Enuma Elish vs. Genesis

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After reading both the stories of Enuma Elish and Genesis, it is easy to see that they do have significant similarities where it counts. The similarities are not found in the small details, but rather in the larger, more general ideals. The most basic similarity between The Creation Epic and Genesis is that they both deal exclusively with the beginning of time, and the creation of the world. Specifically, the creation of the world is carried out by one figure in both stories. In Enuma Elish, creation of man and much of the world was done by Marduk, and in Genesis God carries out all creation of man and the world. Further parallels can be seen in the order in which the aspects of the world were created. In both stories, light was the first creation and mankind the last. At the end of the creation in each story, the God or Gods each celebrated their accomplishments, although in different ways (Marduk and the Babylonian god’s celebrating with a party and God in Genesis with rest, declaring the seventh day the Sabbath). Another similarity is perhaps the most interesting correlation between the two narratives, both describe a division of primordial waters. In the biblical account, it states, “the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” Furthermore, in Genesis the separation of the primordial waters is described: “Then God said, ‘Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.’ So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so”. In Enuma Elish the division of primordial waters is depicted in the death of Tiamat, the personified primeval ocean, who is divided into two spheres. Both portray the primordial waters being divided into two spheres, separating the heavens (the sky)

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