Mesopotamian Mythology: Stories From Ancient Iraq

3 units

In this course we will read, explore, and interpret various ancient myths originating from the fertile crescent, especially ancient Iraq, between the years 2500 and 400 BCE. The Epic of Gilamesh, the Enuma Elish, myths of the goddess Ishtar as well as various flood and creation accounts will be among those we read. Cultural background information will be examined to situate each myth in its ancient context. Various theories of interpreting myth will also be explored in order to appreciate the power and the many uses of these multivalent stories. Several basic questions will underlie all that we do throughout the semester: What is myth?, How should we understand the conceptualization of the category myth (in other words, How does myth work?), and Does myth still play a role in our own modern cultures?