Comparing Atrahasis I, The Book Of Genesis, And The Book Of Job

Literary evidence has been analyzed from cultures such as the Mesopotamians, the Greeks, and the followers of Judaism, to interpret the relationship between each culture with their respective deities. From texts such as Homer’s The Odyssey, Atrahasis I, the Book of Genesis, and the Book of Job, it can be concluded that while each culture has its own different variation of religious deities, the purpose of said deities are very much the same. This is due to the fact that in each culture, the role or the gods is to create standards that humankind is meant to live by. These standards dictate what actions are acceptable and unacceptable in their society.
A majority of the gods, depicted before the era of Christianity, were portrayed as mysterious,
Texts such as Atrahasis, however, demonstrate what happens when humans fail to stay in the favor of their gods. In the story of Atrahasis, humankind loses favor with their gods because, as stated by the Mesopotamian god, Ellil, 'The noise of mankind has become too much, I am losing sleep over their racket.” While this is a petty reason to attempt to end the human race with famine, disease, and a flood, something such as simply being too loud can cause a human to lose favor with their gods, therefore leading to dire consequences. No amount of tribute or persuasion could stop Ellil from laying out the humans’ punishment, and the only way humankind could have avoided such devastation was for them to listen to the Gods and be quieter. The theme of punishment laid out by the gods is present in Homer’s The Odyssey, as well. This is demonstrated when Odysseus blinds Poseidon’s, the Greek god of the sea, offspring, Polyphemus. While Odysseus’ actions do not go against the Greek gods’ doctrine, it does, however, offend Poseidon, leading to Odysseus falling out of favor with him. Poseidon then punishes Odysseus by sending storms after him several times throughout his journey, and even wrecking his ship. Poseidon’s rage is seen again when the Phaeacians send Odysseus on his way back home. They treat Odysseus with hospitality, because this is the
This punishment is delivered because, even though the Phaeacians were simply doing what is required of Greek society (treating strangers with hospitality), them doing so allowed Odysseus to get home safely, which Poseidon did not want. Punishment is also dealt in the Book of Genesis, when God destroys the city of Sodom. The people within this city had committed many sins, defying God’s doctrine whenever they pleased. The people of these cities of filled with sin, as seen in Genesis 19 when two angels of God arrive in Sodom and stay as guests with Lot. While there, the people of Sodom break the most sacred doctrine of hospitality towards guests, attempting to rape them while under Lots care. This fully exemplifies the sinful nature of the people of Sodom. Their nature lead to their destruction, as God “rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.” Therefore, while it is expected of humankind to obey the doctrine of their gods, the gods had made sure to punish those who didn’t, to reinforce the fear of the gods’ power and make examples of those who disobeyed