Anthropology 3969-02 & 5969-02 (10421, 10732)
Middle East Studies 4880-07 (14786)
Creation Stories of the Middle East
Spring Semester 2006
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. 
			E-mail: Mruczek@AOL.com
			Website: www.ewas.us

Time:			Each Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
			
Location:		Campus: ST 205

Important dates:	January 18, 06 – last day to drop classes
			January 23, 06 – last day to add classes
January 23, 06 – last day to elect CR/NC option or to audit classes
			March 3, 06 – 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.

			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. 

Optional text: 	Ewa Wasilewska: Creation Stories of the Middle East. Notes. 2006 (EW)

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

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 – January 11, 2006
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 – January 18, 2006 
Myth: its origin and meaning. Part 2.

MEETING # 3 – January 25, 2006 
Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East: Introduction to social geography of the past and present. Part 1. 

Readings for meetings # 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 # 4 – February 1, 2006
Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East: Introduction to social geography of the past and present. Part 2.

MEETING # 5 – February 8, 2006 
Religion: The Non-Existent Concept. Written sources from the Middle East -- a survey.

REVIEW!!!

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 # 6 – February 15, 2006 
EXAM!!!

MEETING # 7 – February 22, 2006 
Creation of Universe: Out of Watery Order or Chaos. Part I.  
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 # 8 – March 1, 2006 
Creation of Universe: Out of Watery Order or Chaos. Part II.  

MEETING # 9 – March 8, 2006
Creation of Universe: Divine Order and Its Creators. Part I.

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 # 10 – March 15, 2006

SPRING BREAK!

Meeting # 11 – March 22, 2006
Creation of Universe: Divine Order and Its Creators. Part II.

MEETING # 12 – March 29, 2006
Creation of Universe: Almost Divine: Chosen People.

Readings for meetings # 12:
Book: Chapter 7. Pp. 119-134.

Notes: EW: # 12 

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 # 13 – April 5, 2006
Creation of Humankind. Part I.

TAKE HOME EXAM!!!

Readings for meetings #13 &14:
Book: Chapters 8-10. Pp. 136-173.

Notes: EW: # 13 & 14

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 # 14 – April 12, 2006 
Creation of Humankind. Part II.

MEETING # 15 – April 19, 2006
Destruction of Humankind. 

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 # 16 – April 26, 2006
The End.

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 # 17 – May 3, 2006 
FINAL EXAM!!!

Last day to turn in a final paper.