Literature and History Episode 2: Before the Flood (The Enuma Elish and Atrahasis)
29 snips
Feb 12, 2016 AI Snips
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Episode notes
Roots Beyond Greece and Rome
- European literature's heritage is often traced to Greek and Latin roots, but ancient Mesopotamian and Middle Eastern cultures deeply influenced it.
- Greek and Latin traditions themselves contain older tributaries from diverse Bronze Age cultures around the Fertile Crescent.
Old Testament's Ancient Roots
- The Old Testament is heavily influenced by older Egyptian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Canaanite traditions predating classical Greek culture.
- Renaissance English poets knew the Bible far better than Greek classics, shaping European literature profoundly.
Creation Stories Reflect Human Arc
- Creation stories globally reveal a common human need to explain origins through structured narratives.
- Themes include primordial waters, creation of gods and humans, divine wrath, repentance, and universal arcs reflecting human life.