Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and OthersStephanie Dalley The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia thrived between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates over 4,000 years ago. The myths collected here, originally written in cuneiform on clay tablets, include parallels with the biblical stories of the Creation and the Flood, and the famous Epic of Gilgamesh, the tale of a man of great strength, whose heroic quest for immortality is dashed through one moment of weakness. Recent developments in Akkadian grammar and lexicography mean that this new translation--complete with notes, a glossary of deities, place-names, and key terms, and illustrations of the mythical monsters featured in the text--will replace all other versions. |
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Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, The Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others Stephanie Dalley Limited preview - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
Adad Adapa Addressed his words Akkadian alewife Anshar Anunnaki Anzu Apsu assembly Assyria Atrahasis Babylon battle Berossus Bull of Heaven cattle created cult centres cuneiform death door dream dwelling eagle earth Ekur Ellil Enki Enkidu Epic of Creation epithet Ereshkigal Eridu Erra and Ishum Etana face father Flood gate Gilgamesh spoke goddess gods heard and spoke Hittite Humbaba Huwawa Igigi Ishtar Ishum Kakka king kingship Kinnier Wilson Lahmu land lapis lazuli lines fragmentary lines missing listened looked Lord mankind mantle of radiance Marduk Mesopotamia millennium mother mountain myth Namtar Nergal Nergal and Ereshkigal night Nineveh Ninsun Ninurta Nusku Old Babylonian Qingu rites roam open country seized seven Shamash Shamhat shrines slew speech Sumerian story Tablet of Destinies temple Tiamat took translation Underworld Ur-shanabi Uruk Ut-napishtim vizier voice heard warrior Erra weapons weep wild winds young