Legends of Babylon and Egypt in relation to Hebrew tradition by L. W. (Leonard William) King
page 77 of 225 (34%)
page 77 of 225 (34%)
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it furnishes any positive evidence on the origin of Deluge stories in
general. (1) It was first published by Monsieur Naville, _Tranc. Soc. Bibl. Arch._, IV (1874), pp. 1 ff. The myth may be most conveniently studied in Dr. Budge's edition in _Egyptian Literature_, Vol. I, "Legends of the Gods" (1912), pp. 14 ff., where the hieroglyphic text and translation are printed on opposite pages; cf. the summary, op. cit., pp. xxiii ff., where the principal literature is also cited. See also his _Gods of the Egyptians_, Vol. I, chap. xii, pp. 388 ff. (2) The undoubted points of resemblance, as well as the equally striking points of divergence, presented by the Egyptian myth when compared with the Babylonian and Hebrew stories of a Deluge may be briefly indicated. The impiety of men in complaining of the age of Ra finds a parallel in the wickedness of man upon the earth (J) and the corruption of all flesh (P) of the Hebrew Versions. The summoning by Ra of the great Heliopolitan cosmic gods in council, including his personified Eye, the primaeval pair Shu and Tefnut, Keb the god of the earth and his consort Nut the sky-goddess, and Nu the primaeval water-god and originally Nut's male counterpart, is paralleled by the _puhur ilâni_, or "assembly of the gods", in the Babylonian Version (see Gilg. Epic. XI. l. 120 f., and cf. ll. 10 ff.); and they meet in "the Great House", or Sun-temple at Heliopolis, as the Babylonian gods deliberate in Shuruppak. Egyptian, Babylonian, and Hebrew narratives all agree in the divine determination to destroy mankind and in man's ultimate |
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