SPRING 2005

 

Anthropology 3969-02 & 5969-02

Creation Stories of the Middle East

Spring Semester 2005

Dr. Ewa Wasilewska

 

 

                                               COURSE OUTLINE

 

Instructor:                    Dr. Ewa Wasilewska

 

Office hours:               By appointment only. Please call the Department of Anthropology

                                    (581-6251) and leave your name, phone number, and class number.

 

Time:                           Each Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

                                  

Location:                     Campus: ST 205

 

Important dates:          Jan. 19, 05 - last day to drop classes

                                   Jan. 24, 05 - last day to add classes

                                   Jan. 24, 05 - last day to elect CR/NC option or to audit classes

                                   March 4, 05 - last day to withdraw from term length classes

 

 

Required texts:            Ewa Wasilewska: Creation Stories of the Middle East. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000.        (Book)

                                   

·         This book can be purchased at the University Bookstore, in Barnes & Noble and on Internet.

 

Ewa Wasilewska: Creation Stories of the Middle East.                                Notes. 2005 (EW)

 

·         Notes can be purchased from an instructor during the first two meetings.

 

                                   RESERVE (Marriott Library):

 

·         Since the only book in English, which can be used for this course, is the one written by the instructor, additional readings are required. They (2 copies of each) are placed on reserve for your use instead of the reading packet, which would be too expensive. Their titles are listed below, under specific topics for each meeting.

 

 

 

Subject:                       This course is designed to introduce students to creation stories of the ancient Middle East which have influenced modern religious systems and through them other aspects of socio-cultural systems. Each set of myths is presented within its specific historical, socio-economic, political and cultural context. In order to encourage students to learn how to analyze and interpret myths of different societies, theoretical and methodological issues are scheduled to be discussed and mostly translations of ancient texts are used.           

 

Requirements: UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

                                  

The final grade will be based on three exams and a final paper on creation stories of the Middle East (10-12 pages plus bibliography). Exams will be especially designed for the type of material that will be covered during class meetings.  In order to pass these exams it is necessary to attend lectures and to read the required material.                                 

                                   The most important information, names, terms, definitions, etc.,                                      can be found in the notes prepared by the instructor in order to                                        structure the learning process in the most effective way.

                                  

                                   GRADUATE STUDENTS

 

In addition to the requirements listed above, graduate students are required to write a research paper of ca. 20 pages (plus bibliography). Each topic must be discussed with the instructor first.    

 

Meeting # 1-Jan. 11, 2005

 

Introduction to the course. Myth: its origin and meaning. Part 1.

 

            READINGS FOR MEETINGS # 1 & 2:

 

                        Book: Introduction. Pp. 9-12.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 1 & 2

 

                        RESERVE:

 

                        Kurtz, Paul: UFO Mythology: The Escape to Oblivion. In "Skeptical

                        Inquirer," July/August 1997. Pp. 12-14.

 

                        Gardner, Martin: Heaven's Gate: The UFO Cult of Bo and Peep. In                                               "Skeptical Inquirer," July/August 1997. Pp. 15-17.

           

                        Puhvel, Jaan: Introduction. The Study of Myth. In "Comparative                                       Mythology." The John Hopkins University Press: 1987. Pp. 1-20.

 

                        Kirk, G.S.: Myth, Ritual and Folktale. In "Myth, Its Meaning and                                      Functions in Ancient and Other Cultures." Cambridge University Press:                           1973. Pp. 1-41.

 

Meeting # 2 - Jan. 18, 2005

 

Myth: its origin and meaning. Part 2.

 

            READINGS FOR MEETING # 3 & 4:

 

                        Book: Introduction. Pp. 13-17.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 3 & 4

 

                        RESERVE:

 

                        Eickelman, Dale F.: Anthropology, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In                          "The Middle East and Central Asia." Prentice Hall: 1998. Pp. 1-26.

                                              

Soden, Wolfram von: I. The Term "Ancient Orient" and Its Demarcation. II. The Scene. III. Peoples and Cultures in the Ancient Orient. In " The Ancient Orient." William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: 1994. Pp.1-30.

 

Meeting # 3 - Jan. 25, 2005

 

Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East: Introduction to social geography of the past and present. Part 1.

 

Meeting # 4 - Feb. 1, 2005

 

Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East: Introduction to social geography of the past and present. Part 2.

 

            READINGS FOR MEETINGS # 5 & 6:

 

                        Book: Part I. Pp. 20-42.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 5 & 6

 

RESERVE:

 

                        Kramer, Samuel Noah: Introduction. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. In "History

                        Begins at Sumer." Doubleday Anchor Books: 1959. Pp. XVII-XXV, 1-28.

 

                        Meeks, Dimitri & Christine Favard-Meeks: Introduction. In " Daily Life

                        of the Egyptian Gods." Cornell University Press: 1996. Pp. 1-10.

 

                        Faulkner, R.O.: Introduction. In "The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead."

                        University of Texas Press: 1997. Pp. 11-16.

 

                        Wallace, Howard N.:  Chapter II. The Yahwistic Source and Its Oral                                             Antecedents. In "The Eden Narrative." Scholars Press: 1985. Pp. 29-64.

 

                        Cross, Frank Moore: 11. The Priestly Work. In "Canaanite Myth and                                Hebrew Epic. Essays in the History of the Religion of Israel." Harvard                              University Press: 1973. Pp.293-325.

 

                        Oldenberg, Hermann: Introduction. The Sources. In "The Religion of the                           Veda." Motilal Banarsidass: 1988. Pp. 1-22.

 

                        Rajaram, Navaratna S. & David Frawley: Chapters 1 & 2. In "Vedic                                              'Aryans' and the Origins of Civilization." W.H. Press, Inc.: 1995.

 

                        Esposito, John L.: The Content of Law. In "Islam. The Straight Path."

                        Oxford University Press. 1988. Pp. 89-95.

 

Meeting # 5 - Feb. 8, 2005

 

Religion: The Non-Existent Concept. Written sources from the Middle East -- a survey.

Review!!!

 

Meeting # 6 - Feb. 15, 2005

 

EXAM!!!

 

READINGS FOR MEETINGS # 7 &8:

 

                        Book: Chapter 5. Pp. 44-74.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 7 & 8

 

                        RESERVE:

                       

                        Foster, Benjamin R., tr.: Epic of Creation. In "From Distant Days. Myths,                         Tales, and Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia." CDL Press: 1995. Pp. 9-51.

 

                        Ions, Veronica: In  "Egyptian Mythology. "  New York: Peter Bedrick                                Books. 1983. Pp. 21-23.

 

                        Wilson, John A.: The Memphite Theology of Creation. In "ANET" edited                           by James E. Pritchard. Princeton University Press. 1973. Pp. 1-2.

 

                        Allen, James P.tr.: From Papyrus Leiden I 350 (1.16). In William W.                                Hallo, editor, K. Lawson Younger, Jr. Associate Editor, The Context of                            Scripture. Volume I: Canonical Compositions from the Biblical World.                             Leiden, New York, Kˆln: Brill. 1997.  Pp. 23-26.

 

                        The Jerusalem Bible: Reader's Edition: Genesis. 1968. Pp. 4-15.

 

                        Selections from "The Qur'an. The First American Version." Amana

                        Books. 1985.

           

Meeting # 7 - Feb. 22, 2005

 

Creation of Universe: Out of Watery Order or Chaos. Part I. 

 

Meeting # 8 - March 1, 2005

 

Creation of Universe: Out of Watery Order or Chaos. Part II 

 

READINGS FOR MEETINGS # 9, 10, 11:

 

                        Book: Chapter 6. Pp. 75-118.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 9-11

 

                        RESERVE:

                       

                        Kramer, Samuel Noah and Maier, John: Inanna and Enki: The Transfer of                                     the Arts of Civilization from Eridu to Erech. In"Myths of Enki, The Crafty                           God. " New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1989. Pp. 57-68.

 

                        Foster, Benjamin R.tr.: Anzu, The Bird Who Stole Destiny. In  "From                               Distant Days. Myths, Tales, And Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia." CDL                           Press. 1995. Pp. 115-131.

 

                        Matthews, Victor H. & Don. C. Benjamin: Stories of Ishtar and Tammuz.                          In "Old Testament Parallels." Paulist Press. 1997. Pp. 305-311.

 

                        Quirke, Stephen: Power in Heaven. In "Ancient Egyptian Religion." Dover

                        Publications. 1997. Pp. 21-51.

 

                        Hoffner, Harry A.:  Old Anatolian Myths. Hurrian Myths. In "Hittite                                    Myths." Scholars Press. 1990. Pp. 9-22, 38-62.

 

                        Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh: Introduction. The Gods And The Creation of

                        The Ancient Iranian World. In " Persian Myths." University of Texas                                  Press. 1993. Pp. 7-20.

 

                        Mark S. Smith: The Story of Baal Cycle. In "The Ugaritic Baal Cycle."

                        E. J. Brill: 1994. Pp. XXII-XXVIII.

 

                        Meshel, Ze'ev: Did Yahweh Have a Consort? In Biblical Archaeology                                Review,  1979. March/April. Pp. 24-36.

 

Meeting # 9 - March 8, 2005

 

Creation of Universe: Divine Order and Its Creators. Part I.

 

Meeting # 10 - March 15, 2005

 

SPRING BREAK!

 

Meeting # 11 - March 22, 2005

 

Creation of Universe: Divine Order and Its Creators. Part II

 

READINGS FOR MEETINGS # 12, 13:

 

                        Book: Chapter 7. Pp. 119-134.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 12 & 13

 

RESERVE:

                       

                        Foster, Benjamin R.tr.: How Adapa Lost Immortality. Etana, the King                              without Heir.  In  "From Distant Days. Myths, Tales, And Poetry of                                              Ancient Mesopotamia." CDL Press. 1995. Pp. 97 -- 114.

           

                        Dalley, Stephanie: The Epic of Gilgamesh. In Myths from Mesopotamia.                           Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press. 1989. Pp. 39-153.

 

                        Silverman, David P.: Divinity and Deities in Ancient Egypt. In Shafer,                               Byron E. ed. Religion in Ancient Egypt. Gods, Myths, and Personal                                             Practice. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press. 1991. Pp. 7-87.

 

Meeting # 12 - March 29, 2005

 

Creation of Universe: Almost Divine: Chosen People. Part I.

 

            READINGS FOR MEETING # 12 ( second part) & # 13:

 

Book: Chapters 8-10. Pp. 136-173.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 13

 

RESERVE: 

                       

                        Lichtheim, Miriam: Instructions. Merikare (1.35). In William W. Hallo,                               editor, K. Lawson Younger, Jr. Associate Editor, The Context of Scripture.                                  Volume I: Canonical Compositions from the Biblical World. Leiden, New                          York, Kˆln: Brill. 1997. Pp. 61-67.

 

                        Kramer, Samuel Noah & John Maier: Enki and Ninmah: The Creation of

                        Humankind. In "Myths of Enki, the Crafty God." Oxford University Press.

                        1989. Pp. 31-37.

 

                        Kramer, Samuel Noah & John Maier: Enki and Ninhursag: A Sumerian                            Paradise Myth. In "Myths of Enki, the Crafty God." Oxford University                               Press. 1989. Pp. 22-30.

 

                        Hinnells, John R.: The Myth of Creation... In "Persian Mythology."

                        Peter Bedrick Books. 1985. Pp. 59-63.

 

·         Please review "Enuma Elish, " "Genesis" and selections from the "Qur'an"

 

Meeting # 13 - April 5, 2005

 

Creation of Universe: Almost Divine: Chosen People. Part II.

Creation of Humankind. Part I.

 

TAKE HOME EXAM!!!

 

Meeting # 14 - April 12, 2005

 

Creation of Humankind. Part II.

 

READINGS FOR MEETING# 15:

           

                        Book: Chapter 11. Pp. 174-184.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 15

 

                        RESERVE:

                       

                        Foster, Benjamin R. tr.: Story of the Flood.  In  "From Distant Days.                                Myths, Tales, And Poetry of       Ancient Mesopotamia." CDL Press. 1995.                                  Pp. 53-77.

 

                        Lesko, Leonard H.  Ancient Egyptian Cosmogonies and Cosmology. In                            Shafer, Byron E. ed. Religion in Ancient Egypt. Gods, Myths, and                                               Personal Practice. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press. 1991.Pp.                                    88-122.

 

                        Malandra, William W.: Yima. In "An Introduction to Ancient Iranian                                  Religion. Readings from the Avesta and Achaemenid Religion. "                                                 Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 1983. Pp. 175-182.

 

·         Please review "Genesis"

 

Meeting # 15 - April 19, 2005

 

Destruction of Humankind.

 

READINGS FOR MEETING # 16:

 

                        Book: Part 4. Pp. 186-199.

 

                        Notes: EW: # 16

 

RESERVE:

                       

                        Dalley, Stephanie: Nergal and Ereshkigal. In "Myths from Mesopotamia.."                                    Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press. 1989. Pp. 163-181.

 

                        Foster, Benjamin R.tr.: When Ishtar Went to the Netherworld.  In "From                           Distant Days. Myths, Tales, And Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia." CDL                           Press. 1995. Pp. 78-84.

 

                        Faulkner, R.O., tr.: Spell 175. In "The Ancient Egyptian Book of the                                            Dead." University of Texas Press. 1997. Pp. 175.

 

Meeting # 16 - April 26, 2005

 

The End.

 

Meeting # 17 - May 3, 2005

 

FINAL EXAM!!!

 

Last day to turn in a final paper.