11 articles in this category
We answer common questions about Ancient Near East mythology, debunk the 'copycat' theory, and explain why the Epic of Gilgamesh still matters.
Myths are not just stories. Learn to read them as living scripts for ritual, power, and cosmic order in ancient Mesopotamia.
I argue that Ancient Near Eastern mythology, not just its laws or kings, is the essential lens for understanding Mesopotamian civilization—and I'll sh...
Gilgamesh vs. Atrahasis: the two great flood stories of Mesopotamia. We pit them head-to-head on drama, theology, and sheer survival power. Spoiler: G...
You probably picture Babylon when you think of Mesopotamia. Stop. That mistake hides the real story—and the Sumerians, who invented writing, didn't ev...
We keep teaching Gilgamesh, but the real mythological engine of ancient Mesopotamia was the ziggurat. Here's how to read it.
We debunk the biggest misconceptions about Mesopotamian mythology and religion using actual cuneiform evidence. Did Marduk really slay chaos? Did Gilg...
Comparing the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Enuma Elish as entry points into Mesopotamian myth—what each offers, who it suits, and why the Enuma Elish win...
You've been reading Gilgamesh wrong. It's not a hero's journey—it's a brutal lesson in mortality. Here's what the oldest epic actually teaches, and wh...
Think myth means fiction? In the Ancient Near East, myth and history blur. I debunk the biggest misconception: that Gilgamesh, Marduk, and the Flood w...
Walk through the facts of Babylon's iconic gate—materials, dimensions, and theology—to see what a real rebuild would take. You'll get blunt advice on ...