Ea's Duplicity in the Gilgamesh Flood Story

This volume explores the Gilgamesh Flood story through the lens of a pivotal passage in which Ea inveigles humans into building the Ark. It argues that Ea used a 'bitextual message' to sound the same, creating an ambivalent oracle in the tradition of 'folktale prophecy'. The book supports this argument through interlocking investigations of lexicography, divination, diet, figurines, social history, and religion. It also explores the implications of Eas duplicity for narrative sophistication, audiences, and performance, as well as the relation of the Gilgamesh Flood story to other versions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 524 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking volume offers fresh insights into Babylonian and Assyrian literature by examining a pivotal passage in the Gilgamesh Flood story through the lens of a 'bitextual message.' It demonstrates how the god Ea, through a nine-line message that contained hidden complexities, manipulated humans into constructing the Ark. The book argues that Ea employed a 'bitextual message,' one that can be interpreted in multiple ways that yield the same sound. Consequently, his message emerges as an ambivalent oracle, reminiscent of folktale prophecy.

To support this argument, the volume conducts comprehensive investigations into lexicography, divination, diet, figurines, social history, and religion. It also delves into extended discussions of Babylonian wordplay and ancient literary interpretation. Furthermore, the book explores the implications of Ea's duplicity, not only in terms of narrative sophistication in Gilgamesh but also in terms of its impact on audiences and the performance of the poem. Additionally, it examines the relationship between the Gilgamesh Flood story and its versions in Atra-hasīs, the Hellenistic historian Berossos, and the Biblical Book of Genesis.

Eas Duplicity in the Gilgamesh Flood Story will appeal to Assyriologists, Hebrew Bible scholars, Classicists, as well as students and researchers in various fields such as Gilgamesh, wordplay, oracles, and Flood traditions. This volume provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of these ancient literary works and their significance in the broader context of ancient civilization.

Weight: 774g
Dimension: 157 x 235 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032085852