Mythology / the-enuma-elish
Facts about The Enuma Elish
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Parallels between the Enuma Elish and the biblical Genesis have made it a key text in comparative religion and ancient Near Eastern scholarship.
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Preserved on seven clay tablets, the Enuma Elish is one of the oldest surviving creation myths in human history.
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Recited during the Babylonian New Year festival known as Akitu, the Enuma Elish served a ritual religious function beyond simply preserving a creation narrative.
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Written in Akkadian, the Enuma Elish takes its name from its opening words, meaning 'when on high.
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Babylon's creation myth, the Enuma Elish, describes the god Marduk slaying the primordial chaos dragon Tiamat and forming the world from her body.