Introduction to MythHero – Figures in which the gods take special interest to, help them on their heroic quest, could be negative attention as well (Hercules)Trickster- amoral, shape shifting, deceivers, instigators, culture heroes like Prometheus and bugs bunny.Polytheism- Belief in many gods; worship, Greeks. Anthropomorphism- Conception of gods “in shape of human beings” Bi naturalism- Conception of gods with two natures1. Physical space and god (Sky god, earth, and sea) 2. Abstract concept and god (Love, victory, envy) 3. Thing and god (Vedic gods, Agni = Fire and Soma = Sacred Drinks) Syncretism- Adaption of one cultures mythic belief by another culture; Mixing of two cultures. 1. Sumerians Inanna = Akkadian Ishtar2. Greek Zeus = Roman Jupiter Sphere of influence- Areas with which gods are associated power1. Ishtar = goddess of sexual desire, war, morning/evening star (Venus) 2. Zeus = God of Rain, Lighting, kingship, hospitalityPrimordial waters- 1. Waters that exist at the beginning of or even before creation.2. In many creation myths3. Usually precedes the sea and other bodies of waterAncient Near East- Commonly referred to as ANE 1. Canaan = Modern day Syria, Lebanon, Israel2. Anatolia/Asia Minor = Turkey and Egypt. Enuma Elish (Babylonian Myth) Mesopotamia- 1. “Land between Rivers” 2. Tigris and Euphrates Sumerians- earliest human civilization in Mesopotamian civilizationAkkadians- Spoke the dialect of the AkkadiansBabylonians- Spoke the dialect of the Akkadians Enuma Elish- c. 1000 BCE1. Babylonian creation epic2. Means “When on High”3. Recited/performed at the Babylonian new year festival4. Tells of the rise of power of Marduk A. Creation myth - Literary work that tells a mythB. Succession myth – Apsu/Tiamat/MardukMarduk- (King of Babylon/gods)1. Marduk = patron god of Babylon 2. Storm god3. Not Bi Natural 4. Has 4 eyes and 4 ears, Breathes fire.5. With his winds and bow, defeats Tiamat and creates the earth and sky out of the monster.6. Creation of humans is the work of the godsa) Marduk Vs. Tiamat –a. Thunderstorm vs. Sea b. Babylon vs. Sea land (Tiamat, Enemy State) c. Order (Marduk) vs. Chaos (Tiamat) Cuneiform- Clay Tablets in the form of poetry which ancient society was written in, easier to memorize. Apsu- Fresh water, Bi natural, produces gods with Tiamat1. From the noise of gods, can’t sleep2. Plots destruction3. Tiamat protests4. Vizier mummu incites ApsuTiamat- Salt water (Sea), Bi natural, produced gods with Apsu1. The 4 winds given to Marduk disturb Tiamat 2. Gods cant sleep3. Creates an army of 11 monsters4. Defeated by Marduk5. Split in two, creates both the lowermost sky and earth6. Eyes = Tigris and Euphrates rivers7. Breasts = Mountains. Lahmu (m) - Produced from both Apsu and Tiamat Lahamu (f) – Produced from both Apsu and Tiamat1. First two gods Anshar (m) – Produced from both Lahmu and Lahamu 1. Sends Ea, then Anu in failure, then send MardukKishar (f) – Produced from both Lahmu and Lahamu1. Produced Anu Anu- 1. Sky god2. Bi natural3. Esp. uppermost sky (Tripartite) 4. Father of Ea5. Gives Marduk 4 winds6. Grandfather of Marduk 7. Is given the Tablet of Destinies from Marduk after defeating TiamatEa/Enki/Nuddimud- 1. Sphere’s of influence = cleverness/wisdom and freshwater 2. Trickster god3. Assoc. with human creation by giving the idea of using Qingu’s blood to create humans.a) Finds out Apsu’s plotb) Lulls Apsu, Mummu to sleepc) Kills Apsu/ takes Mummu captived) Home/temple in Apsu = Reservoir of fresh watere) Ea + Damkina = Marduk (Son of Ea) f) Finds out the plot of Tiamat, goes to AnsharMummu- Is the vizier of ApsuDamkina- Produced MardukQingu/Kingu- 1. Leader of the army created by Tiamat2. Given Tablet of Destiny3. Taken captive after Marduk defeats Tiamat4. From the blood that spills from his arteries the gods create humans.Kakka/Gaga- Vizier of Anshar Tablet of Destinies – Controls god’ powers/spheres of influence Background Reading 1Semitic1. The Akkadians were Semitic people; meaning that they spoke Semitic language related to Ancient HebrewAmorites (Babylonians)- Spoke the Dialect of Akkadians. Babylon- Was an important city-state in an area known as Mesopotamia Ziggurat- Was considered the home of the god/goddess while he/she was staying in a particular city. Akitu- Babylonian new years festival celebrated every April. Baal Cycle (Canaanite) Baal Cycle – 1. Group of poems about Baal2. 3 poems3. Baal vs. Yam (sea) 4. Palace of Baal, Baal vs. Mot (Death)5. Poem celebrates victory of Autumn rain (Baal) over summer drought (Mot) Ugarit- Tablets found in UgaritCanaan- lost city of Ugarit located in the region of Canaan El “god”1. Creator god2. “Father” of the gods3. Wise and eternal (old) 4. Sacred mountain (2 rivers = freshwater)5. Agrees to give up Baal to Yam 6. King of the gods7. Dreams Baal is aliveBaal (lord) 1. Storm goda) Aka Hadad “Thunderer”b) River on the cloudsc) Wind godd) Fertility gode) Farmers worship him, fishers, sailors. f) Son of Dagong) Baal, using the two clubs given to him by Kothar, smashes Yama. Wind/lighting/storm at seab. Order of Chaos h) Baal mates w/ cow, produces son to trick mot (death) who kills substitute. i) Real Baal hides in underworldj) Palace = King, Temple = Patron god of Ugaritk) King of the earth l) With Baal’s absence – Summer droughtm) Emerges from the underworld Hadad- ThundererDagon- God of GrainZaphon- MountainAsherah1. Wife of El2. “Mother” of the godsAnat- 1. Sister of Baal 2. Nubile, virgin goddess3. Goddess of war and hunting (Blood thirsty)4. Goes to battle, slaughters warriors, helps Baal defeat Yam.5. Tries to kill Mot6. Cuts up/grinds up/sows motKothar-wa-Hasis- 1. Craftsman god2. Cf. Hephaestus3. Makes two clubs for Baal4. Builds Baal’s house, Made of Cedar, Cf. King Solomon’s Temple5. Wants to build window, Baal disagrees, believes the window is associated with death Shapash- (sun) 1. Sun goddess2. Linked to both life an death (summer, Drought) 3. Advises Baal to create a substitute; this substitute dies in Baal’s palace. 4. Looks for Baal in his absence 5. Warns mot to repent and he does Attanu-Purlianni- Chief priest of Baal (temple)Ilimilku- ScribeNiqmaddu II- King of UgaritYam1. Nahar – River, dragon, serpent2. Messengers from Yam sent to El3. Gods afraid (cf. Tiamat) 4. Is defeated by Baal Mot (Death) 1. Abode – Swamp, muck Background Reading 2Ras Shamra- “Cape Fennel”, Ugarit Illuyanka Myths and
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