Ancient Creation Myths that Influence Genesis
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 Published On Jul 20, 2023

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The Theogony (from the Greek theogonia, meaning "generations of the gods") is an epic poem of 1,022 hexameter lines which describes the birth of the gods in the Greek pantheon. It is thought to have been composed c. 700 BCE (give or take a generation either side of that date). Little is known of Hesiod's life. His father emigrated from Cyme in Asia Minor and settled in Boeotia, a small state in central Greece. It is assumed that the poet was a farmer; a fact garnered from the early verses of the Theogony. He may also have been a rhapsodist, a reciter of poetry, where he learned the technique and vocabulary of heroic songs.

Although there are some who question whether or not Hesiod actually wrote the Theogony, most classicists believe he did. However, parts of the work may have been added by later poets and there is a definite similarity in some aspects to earlier Mesopotamian literature.
The Enuma Elish (also known as The Seven Tablets of Creation) is the Babylonian creation myth whose title is derived from the opening lines of the piece, "When on High". The myth tells the story of the great god Marduk's victory over the forces of chaos and his establishment of order at the creation of the world.
All of the tablets containing the myth (also known as Enuma Elis), found at Ashur, Kish, Ashurbanipal's library at Nineveh, Sultantepe, and other excavated sites, date to c. 1200 BCE. Their colophons, however, indicate that these are all copies of a much older version of the myth dating from long before the reign of Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE), the king who elevated the god Marduk to patron deity of Babylon. The poem in its present form, with Marduk as champion, is thought to be a revision of an even older Sumerian work.
the Sumerian Ea/Enki or Enlil is thought to have played the major role in the original version of the story, which is dated to the 3,500 BCE

Hesiod's "Theogony" and the Enuma Elish are both ancient epic poems that
explore the creation of the universe and the origins of the gods in different
mythological traditions. While they come from different cultures and time periods,
there are several similarities between the two works:

Creation of the universe: Both "Theogony" and the Enuma Elish
describe the process of creation and the establishment of order in the
cosmos. They present elaborate cosmogonies that explain how the world
came into existence and how the gods emerged.

Primordial deities: Both poems feature primordial deities who
precede the main pantheon of gods. These primordial beings represent
abstract concepts and forces of nature. For example, in "Theogony," Chaos
(the void) is the initial entity from which everything else originates, while in the
Enuma Elish, Tiamat represents the primeval sea.

Genealogy of gods: Both works provide genealogies of the gods,
tracing their lineage and relationships. They present a hierarchy of gods and
goddesses, with different generations of deities and their interactions shaping
the world and its divine order.

Divine conflicts: Both poems depict conflicts among the gods that
lead to the establishment of order. In "Theogony," the Titans rebel against
their father Uranus, and later the Olympian gods overthrow the Titans. In the
Enuma Elish, the younger gods, led by Marduk, battle against the primordial
goddess Tiamat and her forces.

Divine succession: Both poems address the succession of power
among the gods. They portray a shift in leadership and authority from older
generations to younger ones. In "Theogony," Zeus emerges as the supreme
ruler of the gods, while in the Enuma Elish, Marduk becomes the chief god
after defeating Tiamat.
Succession of power: Both traditions address the theme of
succession in divine power. They portray a transfer of authority from older
generations to younger ones. In "Theogony," Zeus emerges as the supreme
ruler of the gods, while in Hittite mythology, Teshub becomes the chief deity
after overcoming Kumarbi and assuming kingship in heaven.
Divine creation and cosmic order: Both traditions provide
explanations for the creation of the world and the establishment of cosmic
order. They describe how the gods shape the universe, assign roles and
domains to different deities, and bring order out of chaos.



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