Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-18
A BABYLoNIaN MYTH.

An Interesting Babylonlan myth has
Veeh deciphered from cuneiform tablets
y the British Museum. 1t Is supposed
y relate to the first man, and critics sec
y i some slight resemblance to the
narrative in Genesis about the eSpul-
SION OF our first ancestors from the
Garden OF Eden. Professor Zlmmern,
ot the University Of Breslau, gives this
habylonlan myth In brochure. from
which the Literary Digest quotes as
follows.
Adapa, evidently the FIRST human
peing according 20 Babylonlan tradi-
uon, Is the son OF the sea god Ea. The
atter has created him and endowed
MN with great wisdom. but has not CIV
en- MIN Immortality. Adapa lives In the
sanctuary Of Ea In Erldu. at the mouth
Joy the Euphrates and Tigris Here he
acts IN the capacity OF a priest of Ea,
ana among other things Is engaged In
saiching FISH In the sea near by In or
yer to supply the sanctuary. One day,
as ne Is out on the waters in the pur-
sun - his calling. the sea ls suddenly
lished into fury by a sudden south
WIND. and the boat In which Adapa is
seated IL overturned and he himself
tast into The sen. As punishment for
this. Adapa seIzes the South Wind and
breaks one OF his wings, so that for
seven days he Is not able to fiy over
me land. Anu. the god OF heavens,
hears OF this, and sends his messenger
upon the earth In order 10 call Adapa
OGlGfa -. cflxt
of ms deed. Ea instructs Adapa con-
earning the things In heaven and what
ne can expect there at the hands OF
Anu. When you appear In the pres
tnce OF Anu, they will offer you the
food OF death-don't eat III They win
give you water Of death--don't drink itl'
The messenger Of Anu arrives and
everything happens as predicted. with
the exception that instead OF the food
and the drink OF death, they offer him
The food and the drink OF life. But,
ohedlent 10 the command Of Ea, Adapa
refuses 20 take this food and drink.
and thereby forfeits his chances OF OBJ
tanning Immortality. Anu says: Get
for him tho food OF life and let him
eat.' And they brought him the food
of HE but he would NOT eat. Water
&c He was brought and he refused to
drink. In amazement Anu says %
Adapa, why did you not eat and why
not drink? Now you shall not live!'
And he commanded: Take him hence
and return him 20 the carth.'"
The supposed resemblance OF this
myth to the Bible narrative is that In
both the 6rst progenitor Of man lest
Immortality on earth by not eating 'the
food OF life But since every other de-
iail Is different In the two. It would
certainly be rash to conclude that one
Is but corrupted version OF the 9th
or. At the time Of Moses, the various
nations had, We may conclude. various
myths and legends concerning antedl-
luvian events. He, being versed In the
learning OF the Egyptians, no doubt was
as familiar with them. as Is today a
professor Of history with the data re
corded in historic times. Being guided
by the Spirit OF Truth he was, when
compiling the first chapters Of Genesis,
which may be regarded as a preface to
his history Of the Hebrews and their
laws, led TO reject all that which was
u legendary character and to pre-.
serve the authentic substrata on which
the myths had been built up,
The success with which scientists are
unearthing the mysteries OF the long
past ages is one Of the remarkable fea-
lures OF our time. II the present peace
'ful progress is not interrupted by wars
and connections OF universal reach, or
Nv cataclysns. It is probable that in
time human history may be traced back
10 the very infancy OF man.
Mind. And there are signs that
polnt to this continent as the cradle
~ the race. II Mr. Plongeon is correct,
there was time, long. long ago, when
the American people dominated the
world. as the Anglo-Saxon race does to-
oav Their ships went westward over
me Pacific and eastward across the At
hntIc. They founded colonies every
where. They gave to other nations
their language. their philosophy and
,,eir religion. They made maps. OBJ
served the stars cultivated the arts.
and were mighty in war. What won
asrful field Of investigation these sug-
esstions open upl And how truly won
sa,ful that such truths should first &C.
ar to an Illiterate boy. Inexplicable
sron any other supposItion than the
,rue one. that TO him 1t was given In
M age and generation, to commune
.l,,h Jehovah" and to be enlightened by
nat divine Spirit in whom all live.
- - Aaro thnlr hnlnn -