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Exploring Atrahasis and Mesopotamian Literature
Sep 9, 2024
Lecture Notes: Atrahasis and Ancient Mesopotamian Literature
Introduction to Atrahasis
Atrahasis, translated as "When the Gods Instead of Men," is an ancient narrative from cuneiform tablets.
Tablets date back to between 1900 and 1700 BCE.
Originates from Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq, also part of the Fertile Crescent.
Historical Context
Mesopotamia is the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Sumerians were the first major civilization in Mesopotamia, developing writing called cuneiform around 3100 BC.
Mesopotamia was urbanized earlier than most parts of the world.
The city of Ur was a major ancient city.
Geography and Resources
Mesopotamia is a watershed area, contributing to its agricultural productivity.
Clay and reeds were primary building materials due to scarce large trees.
Writing and Preservation
Cuneiform writing was done on clay tablets.
Tablets survived fires and destruction, unlike papyrus, due to clay's durability.
Libraries stored financial, transactional, and narrative texts.
Development of Cuneiform
Initially pictographic, cuneiform evolved into more abstract symbols for syllables.
Example of development: Ox, Bird, and Water symbols.
Atrahasis Tablets
Written by different scribes over time.
Atrahasis narrative has multiple versions and is compiled from fragmented tablets.
Translation and Redaction
Translators like WG Lambert and AR Millard transcribed cuneiform into phonetic symbols, aiding translations by Stephanie Dalley.
Redaction involves editing multiple texts into a coherent narrative.
Reading Atrahasis
Text includes gaps indicated by brackets, reflecting missing or unreadable sections.
OBV (Old Babylonian Version) and SBV (Standard Babylonian Version) indicate sources.
Characters and Deities
Atrahasis
: The sole human character, king, devotee of Enki/Ea.
Enki/Ea
: God of freshwater and wisdom, trickster, and helper of mankind.
Anu
: Father of the gods, head of the Anunnaki.
Ellil
: War and storm god, powerful and demanding.
Nintu/Mami
: The womb goddess, creator of humans, emphasizes clay in creation.
Cosmogony
Mesopotamians conceived the world with a dome-like firmament and the Abzu (underworld freshwater) and Tiamat’s saltwater.
Gods controlled rain and spring water through metaphorical keys.
Questions for Reflection
Who is the main protagonist and antagonist?
Purpose and process of human creation by gods?
Why Ellil wants to destroy humanity?
Internal conflicts and resolutions among gods?
Importance of sacrifices to gods?
Final resolution of human population issue?
Who first hears the narrative of the flood?
Conclusion
Read Atrahasis considering the cultural and historical context.
Notice editorial decisions in translations and gaps in text.
Reflect on relationships between humans and gods within the narrative.
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