... In a fragment of Berosus upon the Chaldean theogony, we are told that a monster, half man and half fish, rose from the Red Sea, and made his appearance near Babylon.  He abode with men by day, without food, and taught them letters and sciences, and whatever could contribute to civilize their manners.  At sunset he withdrew into the sea, and spent the night in the waters.  This monster, Oannes, is said to have written a book about the origin of things, in which he taught that there was a time when all was water and darkness, and that all animals were of a monstrous make, like the representations of them in the temple of Belus.  It was added that a woman, named Omarosa (probably the sea), was mistress of the universe, and that Belus clove her asunder, formed earth of the one part, and heaven of the other, and put all those monsters to death.  Then this god divided the darkness, separated earth from heaven, and ranged the universe in order;... (The America Presbyterian Review, Smith, v.4, 1862)