The Ship of Ishtar

When archaeologist John Kenton unseals an ancient Babylonian artifact, he is pulled from his world and dropped onto the deck of a magical vessel. The ship is trapped in an eternal voyage across an alien sea, sailing between two warring domains: the realms of light and darkness, love and death, governed by the rival deities Ishtar and Nergal.

Aboard the galley, Kenton is thrust into a divine proxy war. Alongside the warrior Sigurd and the priestess Sharane, he navigates a mutiny of chained slaves and a collision course with the Black Priest. To survive the journey, Kenton must break his own bonds and seize command of the vessel before it reaches the Sorcerers’ City and the Altar of Bel.

Serialized in 1924, Abraham Merritt's novel is a foundational text of early weird fiction and pulp fantasy, fusing ancient mythology with alternate-world adventure.