Comparison of the Hebrew and Babylonian (Akkadian) Creation Myths - Essay Example

Comparison of the Hebrew and Babylonian (Akkadian) Creation Myths. Creation myths that have existed across various cultures have unique tales that convey the culture of the people from which the myth origins. The Akkadians creation myth famously known as “Enuma Elish” portrays the struggle that exists in society through chaos for order to be restored. This has been depicted through the struggle of the gods and the strife that existed in the family of the gods - i.e. Marduk (one of the children) and Tiamat (mother of all creation) and the father in the family.

From the myth, death of the parents in that family of gods brought about order in the universe. Marduk is therefore seen as a hero who saved the world from perishing due to the wrath of their mother, Tiamat. The Akkadians therefore believe that for order to be restored there has to be a hero who liberates them from a monster and kills it for there to be peace in creation. They believe that creation is a constant struggle with chaos and heroes will always exist in the form of gods to rescue them.

On the other hand, the Hebrew creation myth does not depict the presence of violence. Instead, it shows a much more peaceful account of creation that involves a verbal command (“fiat”) and things come to be. Unlike, the Akkadian myth, the Hebrew creation account involves an indirect version of chaos in the creation itself for order to be established. The chaos is not clearly outright as is the case with the “Enuma Elish”. However, some similarities exist between the two creation myths, as there are enemies involved among the supreme beings or gods.

The actions of the supreme beings have a direct influence or consequence on the created beings. Monsters constantly fighting with the creator over the created, underscore the themes of both the Hebrew and Akkadian creation myths. Both the Hebrew and Akkadian creation myths further exhibit some similarities in that according to the Hebrew creation account, the setting is the Garden of Eden, which would be identified with Mesopotamia. Hence, these similarities show the existence of some truth in the way creation interacts with the creator and the dangers involved with this interaction where supreme beings in the form of gods are concerned.

Both creation myths therefore depict some form of religion embraced in these cultures. They believe in the existence of higher supreme beings that are concerned with human beings and this interaction has some implication in the whole of creation.