Mesopotamian Creation Myths Parallel the Bible
by Owen Borville
April 16, 2021
Bible, Literature, Archaeology
Several Mesopotamian creation myths and epics date to 2000 B.C. and parallel the Bible's Book of Genesis and even the Book of Exodus. The Mesopotamian epic myths seem to parallel the Biblical account more than those outside the region in other parts of the world, which would be expected from a real creation and flood event.
The Holy Bible has had more influence on the world than any other written document. The Bible as a collection of dozens of ancient scriptures records the Creation, the Flood and the resettlement of the nations, the establishment of the children of Abraham in Canaan, their journey into Egypt and dramatic return to Canaan led by Moses and Joshua to secure the promised land, ruled later by Judges, then Kings of a united kingdom were established. The poetic Psalms and Proverbs were recorded by the prophets over many centuries. The Kingdom of Israel was later conquered by adjacent nations and the Israelites were scattered across the region but were allowed to return home under foreign occupation, called to renew their commitment to God, rebuild their temple, and wait for the Messiah, as predicted by the prophets. The Apostles later accounted the life of Jesus Christ, teachings, and prediction of future return. Written from the 13th century B.C. to 1st century A.D. by Moses, the prophets, and apostles. Many accounts from the Book of Genesis onward were told orally for many years before finally being written down.
The Epic of Gilgamesh: The epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia (Sumerian or Akkadian Empire) recorded on clay tablet. The five Sumerian poems are the oldest surviving literature in the world. The "first great masterpiece of world literature." Gilgamesh, king of Uruk (2100 B.C.) inspired the later epic Akkadian based on a combined version known as Old Babylon. Gilgamesh, king of Uruk and hero of the Epic and Enkidu, a wild man who became civilized was created by the gods to stop Gilgamesh from oppressing the people of Uruk. Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh to a test of strength. Gilgamesh won and the two later became friends. Together they slayed the Guardian of the Forest. They also battled the goddess Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven, killing the Bull but Enkidu was killed by sickness by the gods in revenge. In the second half of the Epic, Gilgamesh sought the secret of eternal life after the loss of his friend Enkidu. He sought advice from Utnapishtim, who told him of the Great Flood. Utnapishtim was called by the god Enki to build a great ship to survive the flood, a parallel to Noah of the Bible. He also sought advice from Siduri, a female god. Major theme of Epic: death is inevitable and immortality is unattainable.
The Gilgamesh Epic describes how gods were angry with man and brought a global flood that consumed the whole earth, while a boat is built to save certain humans and animals during the flood. The hero of the story, Utnapishtim, was ordered by the god Ea in a dream to build a boat and was told how to build the boat. In the Gilgamesh account, the boat is seven stories tall while the Ark of Noah is only three. Like the Ark, the Gilgamesh boat had many rooms to house the passengers. In both accounts, there was only one door to the boat and at least one window. In both accounts, pitch was used in the construction. While the Ark of Noah was in the shape of an elongated box, the Gilgamesh boat was in the shape of a cube. Both accounts include the hero and his family as passengers but the Gilgamesh boat also included a few others. In addition, both accounts included land animals as passengers. Heavy rains caused the flood in both accounts but the Genesis account also included the "springs of the deep." In addition, while the Book of Genesis describes 40 days and nights of rain, the Gilgamesh account only describes six days of rain. The Gilgamesh epic even includes the description of birds being used to find dry land, similar to the Genesis account. The boat of Gilgamesh landed on Mount Nisir, similar to the Ark landing on Mount Ararat. There was also a sacrifice performed by Utnapishtim, like Noah. The Gilgamesh account also describe the gods blessing Utnapishtim after the flood, just like God blessed Noah and his family after the flood.
The Atra-Hasis (Akkadian/Babylonian epic) A wise man (Atrahasis, exceedingly wise) who was saved from the Flood after being warned by one of the gods (Enki or Ea) to build a ship to save himself. Tablet 1 includes the creation myth, the gods of sky, wind, Earth, and water. Humans are made by the gods out of clay, flesh, and blood from a slain god and spit. Tablet II contains famine and drought to reduce overpopulation. Tablet III is the flood myth warning from the god Enki to Atrahasis to build a boat with a roof, decks, and sealant material.
The Eridu Genesis (Sumerian Creation Myth, Sumerian Flood Story, 1600 B.C.) was one of the oldest Mesopotamian flood myths and described the creation of the world, the building of cities, and the Flood. The universe was created out of the primeval sea, the gods were created, and they made man from clay and were instructed to work the ground, crops, livestock, and worship the gods.
The Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Myth) (The Seven Tablets of Creation) The world was created with only water, freshwater and saltwater oceans, represented by gods Apsu and Tiamat (reference to the Flood). Freshwater and saltwater combined to form silt and the gods emerged from this (man from the dust of the Earth). The gods had children who populated the world. The Enuma Elish, was a major source of Babylonian worldview and includes mythological accounts of the Creation of the world, the battle between gods, the creation of man, and their obligation to serve the gods. The oldest copy, 7th century B.C., content from 2nd millennium B.C. up to 1900 B.C.
The Myth of Adapa focused on the Fall of Man and the mortality of human beings. Wisdom god Ea created the first man Adapa, who was given much wisdom and possessions, but not immortality. Later he unknowingly refused the gift of immortality, or is tricked into refusing the gift of immortality. Some compare Adapa to Adam of the Bible. Ea is the god of the freshwaters on which the Earth floats. Ea appears as a bearded man surrounded by flowing water, a parallel to Noah. The Adapa myth parallels the fall of man and immortality is a constant theme in Mesopotamian epics, along with human obligation to serve the gods who created them. Plagues, droughts, and great floods are common events, paralleling the Bible.
Ishtar's Descent Ishtar, goddess of life and fertility, who descends to the underworld and is killed, which removed fertility from the world. The gods later bring Ishtar back to life. The Erra Myth is the Akkadian myth of the plague god Erra or god of mayhem, pestilence, and political confusion from the 8th century B.C. Mesopotamian deities that were worshipped and included in myths include Nergal (or Erra) and Ereshkigal the goddess of Kur, the underworld, or the supernatural realm of the dead. Etana was the Sumerian king of Kish who was carried to heaven on the back of an eagle with the quest to find the plant of life and to have a son. Etana was king just after the Flood.
The common theme of Mesopotamian epic myths are the quest for immortality, a man who survives a great flood, earns immortality from the gods, man's purpose to serve and obey the gods, the gods punishment for disobedience through plagues, droughts, and floods. It is evident that the children of Noah once believed in the God of the Bible, but as later generations told the stories, the details changed and man fell into polytheism, worshiping multiple pagan gods as a result of imperfect human nature. Prophets were later sent to bring the people back to the God of the Bible.
by Owen Borville
April 16, 2021
Bible, Literature, Archaeology
Several Mesopotamian creation myths and epics date to 2000 B.C. and parallel the Bible's Book of Genesis and even the Book of Exodus. The Mesopotamian epic myths seem to parallel the Biblical account more than those outside the region in other parts of the world, which would be expected from a real creation and flood event.
The Holy Bible has had more influence on the world than any other written document. The Bible as a collection of dozens of ancient scriptures records the Creation, the Flood and the resettlement of the nations, the establishment of the children of Abraham in Canaan, their journey into Egypt and dramatic return to Canaan led by Moses and Joshua to secure the promised land, ruled later by Judges, then Kings of a united kingdom were established. The poetic Psalms and Proverbs were recorded by the prophets over many centuries. The Kingdom of Israel was later conquered by adjacent nations and the Israelites were scattered across the region but were allowed to return home under foreign occupation, called to renew their commitment to God, rebuild their temple, and wait for the Messiah, as predicted by the prophets. The Apostles later accounted the life of Jesus Christ, teachings, and prediction of future return. Written from the 13th century B.C. to 1st century A.D. by Moses, the prophets, and apostles. Many accounts from the Book of Genesis onward were told orally for many years before finally being written down.
The Epic of Gilgamesh: The epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia (Sumerian or Akkadian Empire) recorded on clay tablet. The five Sumerian poems are the oldest surviving literature in the world. The "first great masterpiece of world literature." Gilgamesh, king of Uruk (2100 B.C.) inspired the later epic Akkadian based on a combined version known as Old Babylon. Gilgamesh, king of Uruk and hero of the Epic and Enkidu, a wild man who became civilized was created by the gods to stop Gilgamesh from oppressing the people of Uruk. Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh to a test of strength. Gilgamesh won and the two later became friends. Together they slayed the Guardian of the Forest. They also battled the goddess Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven, killing the Bull but Enkidu was killed by sickness by the gods in revenge. In the second half of the Epic, Gilgamesh sought the secret of eternal life after the loss of his friend Enkidu. He sought advice from Utnapishtim, who told him of the Great Flood. Utnapishtim was called by the god Enki to build a great ship to survive the flood, a parallel to Noah of the Bible. He also sought advice from Siduri, a female god. Major theme of Epic: death is inevitable and immortality is unattainable.
The Gilgamesh Epic describes how gods were angry with man and brought a global flood that consumed the whole earth, while a boat is built to save certain humans and animals during the flood. The hero of the story, Utnapishtim, was ordered by the god Ea in a dream to build a boat and was told how to build the boat. In the Gilgamesh account, the boat is seven stories tall while the Ark of Noah is only three. Like the Ark, the Gilgamesh boat had many rooms to house the passengers. In both accounts, there was only one door to the boat and at least one window. In both accounts, pitch was used in the construction. While the Ark of Noah was in the shape of an elongated box, the Gilgamesh boat was in the shape of a cube. Both accounts include the hero and his family as passengers but the Gilgamesh boat also included a few others. In addition, both accounts included land animals as passengers. Heavy rains caused the flood in both accounts but the Genesis account also included the "springs of the deep." In addition, while the Book of Genesis describes 40 days and nights of rain, the Gilgamesh account only describes six days of rain. The Gilgamesh epic even includes the description of birds being used to find dry land, similar to the Genesis account. The boat of Gilgamesh landed on Mount Nisir, similar to the Ark landing on Mount Ararat. There was also a sacrifice performed by Utnapishtim, like Noah. The Gilgamesh account also describe the gods blessing Utnapishtim after the flood, just like God blessed Noah and his family after the flood.
The Atra-Hasis (Akkadian/Babylonian epic) A wise man (Atrahasis, exceedingly wise) who was saved from the Flood after being warned by one of the gods (Enki or Ea) to build a ship to save himself. Tablet 1 includes the creation myth, the gods of sky, wind, Earth, and water. Humans are made by the gods out of clay, flesh, and blood from a slain god and spit. Tablet II contains famine and drought to reduce overpopulation. Tablet III is the flood myth warning from the god Enki to Atrahasis to build a boat with a roof, decks, and sealant material.
The Eridu Genesis (Sumerian Creation Myth, Sumerian Flood Story, 1600 B.C.) was one of the oldest Mesopotamian flood myths and described the creation of the world, the building of cities, and the Flood. The universe was created out of the primeval sea, the gods were created, and they made man from clay and were instructed to work the ground, crops, livestock, and worship the gods.
The Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Myth) (The Seven Tablets of Creation) The world was created with only water, freshwater and saltwater oceans, represented by gods Apsu and Tiamat (reference to the Flood). Freshwater and saltwater combined to form silt and the gods emerged from this (man from the dust of the Earth). The gods had children who populated the world. The Enuma Elish, was a major source of Babylonian worldview and includes mythological accounts of the Creation of the world, the battle between gods, the creation of man, and their obligation to serve the gods. The oldest copy, 7th century B.C., content from 2nd millennium B.C. up to 1900 B.C.
The Myth of Adapa focused on the Fall of Man and the mortality of human beings. Wisdom god Ea created the first man Adapa, who was given much wisdom and possessions, but not immortality. Later he unknowingly refused the gift of immortality, or is tricked into refusing the gift of immortality. Some compare Adapa to Adam of the Bible. Ea is the god of the freshwaters on which the Earth floats. Ea appears as a bearded man surrounded by flowing water, a parallel to Noah. The Adapa myth parallels the fall of man and immortality is a constant theme in Mesopotamian epics, along with human obligation to serve the gods who created them. Plagues, droughts, and great floods are common events, paralleling the Bible.
Ishtar's Descent Ishtar, goddess of life and fertility, who descends to the underworld and is killed, which removed fertility from the world. The gods later bring Ishtar back to life. The Erra Myth is the Akkadian myth of the plague god Erra or god of mayhem, pestilence, and political confusion from the 8th century B.C. Mesopotamian deities that were worshipped and included in myths include Nergal (or Erra) and Ereshkigal the goddess of Kur, the underworld, or the supernatural realm of the dead. Etana was the Sumerian king of Kish who was carried to heaven on the back of an eagle with the quest to find the plant of life and to have a son. Etana was king just after the Flood.
The common theme of Mesopotamian epic myths are the quest for immortality, a man who survives a great flood, earns immortality from the gods, man's purpose to serve and obey the gods, the gods punishment for disobedience through plagues, droughts, and floods. It is evident that the children of Noah once believed in the God of the Bible, but as later generations told the stories, the details changed and man fell into polytheism, worshiping multiple pagan gods as a result of imperfect human nature. Prophets were later sent to bring the people back to the God of the Bible.