A rollicking introduction to the world of Babylonian and Mesopotamian heroes, gods and legends. Standing for thousands of years between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, the city of Babylon has itself attained almost mythical status – and its mythological traditions can seem stranger still. There is the goddess Tiamat, who is split in two to envelop the world; the fearsome scorpion people who guard the rising Sun; and the hero Gilgamesh, who is more than twice the height of other men. But behind the often unfamiliar names and fantastical tales, we find themes that are touchingly close to home: love and friendship, grief, anger, frustration, humour, the experiences at the very core of being human. The Babylonian myths are among humanity’s oldest and have had a substantial influence on surrounding traditions, such as Greek mythology and the Hebrew Bible, and yet they remain largely unexplored. There are creation myths, destructive floods, passionate love affairs and violent battles, all reflective of a society that was asking questions such as ‘where do we come from?’, ‘why do bad things happen to good people?’ and ‘what becomes of us after we die?’ – much like we still do today. With an expert eye for wordplay and the emotional heart of a story, Sophus Helle guides us through this world of capricious gods and proud heroes to shed light on the civilization that created them.
