Lecture Outline: Atrahasis and the Flood I. Flood mytha) originated in Mesopotamia?• The earliest flood myths we have come from Mesopotamia b) Tigris and Euphrates?• Known to flood – flood myths began by someone extrapolating the natural floods of the rivers into something much bigger. c) myth spread abroad II. Flood Myth: Basic Scheme1) god angry at humans2) sends flood to destroy life on earth3) another god warns one mana. build boatb. put animals on it4) man and wife survive flood5) man sacrifices to gods6) gods regret sending flood III. Several flood mythsa) [Sumerian versions = 3000-2000 BCE (fragmentary)]b) Babylonian version: Atrahasis = c. 1700 BCEc) Babylonian version: Epic of Gilgamesh = c. 1200 BCEd) Hebrew version: Genesis = c. 950-550 BCEe) Greco-Roman version: Ovid’s Metamorphoses = 8 CE IV. Atrahasis a) poem1. fragments: Old Babylonian version (c. 2000-1600 BCE)• Enki2. fragments: Standard Babylonian version (c. 1000-539 BCE)• Eac) Ipiq-Aya (c. 1700) = author (or compiler?)• His name is attached to it, but we are unsure if he is actually the author c) 3 tablet poem (cuneiform) V. Atrahasis: Gods at Worka) 3600 years: gods dig canals• Were major irrigation in Mesopotamia – It was the kings job to make sure that there was good irrigation from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers b) gods: workers’ strikec) complain to Ellil1. Ellil = gods’ boss2. Ellil = storms and winds• Tablet 1 “They took the….”d) author of Atrahasis says:1. gods drew lots2. Ellil = earth3. Anu = sky4. Enki/Ea = apsu• Gods complain to Ellil because he is in charge of it d) Ellil: Anu and Enki (advice)• Asks Anu and Enki for advice. Enki is the god of wisdom – he often gives advicef) Enki’s advicea) creator goddess Mami/Nintu: humans• Have Mami create humans to do the work of the godsb) humans, work of godsc) blood of slain god g) mortality of Mesopotamian gods vs. immortality of Greek godsa) Greek athanatoi = “deathless” = gods• God’s don’t dieb) Greek thnetoi = “dead” = humans• Humans live for such a short amount of time that we are already dead h) creation of humansa) god Ilawela slain (blood, clay)• To create humans b) 14 pieces (clay + blood) = 7 women, 7 men• His body is mixed with clay to create humans (By Mami)• Enki is directly connected to the creation of humans. He is a trickster (culture hero?) and tricksters are often associated with human creation VI. Atrahasis: The Anger of Ellila) 600 years pass• Since human creationb) overpopulated humans1. no mortality? 2. long lives? c) noise of humans annoys Ellil (cf.Enuma Elish: Apsud) Ellil: plague (#1)• Attempt number one to kill off humans (just humans, no animals ect.)e) Atrahasis (= “extra wise”), king of Shuruppak 1. Enki/Ea2. Mesopotamian concept of personal god3. cf. patron god (Marduk and Babylon)• Patron god = protecting god• Sometimes you could have a god that protected one person • Atrahasis and Ea both have to do with wisdom. Ea watches over hime) Enki’s advice: worshippers’ strike• Atrahasis says that his people are dying, so Enki suggests that he goes on worship strike. He should now only worship the god Namtara 1. god Namtara (temple)2. Namtara lifts plaguef) Ellil: famine (#2)• Attempt number two to kill off humans1. Enki’s advice to Atrahasis• Go on worshiper’s strick again, only worship Adad2. god Adad (temple)3. Adad lifts famine g) Ellil: drought (#3)• Third attempt to kill off humans1. fragmentary text2. third god lifts drought VII. Atrahasis: The Flood a) Ellil sends flood• Last attempt to kill off everythingb) Enki1. swears oath• Not to warn human beings that a flood is coming 2. “wall, reed hut”• BUT Enki gets around this by telling a wall that a flood is coming. Behind that was is Atrahasis c) Enki’s advice to Atrahasis1. build boat2. put animals on itd) New Atrahasis Fragment (see Course Library)• “Wall, wall! Reed wall, reed wall! Atram-Hasis, pay heed to my advice, that you may live forever! Destroy your house, build a bot; despise possession And save life! Draw out the boat that you will build with a circular design; let its length and breadth be the same.”1. boatbuilding instructions from Enki2. boat, palm fibers• Palm fibers woven together 3. circular e) fragmentary text 1. boat (animals, family)2. flood begins (7 days, 7 nights)3. Mami/Nintu weeps (humans)• She created humans, they are like her children f) text resumes (gap)1. flood over2. boat landed3. sacrifice• Atrahasis sacrifice – the sacrifice is like a reconcile to the gods g) ancient practice of animal sacrifice1. sacrifice = “make (-fic) sacred (sacr-)”2. why sacrifice animals to gods?• We don’t know how it got started but we know that many cultures did it 3. gods consume smoke (savor of burning flesh)• The smoke of the burning animal would go up to the gods and the gods would somehow consume it and enjoy it h) gods gather “like flies”• Around the sacrifice – uses the words “like flies”i) Nintu, Ellil (and Anu), flood• Nintu: Look at what Atrahasis is doing to honor us. Ellil and Anu, why would you send the floods? The gods begin to regret it. j) Ellil angry (boat)• He sees the boat of Atrahasisk) Enki 1. admits advice2. solution to human overpopulation• Admits that he went around his oath, but suggests a solution to human overpopulation• He suggests: l) Nintu institutes1. infant mortality2. shorter human lifespan/mortality?• To shorten their lifespan or to make them mortal – we are unsure m) Enki’s/Nintu’s solution = no future
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