The Mesopotamian myth of "Enki and Ninmah" is an explanation of the creation of the human being by gods. It dates from the middle of the second millennium BC. AD, and was probably inspired by the myth of Atra-hasis.
The gods, all born of the primordial mother Nammu, reside on Earth, where a first category lives quietly while a second works for all. The second beginning to protest, Nammu asks Enki to seek to create a creature whose role will be to work in the place of the secondary gods, and for all the gods, thus making their lives easier. The latter does not take long to find an idea and tells his mother to shape this creature with clay drawn from the surface of the Abyss, in a mold he makes, with the help of the goddess Ninmah (the Enki's consort) and other deities, and then give them life. This book, Man, finds a very favorable welcome from the gods, who gather around a big banquet to celebrate the event.
During the meal, Enki and Ninmah are quite drunk. The latter challenges her husband: she will give life to other human beings who will be "imperfect" (a being asexual, a sterile woman, a lame man, etc.), and Enki challenge to find them a task in the society. This one arrives easily. Then he starts a challenge identical to his wife, creating a formless human being (a "monster"). Ninmah can not seem to find a job for him, and loses the duel.
It is thus seen that this story seeks to answer several questions that men ask themselves: their reason for being (that is, serving the gods), and why there were "imperfect" beings in their lives. eyes. Bibliography edit code Internal Linksedit code
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