Ancient Babylonian Legends and Myths

4 credits · Undergraduate

Man’s fate on earth, friendship, love, suffering, and evil—every civilization considers these themes. This course surveys legends and myths of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), a cradle of civilization, home to the world’s first cities and empires, and the first writing system. Students will read ancient literary masterpieces such as the Gilgamesh Epic, Creation and Flood Myths, and other Mesopotamian literary texts in translation.