Humanities Journal Essay 2
Creation myths are among the most intriguing sources from the ancient world. However, for centuries scholars dismissed them as fanciful attempts to explain the origins of physical world in the absence of scientific data. More recently scholars have come to realize that these are not simply failed attempts at science. Many scholars now assert that it was never to goal of the originators of these stories to “explain” how things came to be. Indeed such questions would have held little interest for them. Rather, the intent was to explore the human condition. What is the nature of God/the gods? How do we relate to God/the gods? Why is life the way it is? Why are we the way we are?The creation of the world as the Babylonians knew it, started as a very violent affair. Murder followed by a vengeful war led up to the creation of an all ruling, all powerful god king of the universe. Who then created the Earth and Sky.
The exact nature of the gods is seen as different aspects of nature. Some are of earth, air, fire and water. They not only control the element but are the element itself. Each deity, with their own distinct personality, interacting with the other, working together to create a world which is not always harmonious.
Out of this violent beginning, humans were created with the blood of a god. The god, Kingu, was put to death (after some sort of trial) for instigating the war. So out of death, life was created, which is a cycle we see in nature every day.
Perhaps the violent nature of humans has a direct correlation with said origins. Being created out the blood of the guilty may have transferred some of that guilt into humanity, thus creating… a… not always peaceful species.
Suppose all of this, according to the Babylonians, is the reason why the world works the way it does. A violent end, which created a new beginning that, is not unlike the origins. Perhaps, in a way, humans are a less powerful version of the gods. Weakened by death but given their own strength of free will.
