The proper names occurring in these documents, compounded as these names in most cases are with some deity,[184] furnish some additions to the pantheon of Babylonia.

Naturally, a distinction is to be made between deities introduced in temple lists and in the course of legal proceedings, and such as are merely known through forming an element in proper names.

The former constitute a part of what might be called the 'active' pantheon of the time.

Deities that are actually invoked by contracting parties for whatever purpose are such as are endowed with real significance; and if any of these are not mentioned in the historical texts proper, the omission is due to the lack of material.
The testimony of the legal documents in this respect is fully as valid as is that of the historical texts.

In proper names the case is different.