Epics of Early Civilization: Myths of the Ancient Near EastFor centuries, the epics, legends and myths of Mesopotamia's ancient civilization lay buried under the desert sands, along with great cities like Babylon, Nineveh, Ur, and Ashur, waiting for the day when archaeologists would reveal them to the modern world. These myths represent some of the earliest literature ever found. Peopled with characters like the goddess Ishtar and the warrior-king Gilgamesh, they are filled with universal themes that resonate even today. |
Common terms and phrases
Adapa Akkadian ancient Near East Anzu apsu Aqhat Aratta asked Assyrian Atra-hasis Azag Baal Baal's Babylon Babylonian battle Canaanite century BC civilization clay tablets created cuneiform daughter death deities demons depicted divine dream Dumuzi Earth Empire Enki Enki's Enkidu Enlil Enmerkar Enuma elish epic Ereshkigal Euphrates father favoured fertility flood gallas gates gave Gilgamesh goddess Anat goddess Inana gods Hattusas hero Hittite human humankind Hurrian Huwawa immortality Inana Ishtar journey Keret killed king kingship Kothar wa-Hasis Kumarbi land lived Lord of Aratta lover Lugalbanda Marduk Mesopotamian mighty millennium BC monster mother mountains myth Namtar Nanna Nergal Nineveh Ninhursaga Ninlil Ninmah Ninurta Nippur offered once palace rain returned ritual river ruler seized sent seven silver sister stone storm story Sumer Sumerian Telipinu temple Teshub throne Tiamat Tigris told Ugarit Underworld Uruk Uruk's Ut-napishti warrior wife wild Yamm young