When was enuma elish written

Directions: Choose one (1) prompt from each of the four (4) sections below and write a 175-350 word (1/2 page to 1 page) response. All responses should be typed, double-spaced and submitted electronically to Blackboard by the assigned due date. Please use this document to record your responses.

Genesis and The Enuma Elish (50 pts.)

1. Creation myths often make claims about the workings of the natural world. Discuss 3 of these claims as found in Enuma Elish and/or Genesis. What, if anything, do these claims suggest about the culture that produced them and their understanding of the natural world?

2. Secular scholars suggest that Genesis 1 (written around 600 BCE) is most likely a retelling of the older Enuma Elish (written around 2000 BCE). What commonalities between the two do you see? Are they enough to warrant this conclusion? Why? Why not?

3. Identify and discuss 3 differences between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Are these differences enough to justify the position that these stories come from different traditions and different authors? Why or why not?

4. Many ancient cultures imagined life as formed in the clay and then quickened by the gods through their blood, their breath, or other means. Discuss the motif of the golem and the fragmenting of the deity. How do they play into the idea of “the god within?” Reference at least 2 works in your response.

Objective

Points

Comments

Response directly addresses prompt.

/10

Response cites directly (uses quotations) from source material.

/10

Response indicates a thorough understanding of source material (student has strong grasp of details and demonstrates an understanding of the culture).

/10

Response indicates the student has thought critically about the source material (draws conclusions, makes inferences, evaluates, makes connections).

/10

Response is well written, free of grammatical error, and meets the length requirement.

/10

The Epic of Gilgamesh (50 points)

1. Discuss the conflict between the civilized man and the savage as revealed in the Epic of Gilgamesh. What are the characteristics of the civilized man? How does this compare to the savage?

2. Discuss Gilgamesh’s battle with Humbaba. In the battle, what does Gilgamesh represent? What does Humbaba represent? What does the conflict reveal about the Babylonian view of man’s relationship with nature?

3. Discuss the theme of immortality in Epic of Gilgamesh. Does King Gilgamesh eventually attain immortality? How? What is the significance of this?

4. The Epic of Gilgamesh offers its own commentary on what is valuable in life. What is this commentary? Consider the tavern keeper’s advice to King Gilgamesh, the flood narrative, and Gilgamesh’s revelations at the end of the epic.

5. One of the primary themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh is Cooperation vs. Competition. Explore this theme in the work. What is being taught about the nature of competition and cooperation?

6. Compare and/or contrast the conflict of city vs. country as found in the Mesopotamian and Judaic traditions. Reference at minimum The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis in your response. How are the authors’ prejudices revealed thorough the perspective of their mythology?

7. Secular scholars suggest that the writer(s) of Gilgamesh use the story of the flood to reveal certain truths about the value of life, the corrupting influence of civilization, and the power of nature and/or the gods. If so, what truths do the story reveal? Can this also be said of Yahweh in the Genesis flood story? Consider both works in your response.

Objective

Points

Comments

Response directly addresses prompt.

/10

Response cites directly (uses quotations) from source material.

/10

Response indicates a thorough understanding of source material (student has strong grasp of details and demonstrates an understanding of the culture).

/10

Response indicates the student has thought critically about the source material (draws conclusions, makes inferences, evaluates, makes connections).

/10

Response is well written, free of grammatical error, and meets the length requirement.

/10

The Descent of Inana and The hymn to the Aten (50 pts.)

1. Joseph Campbell suggests that The Descent of Inana is about facing one’s dark side in order to have a complete understanding of one’s self. Why do you think he draws this conclusion? Is the fact that Inanna must face her sister naked in the underworld significant in this interpretation? Why?

2. The Descent of Inana contains many morals for the ancient reader. Actions have consequences. If you give in to selfish desires, they can trap you. Curiosity can get you killed. Humility is a desirable trait. There are many others. Pick one. Elaborate on it. Show your reader where in the text you find this message.

3. The Egyptian worship of Aten is considered to be the world’s first monotheism. As revealed in Hymn to the Aten, what are the characteristics of a monotheistic god? Are these characteristics consistent with Elohim of Genesis 1? Why or why not?

Objective

Points

Comments

Response directly addresses prompt.

/10

Response cites directly (uses quotations) from source material.

/10

Response indicates a thorough understanding of source material (student has strong grasp of details and demonstrates an understanding of the culture).

/10

Response indicates the student has thought critically about the source material (draws conclusions, makes inferences, evaluates, makes connections).

/10

Response is well written, free of grammatical error, and meets the length requirement.

/10

Fun with Long Words (50 pts.)

1. Anthropocentrism (Man/Human-centered): Address the notion that man is at the center of all creation as found in Enuma Elish, Hymn to the Aten, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and/or Genesis. You must reference at least 2 separate works.

2. Anthropomorphism (Made into the form of a human): The ancient gods are like humans: they see with eyes, they hear with ears, they mete out justice and revenge with arms and legs. They scheme; they plot; they get angry and vengeful (they really dislike noise and wickedness). This is consistent throughout Mesopotamian, Babylonian, Judaic and Mediterranean cultures. Discuss anthropomorphism as it pertains to the ancient gods. Reference at least 2 works in your response.

3. Geo-centrism (Earth at the center): Across all cultures, creation myths make claims about the origins of the world. In most, the earth is made first, then the heavens around it. Discuss the notion of the earth being at the center of the cosmos. What does this belief reveal about the cultures that held it? Scholars have noted that both Genesis and the Enuma Elish reveal a geo-centric worldview. Examine both works. Do they? Make an argument either for or against this conclusion.

4. Patriarchy (social structure in which the male is dominant): Ancient cultures were fiercely patriarchal. How is this social structure reflected in their mythology? Pay special attention to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis and to the gender of the dominant god(s). Reference at least 2 works in your response.

Objective

Points

Comments

Response directly addresses prompt.

/10

Response cites directly (uses quotations) from source material.

/10

Response indicates a thorough understanding of source material (student has strong grasp of details and demonstrates an understanding of the culture).

/10

Response indicates the student has thought critically about the source material (draws conclusions, makes inferences, evaluates, makes connections).

/10

Response is well written, free of grammatical error, and meets the length requirement.

/10

· Bonus (worth up to 15 points).

1. Come up with your own prompt and then offer a response or

2. Address any of the above prompts that you have not previously addressed.