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Audiobooks Narrated by Alex White
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No Sumerian myths have been recovered dealing directly and explicitly with the creation of the universe; what little is known about the Sumerian cosmogonic ideas has been inferred and deduced from laconic statements scattered throughout the literary documents. We have several myths concerned with the organization of the universe and its cultural processes, the creation of man, and the establishment of civilization. The deities involved in these myths are relatively few: the air-God Enlil, the water-God Enki, the mother goddess Ninhursag (also known as Ninh and Ninmah), the god of the south wind Ninurta, the moon-God Nanna-Sin, the Eridu-God Martu, and above all the goddess Inanna, particularly concerning her unlucky spouse Dumuzi.
No Sumerian myths have been recovered dealing directly and explicitly with the creation of the universe; what little is known about the Sumerian cosmogonic ideas has been inferred and deduced from laconic statements scattered throughout the literary documents. We have several myths concerned with the organization of the universe and its cultural processes, the creation of man, and the establishment of civilization. The deities involved in these myths are relatively few: the air-God Enlil, the water-God Enki, the mother goddess Ninhursag (also known as Ninh and Ninmah), the god of the south wind Ninurta, the moon-God Nanna-Sin, the Eridu-God Martu, and above all the goddess Inanna, particularly concerning her unlucky spouse Dumuzi.
Since the Renaissance, there has been no event of such worldwide significance in the history of culture as the discovery of Sanskrit literature in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The highly advanced knowledge preserved in these texts is, however, really only coming to light now. After Alexander's invasion, the Greeks became to some extent acquainted with the Indians; the Arabs, in the Middle Ages, took their knowledge of Indian science to the West; a few European missionaries from the sixteenth century onwards were not only aware of the existence of Sanskrit Knowledge but also gained some familiarity with, the ancient language of India; and Abraham Roger even translated the Sanskrit poet Bhartṛihari into Dutch as early as 1651.
The name of Sargon of Agade, or Akkad, bulks mainly in later Mesopoatmian tradition, and modern writers have regarded his reign as marking the most critical epoch in the ancient history of his country. The reference in the text of Nabonidus to the age of Naram-Sin has caused the Dynasty of Akkad to be taken as the canon, or standard, by which to measure the relative age of other dynasties or of rulers whose inscriptions have from time to time been recovered upon various early Mesopotamian sites. Even those historians who have refused to place reliance upon the figures of Nabonidus have not, by so doing, detracted from the significance of Sargon's position in history; and, since tradition associated his name with the founding of his empire, the terms 'Pre-Sargonic' and 'Post-Sargonic' have been generally employed as descriptive of the earlier and later periods in the history of Sumer and Akkad. The finding of early inscriptions of Shar-Gani-sharri of Akkad, and tablets dated in his reign, removed any tendency to discredit the historical value of the later traditions; and identify Shar-Gani-sharri with the Sargon of the Assyrian and Neo-Mesopotamian scribes ceased to be called in question. If anyone point in early Mesopotamian history was to be regarded as indeed established, it was the historical character of Sargon of Agade. A recent discovery at Susa has introduced an additional element into the problem and has reopened its discussion along unfamiliar lines. Before introducing the new data, that must be explained and reconciled with the old; it will be well to refer briefly to the steps by which Sargon's name was recovered, and his position in history deduced.
