:


								------


								     There seems to be a common theme of a culture's "giving up" as

								soon as they've defeated another culture.  In ancient history, this

								theme is reflected more in terms of cultural characteristics than

								in terms of military surrender, but the parallel is clear and

								distinct.  After the Babylonians & Assyrians [Akkadians] replace

								the Sumerians, they "surrender" their culture and take on the

								important characteristics of the politically-defeated Sumerians.

								The same thing occurs when the Cassites come to power.  (Inciden-

								tally, the same thing occurs with Greece and Rome, but we're not

								interested in that right now <smile>).

								     I feel one of the most clear parallels is the one I mentioned

								above--that between the Assyrians and the Narn.  Both were cultures

								that were repressed and subjugated by their enemies--and both rose

								up as warlike, militaristic powers.  Then, at a crucial point in

								Babylonian history, the Assyrian capital, Ninevah, was destroyed.

								Does this mean that, in Chrysalis, the Narn homeworld will be

								destroyed?  Your guess is as good as mine; as I said, the parallels

								don't seem to stay with individual cultures for very long.  Also

								interestingly, the Mitanni--who were once the powerful oppressors

								of Assyria--were a culture that was on the decline, and, soon after

								the Assyrians gained their freedom, the Mitanni civilization fell.

								The Centauri seem to have undergone--and seem to continue to be

								undergoing--a similar decline.  In ancient history, the Assyrians

								eventually conquered and annexed their former oppressors.  I wonder

								if the future of the story of Babylon 5 will hold a similar fate

								for the Centauri.

								     Interesting also is that around the time of Hammurabi, there

								were five major powers, all of which were virtually equal in

								power--except for one which had an edge over the others (as the

								Minbari do, perhaps?).  I wonder if Sinclair can be referenced to

								Hammurabi.


								     These are the only conspicuous relationships that I see

								between Babylonia and B5 =so far=.  First, as I said, more will

								almost certainly develop as the series progresses, at which time

								I'll update this list.  Second, there are some vague, minor parall-

								els that I could draw by an extreme stretch of the imagination--but

								which I'd rather not, just for the sake of the credibility of this

								list as a whole.

								     Have fun analyzing, and remember that this list is by no means

								complete--nor is intended as such.  If you have any comments,

								questions, or additions (for which you will be properly credited if

								used in future editions of this file), feel free to write me at the

								address below.


								Shawn Bayern

								bayern@cshl.org

								==================

								Copyright 1994, Shawn Bayern.  All rights reserved.  Permission

								granted to freely distribute =noncommercially= as long as this

								article and this copyright notice are not altered in any way.