creation myths Enuma Elish and Metamorphoses are two very different story's. These story's where told by two completely different groups of people at different times. Yet they share allot in common with each other, and have things happen in a very similar order.
In the Enuma Elish it says “when skies above were not yet named Nor earth below pronounced by name”. This correlates to a passage from Before the ocean was, or earth, or heaven, Nature was alike, a shapelessness, Chaos”. This is saying that in the beginning both opened up with chaos. From the chaos order can be born. The gods come into existence and they deliver the world from chaos.
There was a very similar chain of events that happened in the story's as well. Started out in chaos. The gods show up. The gods start creating things. They start to make more life forms. Then through acts of violence peace can finally happen.
In both story's acts of violence lead to order in the world. In the Enuma Elish a god was riped in half and from her created the boundaries of the world. In the Metamorphoses giants where slayed and there blood got the ocean pregnant. From that man was born into the world. The violence's was needed to give birth to man and finally end the chaos. There needs to be death in order for there to be life.
Water plays a important role in both story's. In Enuma Elish water is what the gods where born out of. The water god is also killed and helped divide up the earth. Water is a driving force in both story's. In the Metamorphoses story it helped shape the face of the earth. The ocean also gets pregnant from the blood of giants and gives birth to man.
Water plays a important role in both story's. In Enuma Elish water is what the gods where born out of. The water god is also killed and helped divide up the earth. Water is a driving force in both story's. In the Metamorphoses story it helped shape the face of the earth. The ocean also gets pregnant from the blood of giants and gives birth to man.
This is a depiction of Marduk killing Tiamat from the Enuma Elish.
David, good post and great pic. I found this statement interesting:
ReplyDelete"Then through acts of violence peace can finally happen."
This seems to be the case, but let's look at it a bit more closely. Could you argue, instead, that peace exists *before* these acts of violence? And if so, what function do the violent acts have, if not to create peace?
Another question you might consider is how this statement works for the creation stories in Genesis (outside of the scope of the prompt, I know). Does this seem statement apply to those stories as well?
Also, it's really good that you noticed the role of water in these stories. Often in ancient mythology, water is seen as a symbol of chaos. It's also often a primordial force. Great observation!
ReplyDeleteI like how you saw the progression of chaos, to creation, to peace, because I saw the same thing when I was reading.
ReplyDelete