Mythology

The third of the basic myths is the wide-spread myth of the Deluge. Usener’s well-known work has shown that the myth of the destruction of mankind by a flood is to be found in some form or other in every part of the world, as we have already seen. The central motive of the myth is that the gods decide to destroy mankind; the means by which they do so is secondary, and we shall see that water is not the only means used. It has long been known that the Biblical story of the Deluge was based on the Babylonian myth which will be dealt with when we come to the next stage of our study. But that the Babylonian form of the myth was based on an earlier Sumerian version was not known until 1914, when the American scholar Arno Poebel published a fragment of a Sumerian tablet containing episodes of what was clearly the myth of the Flood. No further Sumerian tablets relating to the Flood have yet been discovered. The outlines of the Sumerian version of the Flood story are as follows. At the point where the fragment continues the story, a god appears to be declaring his intention of saving mankind from the destruction which the gods have decided to bring upon them. The reason for their decision is not given. Enki is the god who takes steps to save mankind from destruction. Apparently he instructs Ziusudra the pious king of Sippar to stand by a wall, through which he will reveal to Ziusudra the dire intention of the gods, and tell him what must be done to escape the coming flood. The part of the text which must have described the building of the boat is missing, but its existence is implied in the following passage which describes the Flood and Ziusudra’s escape: All the windstorms, exceedingly powerful, attacked as one, At the same time, the flood sweeps over the cult-centres. After, for seven days (and) seven nights, The flood had swept over the land, (And) the huge boat had been tossed about by the windstorms on the great waters, Utu came forth, who sheds light on heaven (and) earth. Ziusudra opened a window of the huge boat, The hero Utu brought his rays into the giant boat. Ziusudra, the king, Prostrated himself before Utu, The king kills an ox, slaughters a sheep. Then, after a break, the tablet describes the ultimate fate of Ziusudra: Ziusudra, the king, Prostrated himself before Anu (and) Enlil. Anu (and) Enlil cherished Ziusudra, Life like (that of) a god they give him, Breath eternal like (that of) a god they bring down for him. Then, Ziusudra the king, The preserver of the name of vegetation (and) of the seed of mankind, in the land of crossing, the land of Dilmun, the place where the sun rises, they caused to dwell. [4] It may be inferred from the Babylonian story of the Flood that the complete Sumerian version contained much fuller details about the cause of the flood and the building of the boat; but these may be left until we come to deal with the Akkadian mythology. The question whether the myth of the Flood, the third of our basic myths, can be classed with ritual myths, presents

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