Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, The Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others (Oxford World's Classics)

by StephanieDalley (Translator)

• Used

  Paperback
  1998

  $8.31

  The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia thrived between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates over 4,000 years ago. The myths collected here, originally written in cuneiform on clay tablets, include parallels with the biblical stories of the Creation and the Flood, and the famous Epic of Gilgamesh, the tale of a man of great strength, whose heroic quest for immortality is dashed through one moment of weakness. Recent developments in Akkadian grammar and lexicography mean that this new translation, complete with notes, a glossary of deities, place-names, and key terms, and illustrations of the mythical monsters featured in the text, will replace all other versions.

• Used

  Paperback
  1991

  $4.74

  The stories translated in this volume are all of ancient Mesopotamia, and they stand alongside the Odyssey and the Arabian Nights in being popular with an international audience at the dawn of history. The selection includes not only myths about the creation and stories of the flood, but also the longest and greatest literary composition, the Epic of Gilgamesh . This is the story of a heroic quest for fame and immortality, pursued by a man who has an enormous capacity for endurance and adventure, for joy and sorrow, a man of great strength who loses a unique opportunity through a moment's weakness. So much has been discovered in recent years both by way of new tablets and points of grammar and lexicography that these new translations by Stephanie Dalley differ considerably from previous versions. As well as introduction and notes to each item, there is a glossary of deities, place-names, and key terms, together with a chronological chart, a map, and illustrations of some of the mythical monsters which feature in the book.