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Surviving tablets from 1st millennium BC, but probably dates from 2nd millennium BC

The Epic of Creation - Enuma Elish. Surviving tablets from 1st millennium BC, but probably dates from 2nd millennium BC Origins in Babylon, used in rituals in city, esp. New Year festival in Nisan (April). The Epic of Creation - Enuma Elish. Later adapted for use in Assur in

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Surviving tablets from 1st millennium BC, but probably dates from 2nd millennium BC

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  1. The Epic of Creation - Enuma Elish Surviving tablets from 1st millennium BC, but probably dates from 2nd millennium BC Origins in Babylon, used in rituals in city, esp. New Year festival in Nisan (April)

  2. The Epic of Creation - Enuma Elish Later adapted for use in Assur in Assyria, with hero being patron god Assur Highly nationalistic

  3. The Epic of Creation: Summary In beginning is only Apsu (fresh-water ocean) and Tiamat (salt-water ocean). They give birth to line of gods ending in Nudimmud (Ea), father of Marduk Younger gods make too much noise. Apsu plots to kill them, but Ea kills Apsu, imprisons his vizier Mummu, builds home with Apsu’s body

  4. The Epic of Creation: Summary Marduk is born, plays with four winds and disturbs Tiamat. Elder gods persuade her to attack younger gods. She chooses Qingu as leader and gives him Tablet of Destinies Anshar sends Ea, then Anu, to face Tiamat, but they fail

  5. The Epic of Creation: Summary Ea calls on Marduk to face Tiamat. He accepts on condition that gods make him their ruler. His power is proved using constellation Marduk faces Tiamat, kills her with imhullu- wind, routs her army and takes Tablet of Destinies

  6. The Epic of Creation: Summary Marduk completes creation of world using body of Tiamat. Humans are created, using blood of Qingu, to do work of gods Gods build Babylon as shrine to Marduk and acclaim him with 50 names, which narrator urges listeners to remember

  7. Kingship: advocating monarchy over primitive democracy Thorkild Jacobsen, The Treasures of Darkness (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976) “Triggers” leading to articulation of idea: 1. Apsu’s failure to gain Tiamat’s support for destruction of younger gods (pp. 233-34). Ea’s taking of the initiative (p. 234)

  8. 2. Consultation leading to choice of leaders by both Tiamat (pp. 236-38) and younger gods (pp. 239-49). Reflecting practices of earlier centuries 3. Marduk’s keeping of kingship through impressing younger gods (pp. 254-60, esp. 257, 258-59 and 260) 4. Creation of primitive man leading to permanency of Marduk’s kingship (pp. 261 and 264-73)

  9. Order from chaos (pp. 255-56) Epic of Creation vs. Anzu: influence of agendas Issue of family authority/slaying of ancestors (pp. 252-53 and 236-37). Possible reflection of Babylon’s wars against ancient Sumer in first half of 2nd millennium BC?

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