Introduction to Myth1. Hero: A hero is a half god whom gods take a special interest in. In the Hebrew myth, Genesis, the serpent can be described as a culture hero because his actions allow Adam and Eve to become more human.2. Trickster: A trickster is an amoral, shape-shifting deceiver who is neither good nor bad. In the Babylonian myth, Atrahasis and the Flood, Ea is a trickster god who warns Atrahasis that the flood is coming.3. Polytheism: Polytheism is the belief and worship in many gods. The Babylonians, for instance, were polytheistic because they believed in Marduk, Tiamat, and many others.4. Anthropomorphism: Anthropomorphism the concept of gods looking and thinking like human beings. In the Hebrew myth, Genesis, Yahweh is anthropomorphic.5. Binaturalism: Binaturalism is the concept of gods being with two natures. The Babylonian sea goddess, Tiamat, is binatural because she is both a god and a physical space.6. Syncretism: Syncretism is the adoption of one culture’s mythic and religious beliefs by another culture. For instance, the Roman god, Jupiter, was adopted from the Greek god, Zeus.7. Sphere of influence: Spheres of influence are areas with which gods are associated or have power. The Greek god, Zeus, is god of kingship, lightning, rain, and hospitality.8. Primordial waters: Primordial waters are waters that exist at the beginning of, or before, creation. The Babylonian gods, Tiatmat and Apsu, are the primordial water gods in the Enuma Elish.9. Ancient Near East: Ancient Near East refers to early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East. Mesopotamia and Canaan are among such civilizations.Enuma Elish 10. Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia is the region between the Tigres and Euphrates Rivers. The Sumerians and the Akkadians are Mesopotamian civilizations.11. Sumerians: The Sumerians were a Mesopotamian civilization. They are the earliest human civilization period.12. Akkadians: The Akkadians were a Mesopotamian civilization. The Babylonians and Assyrians were descendents of the Akkadians.13. Assyrians: The Assyrians were a Mesopotamian civilization. They are the descendents of the Akkadians.14. Babylonians: The Babylonians were a Mesopotamian civilization. They are the descendents of the Akkadians, and the Enuma Elish is one of their myths.15. Enuma Elish: The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian creation myth. It tells of Marduk’s rise to power and his defeat of Tiamat.16. Marduk: Marduk is a Babylonian storm god. In the Enuma Elish, he defeats Tiamat, a sea goddess, and becomes king.17. Cuneiform: Cuneiform is a type of writing present in the Babylonian culture. It consists of wedge-shaped characters, each of which stands for a particular word or sound.18. Apsu: Apsu is the Babylonian god of fresh water. He is married to Tiamat in the Enuma Elish.19. Tiamat: Tiamat is the Babylonian goddess of the sea. She is married to Apsu in the Enuma Elish.20. Lahmu: Lahmu is a Babylonian god in the Enuma Elish. His parents are Tiamat and Apsu.21. Lahamu: Lahamu is a Babylonian goddess in the Enuma Elish. Her parents are Tiamat and Apsu.22. Anshar: Anshar is a Babylonian god in the Enuma Elish. His parents are Lahmu and Lahamu.23. Kishar: Kishar is a Babylonian goddess in the Enuma Elish. Her parents are Lahmu and Lahamu.24. Anu: Anu is a binatural sky god in the Babylonian Enuma Elish. His parents are Kishar and Anshar.25. Ea/Enki/Nuddimud: Ea is the father of Marduk in the Babylonian Enuma Elish. He is a trickster god who kills Apsu and takes Mummu captive.26. Mummu: Mummu is Apsu’s right-hand man in the Babylonian Enuma Elish. He is taken captive by Ea.27. Damkina: Damkina is Ea’s wife in the Babylonian Enuma Elish. Her son is the storm god, Marduk.28. Qingu/Kingu: Qingu is in charge of Tiamat’s army of 11 monsters in the Babylonian Enuma Elish. He has the Tablet of Destinies.29. Kakka/Gaga: Kakka is the vizier of Anshar in the Babylonian Enuma Elish. He is one of the four that repeats Tiamat’s monsters passage/30. Tablet of Destinies: The Tablet of Destinies is a mysterious, powerful object that is given to Qingu in the Babylonian Enuma Elish. After Marduk defeats Tiamat and her monster army, Qingu gives it to him, who in turn, gives it to Anu.Background Reading 131. Semitic: The Akkadians, Sumerians, and Babylonians were Semitic people. These people spoke a Semitic language related to Hebrew.32. Amorites: The Amorites were another type of Semitic people who overthrew the Sumerians. They are generally called the Babylonians.33. Babylon: Babylon is the capital city of Babylonia. The patron god of the city is Marduk, a storm god in the Babylonian myth, Enuma Elish.34. Ziggurat: A ziggurat is the home of a god or goddess. The Babylonians made a ziggurat pyramid for Marduk because he is the patron god of their city.35. Akitu: Akitu is the Babylonian New Year Festival that is celebrated every year in April. The festival is in honor of Marduk, the patron god of the city of Babylon.Baal Cycle36. Baal Cycle: The Baal Cycle is a Canaanite group of poems about Baal. It tells of Baal’s palace and his battles with Yam and Mot.37. Ugarit: Ugarit is where the tablets of the Canaanite Baal Cycle were found. Baal is the patron god of Ugarit.38. Canaan: Canaan contains the lost city of Ugarit. Canaan and Ugarit have essentially the same gods.39. Canaanite: The Canaanite storm god, Baal, battles Yam and Mot in the Baal Cycle. They recited the Baal Cycle poems in autumn to celebrate the rainy season and the return of Baal.40. El: El is the father of the gods in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. He is the creator god who is in control without being declared king.41. Baal: Baal is a storm god in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. He is the son of Dagon, the god of grain.42. Hadad: Hadad is another name for Baal in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. The word itself means thunderer.43. Dagon: Dagon is the father of Baal in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. He is the god of grain.44. Zaphon: Zaphon is the sacred mountain of Baal, a storm god in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. Baal and Mot battle on this mountain.45. Asherah: Asherah is the wife of El in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. She is the mother of the gods.46. Anat: Anat is Baal’s sister in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. She is the goddess of war and hunting.47. Kothar-wa-Hasis: Kothar-wa-Hasis is a craftsman god in the Canaanite Baal Cycle. He makes two clubs for Baal to use in his battle against Yam and builds him his palace.48. Shapash:
View Full Document
Unlocking...