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The Babylonian Myths
A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends
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A rollicking introduction to the world of Babylonian and Mesopotamian heroes, gods and legends.
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.
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.
Extent: 240 pp
Format: Hardback
Illustrations: 2-c as K + Pantone tbc
Publication date: 2027-01-28
Size: 19.6 x 12.9 cm
ISBN: 9780500029886
About the Author
Sophus Helle is a leading expert on Babylonian literature. He is an external consultant for Princeton University and the managing editor of the Library of Babylonian Literature and has published translations of Gilgamesh and the poems of Enheduana in English and Danish. He is also the winner of the European Young Researcher Award 2020 and the host of the Danish podcast Mythos, where he discusses myths from all over the world.
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