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Enuma Elish Analysis (part 2)

Enuma Elish Analysis (part 2). World Literature Mr. Brennan. Wednesday, September 11, 2013. Do-Now. Final Cause of Enuma Elish. Why would Ancient Mesopotamians create a myth such as Enuma Elish ? Why create a story of all -powerful gods? What would their “final cause” be?

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Enuma Elish Analysis (part 2)

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  1. EnumaElishAnalysis (part 2) World Literature Mr. Brennan

  2. Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Do-Now Final Cause ofEnumaElish Why would Ancient Mesopotamians create a myth such as EnumaElish? Why create a story of all-powerful gods? What would their “final cause” be? What would their existence explain?

  3. AGENDA SWBATgain a deeper understanding of Ancient Mesopotamian culture by analyzing the form and function of the creation story, EnumaElish. Learning Objective • Review: EnumaElish(worksheet) none Homework Reminders

  4. Void and World Parents Portrayals ofEnumaElish Polytheistic Hierarchy w/ Supreme Ruler • Metaphysical (Origin of Cosmos): • Religious (Poly- Mono- theistic): • Social/Political (Hierarchy of Power): • Social/Political (Patri- Matri- archy): • Axis mundi (World Axis): • Anthropological (Origin of Man): • Environmental (Explanation of Natural): • Psychological (Psyche/Archetypes): • Morality (Values/Good v. Evil/Purpose of Man): Patriarchy Babylon Created by Ea, on behalf of Marduk , from blood of Qingu World Comprised of Tiamat Personification of Gods [we will cover this in a future lesson] serve the gods, build and look after the shrines; criminals face Marduk

  5. Significance ofEnumaElish Marduk and his dragon • Affirms the kingship as natural embodiment of society • The region’s major cultural and religious center had always been the city of NIPPUR, where the god ENLIL (Ea) was supreme • However, with the rise of Hammurabi,MARDUK rose to supremacy over the other Mesopotamian gods and BABYLON became known as a "holy city" where any legitimate ruler of Mesopotamia had to be crowned.

  6. Significance ofEnumaElish • Cyclical Transformation: The act of creation through the transformation of a dead body expresses the idea that our bodies take shape thanks to the energy that comes from the cosmos, and will eventually go right back into the land to begin the transformative process all over again. • Cyclical Violence towards Order & Fate: Apsu & Tiamat’s murder symbolizes the presence and suppression of primal appetites that must occur before society can come into being. [Struggle can produce a better world. From murder and bloodshed comes beauty and order.]Although, the forces of chaos never disappear completely.

  7. Significance ofEnumaElish At one time it was fashionable to describe Western culture as swinging between two poles: Athens and Jerusalem, or classical culture and Judeo-Christian religion. Both of those cultural currents were profoundly influenced by EnumaElish. For all its apparent unfamiliarity, few works have had so profound an impact on Western civilization.

  8. EnumaElish Video (see website)

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