Enuma Elish Research Paper

Creation stories are symbolic accounts of how the world and its inhabitants came about. These stories first developed in oral traditions, so there are multiple accounts of them from different cultures and societies. The Babylonian Creation story, the Genesis Creation story, and the Sumerian story of the Creation of Enkidu are examples of these and the similarities are interesting. As Dennis Bratcher states, “Because of many parallels with the Genesis account, some historians concluded that the Genesis account was simply a rewriting of the Babylonian Story. As a reaction, many who wanted to maintain the uniqueness of the Bible argues either that there were no real parallels between the accounts or that the Genesis narratives were

The creation of the Earth, human beings, and all that is existent and nonexistent is a topic that has been discussed and pondered as long as time itself. Cosmologies may contrast greatly from region to region, while some cultures’ beliefs run parallel to each other. The Babylonian creation myth detailed in the “Enuma Elis” and one of the Egyptian creation myths narrated in the “Hymn to Aten” outline the culture’s own religious answer to the working of the universe. The “Enuma Elis” follows the story of multiple gods that, when working with and working against each other, create a greater being which ultimately creates human life. The Egyptian “Hymn to Aten” depicts the power of their god and the nature in which their Earth exists. The

The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian creation story comprised of seven tablets. It was thought to be used during celebrations and ceremonies in 12th century B.C. The story focuses on many Gods, primarily Tiamat and Marduk. The title, Enuma Elish means “when on high” in old Babylonian.

The epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest primary document discovered in human history dating back to approximately 2,000 B.C.E. This document tells a story of an ancient King Gilgamesh, ruler of Sumer in 2,700 B.C.E. who is created gloriously by gods as one third man and two third god. In this epic, Gilgamesh begins his kingship as an audacious and immature ruler. Exhausted from complaints, the gods send a wild man named Enkidu to become civilized and assist Gilgamesh to mature into a righteous leader. However, Enkidus death causes Gilgamesh to realize his fear of immortality and search for an escape from death. On his journey, Gilgamesh learns that the gods will not grant his wish and that he must

    The Enuma Elish, often known as The Creation Epic, is often considered the primary source of Mesopotamian cosmology. However, to view the Enuma Elish as a cosmological myth obscures the true intent of the epicís author. The cosmological elements of the Enuma Elish are secondary to the authorís effort to explain the supremacy of Marduk, to justify absolute oriental monarchy, and to defend Babylon as the axis mundi.

Gilgamesh is the oldest piece of epic Western literature known to mankind and was written in 2000 B.C., which predates the Old Testament. It is a heroic, epic poem that explores friendship, mortality, and humanity. According to the poem, Gilgamesh was part man and part god, the biggest part being made in heaven and the smaller somewhere on earth (21). Gilgamesh, the ruler of Uruk, is the best of the best and is thought of as god-like. The men that Gilgamesh ruled over cried out to the gods asking for help to send someone to humble Gilgamesh. The gods created Enkidu, a man that matched Gilgamesh’s strength and virtues, to humble Gilgamesh. The two become friends, humbling Gilgamesh. Enkidu ultimately dies in the epic poem, leaving Gilgamesh distraught but starting him on his pursuit to find immortality. His search for eternal life leads him to Utnapishtim, the only survivor of the flood and the only man to become immortal. Utnapishtim gives Gilgamesh the secret to eternal life, but Gilgamesh’s eternal life is stolen from him by a serpent. In the end of Gilgamesh, he learns that

Gilgamesh existed as one of the oldest known Sumerian rulers of all time and is accredited to many accomplishments. Legend has it that he created the first Sumerian civilization, constructing a city with many elaborate temples and immense walls. However, he has also been characterized as one of the cruelest and most self-centered rulers of all. Throughout the course of Gilgamesh’s life he goes from being a womanizing, slave driving ruler to a negligent and stubborn king, who not even god-sent Enkidu could help transform into a better king.

Within “Enuma Elish,” the Babylonians gave an account of how they believed the world was formed. The gods were viewed as most important, and supposedly had absolute power, however, these gods were not preexisting, nor all powerful. “I shall appoint my holy chambers / I shall establish my kingship”(V.32.7-8). The gods were believed to rule over everything that occurred in the universe. Contrary to the most high God, the gods depicted in Enuma Elish were self centered, arrogant bigots. According to this myth, humans were created to serve the gods. “I shall create humankind, they shall bear the gods’ burdens that those may rest”(VI.33.6-7-8). Marduk, the creator god, was viewed as a hero, because of his overthrowing of Tiamat and Apsu. “He is indeed the son, the Sun, the most radiant of the gods”(VI.35.87-88). Though Marduk

In the beginning of Tablet VI of the Enuma Elish, the passage “I shall make stand a human being…” (The Norton Anthology, Volume A, pg. 35) is a reminder of Christianity because this passage begins to explain the Babylonian belief of how humankind was created. In comparison to the Biblical explanation for the creation of man which the passage states, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth” (New International Version (NIV) Bible). The Babylonian and Hebrew belief both explain the creation of man and the two beliefs have similarities and differences which are stated below. For example, the Babylonian belief states that man was created from the blood of Qingu, the leader of the Anunna-gods who was sacrificed.

The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian creation myth that explains the opinion on how the heavens and the earth was created. Essentially, it is a cycle of seasons that encompasses the order between chaos and order. The version of Enuma Elish follows the story of the gods Marduk, Tiamat, Anu or Ea, Anshar, Kishar and many others. It begins when Tiamat’s husband, Apsu, is murdered by Anu thus creating a rift among the gods. Tiamat is enraged by her husband’s death and goes on a vengeful rampage. Throughout class we have discussed Staub’s view on evil while formulating our own thoughts and opinions on the subject. In particular we are currently studying the basic human needs and their role in altruism and aggression. Furthermore we will apply the certain basic needs, Effectiveness and Control and Positive Identity to the Enuma Elish and discuss how they fit (or not)

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest epic known to date. It is an old Babylonian tale first written down in Sumerian. The first known copy of the epic is dated to around 2100 to 2000 B.C.E. However, it is believed to have originated many years earlier passed along though oral story telling. The epic was used in Babylonian schools to teach literature to students (Puchner 36). In ancient times, the Epic of Gilgamesh was widely read from Mesopotamia to Syria to Levant and Anatolia. The epic was also translated into non-Mesopotamian languages such as Hittite (Puchner 34). The story we know today was expanded upon around 1200 B.C.E. by a Babylonian priest. “The eleven-tablet version may be said to have assumed its present form during the latter part of the second millennium”(Abusch 618). It was then written down again and stored in the library of an Assyrian king named Ashurbanipal (Ziolkowski 55-56). It was thanks to this act that

Since the beginning of time, societies have created stories to explain the mystery of the origin of man and the universe. In the Babylonian text, Enuma Elish and the book of Genesis-which originated in the same part of the world-one finds two very different stories about the creation of man. These two creation stories contrast the two societies that created them: the chaotic lives of servitude of the Babylonians and the lives of the recently freed Jewish people.

As written in the Old Testament the "Creation Story" describing how the Earth and mankind were created became a fundamental part of Judaism and Christianity. Creation myths similar to the Judaic and Christian creation myth are found in other ancient civilizations and cultures of the Near East such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians and the Persians. The Enuma Elish also known as the Seven Tablets of Creation, written as early as 1800BC, and discovered, in 1849AD, exhibits parallels to the creation as described in the Old Testament. These seven tablets written in a combination of Sumerian-Akkadian cuneiform script details the creation of the Earth and mankind in six days.

Gilgamesh was the son of the goddess Ninsun and the former King of Uruk Lugalbanda, this made him one-third man and two-thirds god. He was created by Nintu, who is the great Mother Goddess, out of clay. Many other gods had given him other qualities during his creation like beauty, courage, and wisdom. Gilgamesh lived without any fear and did whatever he pleased even if it meant hurting others. His behavior was so unruly

The Mesopotamian creation myth incorporated many characteristics that define to most myths in general. One of the characteristics incorporated in the creation myth is that it takes place in the distant past, or in this case the beginning or pre-history. This characteristic is initially described in the opening passage of the Enuma Elish, “when on high [enuma elish] heaven and earth had not yet been named” (Leeming 19), and further codified by describing how the gods Apsu and Tiamat created “the silt deposits Lahmu and Lahamu, which we call ‘land’” (Leeming 19). A second characteristic of myths portrayed in this creation story is that it is a tale of supernatural beings, goddesses, or gods. Besides, Apsu, freshwater, and Tiamat, great saltwater