Enuma Elish: The Babylonian Creation Epic: also includes 'Atrahasis', the first Great Flood myth

A really good read for anyone interested in ancient Mesopotaimian history.

I liked the general impressions but some of it was not good enough.

Very interesting book a lot of information about our history

Viewed in a modern hindsight, creation myths have been attempts to explain the inexplicable, yet for the people of their time, they were explanations, in much the same way that we now look to scientists for explanations; the Enuma Elish is one such 'explanation'. Jung pointed to their psychological significance, while Cambell demonstrated a remarkable uniformity in the elements from which these myths were composed, almost independent of the cultures in which they were found, suggesting that something was known that we now do not know, and our only record are the myths themselves, and it is the power that these myths still seem to have when heard, that contributes to their mystery. Sarna's brilliant book 'Understanding Genesis', makes it very clear that the early Hebrew writers were well aware of contemporary cultural traditions, but as they were 'pagan' there was an attempt to distance Hebraic accounts from similar ones, and in the case of the Psalms, to distinguish Hebraic perspectives from contemporary analogues. The introduction to this translation, makes it very clear that the old myths did not go away or disappear. If Isaiah can allude to characters in those myths, then it is clear that such allusions would not have taken place if the people had not understood what the allusion referred to. Factual information about the tablets on which the myth was written are kept to the minimum. Stephany avoids a Cambell - type of approach, although he does once refer to Norse Mythology and Hindu Mythology. To include all possible sources or analogues - he does not mention Hesiod or the ancient Egyptians, would have resulted in a massive introduction, which would have detracted from the simple beauty in this translation.

Pure knowledge

A light introduction to the violent immoral and arbitrary world of babylonian mythology. Unfortunately the author takes a lot of liberties with the text and makes up missing sections rather than just leaving gaps so its not very accurate.

very well done in presentation

Yes, a very nice book, thanks!