Sumerian Myth And Enuma Elish Literature

while reading the literature of the Ancient Near East, the term myth and its many contemplation of the term must not be a factor when trying to analyze, comprehend and realize the literature. The reader is advise to realize that it is not our reality that we are analyzing, it was their reality in that time and space. Sumerian literature included such titles as Eridu Genesis which is a collection of cosmology texts that tells of civilized cities and creation of people and animals.1 Enki and the Ordering of the World mention the gods and their various roles that are directed to the purpose of the land. Although there are many stories, a creation story is evident in the Sumerian Creation dating back to 100 BC in the Middle Assyrain period. Many similarities, yet unique differences are
The Enuma Elish is a “hymn commemorating the elevation of Marduk to the head of the pantheon.” It references actions of disobeying, threatening the gods and negotiating with the gods.
Some ANET can also be credited to Egyptian, Hurrian and Ugarit cultures, with such given titles as Memphis Creation Account, Heliopolis Creation Account, Kumarbi Cycle, Illuyanka and the Baal Cycle.
In the Early Dynastic period (2900-2400) literary epics and tales about Sumerian Kings are documented. Stories of Enmerkar the king of Uruk, Lugalbanda a military officer, and the wondering of Gilgameshare are all Sumerian tales. In the culture of Akkadian you have the epic of Atrahasis and the most widely copied piece of literature, Gilgamesh.
Other sets of text from the ancient Near East contain divination and incantation references. These themes include rites of purification, magical spells and celestial omens. Various letters that represent domestic internal memos or international correspondence between kings can also be found within ANET. The correspondence tells much about the life and conditions of the times during those