The Flood Myth
7/2/202656 min
Thousands of years before the story of Noah and the Ark, people in ancient Mesopotamia were already telling tales of a devastating divine flood. Written into the Epic of Atrahasis, this ancient story describes a man chosen to survive catastrophe by building a great boat and preserving life from destruction.
Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by Sophus Helle to explore this legend from ancient Babylonian folklore. What does the story of Atrahasis reveal about ancient Babylonian beliefs? How similar is it to the biblical account of Noah? And why did the memory of a great flood become one of humanity’s most enduring stories?
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Epic of Gilgamesh: Rise of Enkidu
Babylon's Epic of Creation
We're going on *TOUR to Australia and New Zealand! - grab your tickets* here.
Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.
All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds
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First 90 secondsTristan Hughes· Host0:00
Ever wondered why the Romans were defeated in the Teutoburg Forest? What secrets lie buried in prehistoric Ireland? Or what made Alexander truly great? With a subscription to History Hit, you can explore our ancient past alongside the world's leading historians and archeologists. You'll also unlock hundreds of hours of original documentaries with a brand new release every single week, covering everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com/subscribe. Did you know that the ancient world's greatest monster killer, well, he was also a man who left death and destruction all around him wherever he went? From the snake-filled crib at Thebes to the impossible labors that took him across the ancient Greek world, Heracles, or Hercules, if you prefer the Roman version, well, he's one of the most extraordinary figures in myth, a hero whose life was as thrilling as it was brutal. I'm Tristan Hughes, and I'm thrilled to be bringing Heracles' story to Australia this August on the Ancients Live tour. I'm going to be joined by the brilliant Alastair Blanchard, Professor of Classics and Ancient History, and together we're going to dig into the myths, the geography, and the archeology behind the labors, from the Nemean Lion and the Hydra to Troy and the tragic end of Greece's greatest hero. Now, tickets are on sale.