Mythological Hardship Research Paper

In both Gilgamesh and Noah and the Flood, man’s wickedness leads to death, destruction, and rebirth all caused by billions of gallons of water sweeping the earth’s surface. The flood in both stories destroys most of mankind. The floods represent rebirth and a new beginning for mankind, as well as the gods and God’s wrath. In Gilgamesh the gods decide to destroy mankind by flooding the earth for six days and nights. Utnapishtim is chosen to build a boat in order to restart mankind after the flood. In the Bible God also decides to flood the earth due to the increase in wickedness. God chooses Noah to build an ark and store seven pairs of every clean animal and two of every other kind of animal on it

Sadly, the Bible reports that nearly all of Adam’s descendents “had corrupted their way upon the earth and lost their true direction” (Gen. 6:12 Amplified Bible), and, as a result of this intolerable situation, God told Noah that He had determined “to make an end of all flesh [as well as] destroy … the land … by [bringing] a flood of waters upon the earth” (Gen. 6:13, 17). After the Holy Creator had uttered this apocalyptic intent, He proceeded to provide Noah with instructions on how he was to build an ark, which included information on a list of vital materials (Gen. 6:14), some details on the manner they were to be used (Gen. 6:14), basic blueprints of its structure (Gen. 6:14, 16), and, what measurements the floating vehicle was to have when it was completed, which Scriptures report was to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (Gen. 6:15).

As a descendant of Adam and Eve, Noah was both a blameless and righteous man who faithfully walked alongside the Lord. Unlike the others in his generation, Noah did not allow the wickedness to enter into his own life, and God sought favor in this. Genesis 6: 13 reveals the discussion between God to Noah, revealing his plan to destroy every living thing under the heavens due to the violence that seeps in the lives of all creations. The Lord instructed Noah to build an ark out of cypress wood, accommodating the dimensions of forty-five feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high. One the construction was completed the Lord revealed the occupants of the ark.

Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” This was God’s command to Noah, unlike Utnapishtim who was told the secret of the flood by one of the gods.

Mythology and Religion existed since the beginning of time and has developed along with mankind. There are many questions and different perspectives about both Mythology and Religion. Mythology is a collection of myths that belong to a specific cultural or religious tradition or group. Mythology includes Mythical stories or folk tales that were passed down from many generations that bring up Gods. Goddesses, Heroes, and the creation of life. Religion however is the belief in and practice worshiping of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. There are various types of Religions that results in different religious perspectives and opinions. Many people believe that Mythology and Religion have no connections, that they

“And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy the earth. Make yourself an ark…” (Genesis 6:13-14, English Standard Version) “For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.” (Genesis 6:17, ESV) “And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.” (Genesis 6:19, ESV) “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22, ESV) “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of

God notes that man’s sin brought God’s judgement on the world through a global flood (Egolf & Santopietro, p. 7). God instructed Noah to build a massive ark. Noah was to take his family and relatives of the animal kingdom into the ark, where they would be safe (Bollinger, p. 8) The Bible states in Genesis 6:15-16, “And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its

God decided to wipe out mankind with a flood. In order to help repopulate the earth after the flood was over, God called upon Noah. God told Noah to build himself an ark out of cypress wood, with room inside. He told Noah to cover the ark, both inside and out with pitch to protect it from the waters. God instructed Noah as to the size of the ark, and what it was to look like. “The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle, and upper decks.” (Genesis 6: 15-16)

As I mentioned above, everything began with Christopher Columbus discovering America in 1492. History is non-fiction, and perhaps the most concrete example of this non-fiction is the story of the beginning of the Indians. Native American mythology contains may different types of character including heroes, tricksters, and more. These characters can have both good and bad qualities, and fall into many categories. For example, creator gods usually restore order, but in some stories can be destructive. Tricksters can even be considered the hero in some stories. (Myths Encyclopedia, 2007). Indian stories are born from experiences and beliefs. Ross also states that “Native American societies are based on the concept of interdependence. Interdependence

Greek Mythology, used to explain the unknown. The Greeks never had the technology to discover why things happened the way they did. For that reason, they would believe in stories about Gods and Goddesses that determined their everyday lives. They would worship and sacrifice living beings to show their respect for the Gods. Over time, they developed the story of how the world was created, their main Gods and Goddesses, and traditions and rituals.

Throughout this course, I have learned about what a myth is and all of the themes that fit into myths. The most common themes seen throughout the myths we have studied during this course are fate, pride and hubris, heroism, justice and vengeance, and beauty. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about mythology throughout this course and I have always felt that the controlling question driving this course is, why is mythology so important to us, even today? It is important to know the answer to this question and to know about the different themes seen throughout the myths studied in this course.

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the lord said, ‘I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created-people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.”(Genesis 6:5-8)

    The Enuma Elish, often known as The Creation Epic, is often considered the primary source of Mesopotamian cosmology. However, to view the Enuma Elish as a cosmological myth obscures the true intent of the epicís author. The cosmological elements of the Enuma Elish are secondary to the authorís effort to explain the supremacy of Marduk, to justify absolute oriental monarchy, and to defend Babylon as the axis mundi.

The Mesopotamian creation myth incorporated many characteristics that define to most myths in general. One of the characteristics incorporated in the creation myth is that it takes place in the distant past, or in this case the beginning or pre-history. This characteristic is initially described in the opening passage of the Enuma Elish, “when on high [enuma elish] heaven and earth had not yet been named” (Leeming 19), and further codified by describing how the gods Apsu and Tiamat created “the silt deposits Lahmu and Lahamu, which we call ‘land’” (Leeming 19). A second characteristic of myths portrayed in this creation story is that it is a tale of supernatural beings, goddesses, or gods. Besides, Apsu, freshwater, and Tiamat, great saltwater

In the Enûma Elish, the Babylonian epic of creation, Tiamat gives birth to the first generation of deities; her husband, Apsu, correctly assuming they are planning to kill him and usurp his throne, later makes war upon them and is killed. Enraged, she, too, wars upon her husband's murderers, taking on the form of a massive sea dragon, she is then slain by Enki's son, the storm-god Marduk, but not before she had brought forth the monsters of the Mesopotamian pantheon, including the first dragons, whose bodies she filled with "poison instead of blood". Marduk then forms heavens and the earth from her divided body. This story highlights the concept that a woman cannot be in a position of power without becoming corrupt. This benevolent mother creator goddess yet as soon as she is faced with hardship she turns to evil and violence. Peace is only achieved by the slaughter of the now violent woman. The moral of the story becomes that a woman who acts of her own accord and who cannot be controlled is dangerous and must be destroyed. This concept permeated through mesopotamian culture.