*
Given that much of the Epic of Gilgamesh
has found its way into the Hebrew Book of Genesis
in a somewhat garbled form…
Why, we may wonder,
is the flood story re-told almost word for word?
*
We say ‘almost’ because there are some intriguing discrepancies.
Unlike Utnapishtim, Noah is in no sense regarded as immortal.
The rainbow, as a necklace and love gift of Sky to Earth,
is infinitely preferable to the covenant
of a contrite and remorseful God,
and is also highly poetic.
Yet, as a reason for implementing the ‘catastrophe’
in the first place, noise and godlessness
can be regarded as equally arbitrary?
*
The institution of Patriarchy seems already well established
in the culture that produced the Epic…
The only Goddess to remain on the Divine Council is Ishtar,
although it is apparent that the Moon God,
Nanna, was once also feminine.
Be that as it may a number of Gilgamesh’s titles
still appear to be ironic?
*
With this in mind, in the final analysis,
perhaps, it is not Lords, nor indeed Ladies,
of the Deep which are needed
so much as disseminators of its wisdom,
and that task falls to all those who receive it…
*
Our thanks to those who could not make it but tuned in anyway.
Our heartfelt thanks to those that did make it.
See you all next time!
I certainly hope so. 💜
Cool… 😉
How fascinating. I had no idea there was any correlation between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the old testament. I really need to get off my butt and read the Epic. 🙁
You won’t be disappointed… 😉
🙂
There are hundreds of books missing from the original Torah. The twice burning of the Temple in Jerusalem and the burning of the library in Alexandria — not to mention the murder of all the people who remembered the original stories. I always feel that people don’t realize that the books of the Torah are NOT the Torah. They are like cryptic pieces of what was a much larger set of books. We have no way to know what was in it. Those who knew are long gone and they haven’t found original scrolls in many years. SO much has been lost. If I could travel back in time, I’d like to go back and try to save the books. Because I want to know what they said and I think lots of other people would like to know, too.
You can count me in on that one… 😉
Reblogged this on Stuart France.