The Storm-God and the Sea: The Origin, Versions, and Diffusion of a Myth Throughout the Ancient Near East

by Noga Ayali-Darshan

The tale of the combat between the Storm-god and the Sea that began circulating in the early second millennium BCE was one of the most well-known ancient Near Eastern myths. Its widespread dissemination in distinct versions across disparate locations and time periods - Syria, Egypt, Anatolia, Ugarit, Mesopotamia, and Israel - calls for analysis of all the textual variants in order to determine its earliest form, geo-cultural origin, and transmission history. In undertaking this task, Noga Ayali-Darshan examines works such as the Astarte Papyrus, the Pisaisa Myth, the Songs of Hedammu and Ullikummi, the Baal Cycle, Enuma elis, and pertinent biblical texts. She interprets these and other related writings philologically according to their provenance and comparatively in the light of parallel texts. The examination of this story appearing in all the ancient Near Eastern cultures also calls for a discussion of the theology, literature, and history of these societies and the way they shaped the local versions of the myth.

282 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayali-Darshan conducts a phenomenal textual investigation into the myth of the storm-god warring with sea, examining various motifs and the unique, regional developments the tale aquired (and lost) as it spread throughout ancient Southwest-Asia.

Loved it, really a work of first-rate scholarship.