Atrahasis Epic
The Atrahasis Epic is an ancient Mesopotamian narrative that elaborates on the theme of a divine flood, originating from earlier Sumerian traditions. Central to the story is the god Enlil, who becomes frustrated with humanity's overpopulation and the noise it creates, leading him to decide on a catastrophic flood to eliminate humankind. However, the god Ea intervenes, selecting Atrahasis as the chosen survivor. Atrahasis is instructed to construct a large ship to save himself, his family, and various animals, along with enough provisions to endure the impending deluge.
This epic reflects the Mesopotamian worldview, where the divine response to human challenges often prioritizes cosmic order over individual significance. It serves as a precursor to later flood narratives, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, where no specific rationale is provided for the flood or the selection of its survivor, Utnapishtim. In contrast to the biblical story of Noah, which emphasizes moral virtue as the basis for survival, the Atrahasis Epic portrays a more pragmatic interaction between gods and humanity. This narrative captures essential themes of divine power, human existence, and the interplay between chaos and order in ancient mythology.
Atrahasis Epic
Related civilization: Babylonia.
Date: c. 1900-1800 b.c.e.
Locale: Babylonia
Authorship: unknown
Atrahasis Epic
The Atrahasis epic is based on an earlier Sumerian flood story. In the epic, the god Enlil determines to destroy humankind because his sleep was disturbed by the noisiness brought on by overpopulation. After various measures prove unsuccessful, Enlil decides to send a massive flood. The lower god Ea selects Atrahasis to survive the flood, thus preventing Enlil from destroying all humankind. Atrahasis is instructed to build a ship that will be loaded with his family, animals, sufficient food, and craftspeople. The Mesopotamian worldview is typified in the reason for the flood, a practical problem eliciting a response from Enlil that trivializes humankind. This poem anticipates the epic of Gilgamesh, in which no reason is given for the flood or for the selection of Utnapishtim as survivor. In contrast, the biblical account of a flood accords Noah a moral worthiness that allows him to survive the flood.
Bibliography
Laessoe, J. “The Atrahasis Epic: A Babylonian History of Mankind.” Bibliotheca Orientalis 12 (1956): 90-102.
Lambert, W. G., and A. R. Millard, eds. Atra-hasis: The Babylonian Story of the Flood with the Sumerian Flood Story by M. Civil. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1969.
Saggs, H. W. F. Babylonians. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000.