Comparison Of Atrahasis And Genesis

The creation stories of Atrahasis and Genesis are similar thematically, but differ in many small details, which stem from the current events and history of the cultures they respectively came from.The parallels of these creation myths can be used to find how the Babylonians influenced the Jewish religion, and how the regions around Mesopotamia and later Israel influenced the culture.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, a snake steals away the plant of immortality from the titular character, similar to how the snake in the Garden of Eden tricks Adam and Eve into eating the fruit of knowledge. By stealing his chance at immortality, Gilgamesh is further from the gods’ power. By eating the fruit, Adam and Eve’s connection to god, the divine, is weakened, and they lose their spot in a fertile paradise. In both myths, a plant is an object used by humans, and they are soon defeated by a snake via trickery of some kind. Snakes, particularly when part of the symbol of the ouroboros, can represent immortality and eternity, as well as fertility. Can the snake in each story possibly represent the divine, and humankind’s wish to get closer to the gods? Perhaps, it could be a more political statement, subtly opposing the Egyptians, their cults and their rule. Snakes, particularly cobras, are associated …show more content…
Archeologists have found objects with serpents that could have been used in cult worship in ancient Mesopotamia. In Gilgamesh, the serpent stealing immortality from the titular character could be a symbol of the gods wanting to keep immortality for themselves, and seeing him as unworthy of it unless he can prove himself. In Genesis, the snake tricking Eve could be attributed to the attitude of the Hebrews towards cults. Adam and Eve represent loyal followers of the Hebrew god, and the snake represents cult worship and how it takes someone away from, in the Judeans’ eyes, their true