The use of imperfections

The Epic of Creation tells the story of how the earth was created and the way in which Marduk came to power. But unlike the Bible, I was intrigued with the human attributes that the gods demonstrated throughout the entire story; and how that made them relatable to mankind. The fear of death and need for incentive are two of the most apparent characteristics that helped shape the story while also appealing to the Babylonians.

In today’s society, one would seldom stop to think that God had to worry about his own death. But the fear of dying is apparent through Ea, who upon hearing “all that is” about Apsu’s plan to kill his children, decides to murder his father. The way Ea turns against his parents proves how he instinctively makes life his first priority. However, our initial reactions are not of disgust. Instead we think of it as self-defense because we understand the fear of death and recognize that we would have behaved similarly ourselves. This fear is also essential to the story because it triggers a chain of events that lead to Tiamut’s anger and eventually gives Marduk the opportunity to rise in power.

Incentives also play a big role in the Epic of Creation, because Marduk might never have risked his life unless the throne had been promised to him in return. This differs greatly from the bible which tends to emphasize that good deeds should be done without expecting anything in return. But incentives make this story far more relatable and imply that having a reason to be motivated for can be highly beneficial. It appealed to the Babylonians, because men tend to base their decisions on convenience. But it is especially relevant today, considering our market economy works around incentives.

The gods in the Epic of Creation were far from perfect, but their mistakes almost seem to create a guideline for the human race. Ea and Marduk’s betrayal might imply that with every generation comes improvement, and that elders die with their conservative views. Marduk’s slicing of Tiamut to create heaven and earth could easily signify that the knowledge a parent bestows upon his child will eventually lead him to create something great for the world. But their imperfections make it easier for people to be follow religion and understand why some of the motives that the gods had. Not only did this make the gods more entertaining, but it got their messages across more efficiently.