The Babylonian Genesis : The Story of Creation

Description

Here is a complete translation of all the published cuneiform tablets of the various Babylonian creation stories, of both the Semitic Babylonian and the Sumerian material. Each creation account is preceded by a brief introduction dealing with the age and provenance of the tablets, the aim and purpose of the story, etc. Also included is a translation and discussion of two Babylonian creation versions written in Greek. The final chapter presents a detailed examination of the Babylonian creation accounts in their relation to our Old Testament literature. Alexander Heidel was at the time of his death in 1955 on the research staff of the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago. Cover Back Cover Title Preface Contents List of Illustrations List of Symbols and Special Characters 1. Enuma Elish The Discovery of the Tablets The Publication of the Material A Summary of the Story The Object of the Epic The Sources of the Epic The Date of Composition The Meter of the Poem "Enuma Elish" and the New Year's Festival Tablet I Tablet II Tablet III Tablet IV Tablet V Tablet VI Tablet VII Epilogue 2. Related Babylonian Creation Stories A Bilingual version of the Creation of the World by Marduk The Creation of Living Creatures "When Anu had Created the Heavens The Creation of Man Another Account of the Creation of Man A Sumerian Creation Account from Nippur The Worm and the Toothache The Creation of Moon and Sun An Address to the River Excerpts from Damascius and Berossus 3. Old Testament Parallels Divine Principles Whence Matter? Polytheism and Monotheism Primeval Chaos Tiamat and Tehom Primeval Darkness Light Before the Luminaries The Marduk-Tiamat Conflict The Creation of the Firmament The Creation of the Earth The Creation of the Luminaries The Creation of Plant and Animal Life The Creation of Man The Fall of Man The Word of the Creators Divine Rest The Seven Tablets and the Seven Days The Outlines of "Enuma Elish" and Gen. 1:1—2:3 "Enuma Elish" and Gen. 1:1—2:3 Doubtless Related: Three Explanations Concluding Remarks Appendix The Slaying of the "Labbu The Myth of the Storm-God Zu The Adapa Legend Plates