This paper analyzes a genre known as the “creation myths,” as told by a quartet of eastern Mediterranean cultures. These stories’ share a common outline and contain similar facets; especially, when looking at the mythology that explains the creation and establishment of the human race. The stories examined in this paper include, Sumerian/Babylonian’s When on High “Creation and Marduk” (composed circa 2000 BC), Greek poet Hesiod’s Theogony and the Works and Days (composed circa 700 BC), Judaism and Christianity’s Genesis “Creation” (composed circa 700-400 BC), and Roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses (composed circa 43 BC). Further inspection into these myths suggests that an ethnic communication serves as a platform for the congruity in the plot
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The earliest of the four records is the Sumerian/Babylonian tale. Marduk, king of the universe, has an idea to create mankind; however, it is EA, god of wisdom, who creates man [Enuma Elish 3-35]. This narration is focused more on the further establishment and roles of the gods rather than an explanation of how the gods created man. Marduk fashions mankind so man can praise the gods. In this tale, there is one creation of man whereas in the Greek Hesiod’s Works and Days there are five endeavors to bring about the race of man. This narrative tells of Zeus recreating man multiple times because of the sky gods' dissatisfaction. In this work, the first race, Golden, came about in Cronos’ reign [Works and Days 110-125]. The last four, Silver, Bronze, Hero, and Iron all came to in Zeus’ era [Works and Days 126-175]. Ovid’s “Four Ages of Man” synchronizes well with Hesiod’s tale of the creation of man, although leaving out the Heroes Age. It is unclear whether an unknown god or Prometheus creates man [Theogony 76-80]. Roman Ovid’s creation story is easier to comprehend because it contains only five primary characters Chaos, an unknown god, Prometheus, Saturn, and Jove. Similar to the Works and Days, Ovid’s god Saturn, Cronos' counterpart, has supremacy over the Golden Age [Metamorphoses I.77-112]. Whilst Zeus’ Roman equivalent, Jove has dominion over the last three ages Silver, Bronze, and Iron [Metamorphoses I.113-126]. In contrast to the previous tales, which all feature multiple gods; Judaism and Christianity take a different approach to the explanation of creationism. These cultures practice a monotheistic belief (one god, Elohim/Yahweh). God creates everything on earth in six days and on the seventh day he rests [Genesis 1.1-31, 2.1-22]. In this myth, one god is the sole cause of each
The earliest of the four records is the Sumerian/Babylonian tale. Marduk, king of the universe, has an idea to create mankind; however, it is EA, god of wisdom, who creates man [Enuma Elish 3-35]. This narration is focused more on the further establishment and roles of the gods rather than an explanation of how the gods created man. Marduk fashions mankind so man can praise the gods. In this tale, there is one creation of man whereas in the Greek Hesiod’s Works and Days there are five endeavors to bring about the race of man. This narrative tells of Zeus recreating man multiple times because of the sky gods' dissatisfaction. In this work, the first race, Golden, came about in Cronos’ reign [Works and Days 110-125]. The last four, Silver, Bronze, Hero, and Iron all came to in Zeus’ era [Works and Days 126-175]. Ovid’s “Four Ages of Man” synchronizes well with Hesiod’s tale of the creation of man, although leaving out the Heroes Age. It is unclear whether an unknown god or Prometheus creates man [Theogony 76-80]. Roman Ovid’s creation story is easier to comprehend because it contains only five primary characters Chaos, an unknown god, Prometheus, Saturn, and Jove. Similar to the Works and Days, Ovid’s god Saturn, Cronos' counterpart, has supremacy over the Golden Age [Metamorphoses I.77-112]. Whilst Zeus’ Roman equivalent, Jove has dominion over the last three ages Silver, Bronze, and Iron [Metamorphoses I.113-126]. In contrast to the previous tales, which all feature multiple gods; Judaism and Christianity take a different approach to the explanation of creationism. These cultures practice a monotheistic belief (one god, Elohim/Yahweh). God creates everything on earth in six days and on the seventh day he rests [Genesis 1.1-31, 2.1-22]. In this myth, one god is the sole cause of each