In William Paden’s chapter entitled “Myth”, from Religious Worlds: The Comparative Study of Religion, Paden explores the role of myth in relation to religion, and how the two create a reality that humans exist and partake in. Paden’s definition of myth indicates that myth is used as a way to explain what is difficult to understand and makes sense of the world by forming narratives. These narratives become integral parts of a culture and create a reality that gives truth to the myths told. The ancient Mesopotamian creation story, Enuma Elish, is one such myth describing the origins of the universe and mankind. While there are many aspects to this myth, it is firstly a creation myth that gives shape and meaning to the culture that it comes
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In this story, the world is made from the body of a god, and humans are created from the blood of the divine and this affects Mesopotamian life and culture. Essentially, humans and the entire world are created from and by the divine and thus the divine is closely connected to the material. The Enuma Elish defines life and its origins so it fits into the narrative and the divine becomes, in a sense, the material world. The myth becomes religion and the religion becomes so ingrained in Mesopotamian culture to the extent that there is no Mesopotamian word for religion. Religion simply is life. In this way, the creation myth has created a reality in which the sacred and profane coexist in an intimate way. Additionally, Marduk, who acts as the protagonist in this epic, is elevated above the god Enlil, who is often presented as the leader of the gods, and Babylon is given an important role as Marduk states .“I shall make a house to be a luxurious dwelling for myself/I hereby name it Babylon, home of the great gods” (“Epic of Creation” …show more content…
Babylon is given importance for its connection to Marduk and this reshapes whatever its true history was into a history that is created by myth. The fact that a major city of Mesopotamia is given context in the epic of creation helps to solidify the mythic reality created by the Enuma Elish and this shapes the everyday life of a Babylonian. As the myth states, Babylon is not just a city, it is the dwelling of the gods and thus Babylon is almost divinized in itself and its people worship and behave
In this story, the world is made from the body of a god, and humans are created from the blood of the divine and this affects Mesopotamian life and culture. Essentially, humans and the entire world are created from and by the divine and thus the divine is closely connected to the material. The Enuma Elish defines life and its origins so it fits into the narrative and the divine becomes, in a sense, the material world. The myth becomes religion and the religion becomes so ingrained in Mesopotamian culture to the extent that there is no Mesopotamian word for religion. Religion simply is life. In this way, the creation myth has created a reality in which the sacred and profane coexist in an intimate way. Additionally, Marduk, who acts as the protagonist in this epic, is elevated above the god Enlil, who is often presented as the leader of the gods, and Babylon is given an important role as Marduk states .“I shall make a house to be a luxurious dwelling for myself/I hereby name it Babylon, home of the great gods” (“Epic of Creation” …show more content…
Babylon is given importance for its connection to Marduk and this reshapes whatever its true history was into a history that is created by myth. The fact that a major city of Mesopotamia is given context in the epic of creation helps to solidify the mythic reality created by the Enuma Elish and this shapes the everyday life of a Babylonian. As the myth states, Babylon is not just a city, it is the dwelling of the gods and thus Babylon is almost divinized in itself and its people worship and behave