Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia
This discussion explores the intersection of chaos and writing in the context of the Eridu Genesis, a Sumerian cuneiform text dating back to the 18th century BC and containing three narratives : the Creation of humankind, the building of cities, and a flood myth. Researchers analyze the extent to wh...
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| Natura: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Lingua: | Anglais |
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2011
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| Accesso online: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:trans_249 https://doi.org/10.4000/trans.249 urn:doi:10.4000/trans.249 en https://journals.openedition.org/trans/249 2011-11-16T01:00:00Z info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess article info:eu-repo/semantics/article urn:handle:20.500.13089/ljky All rights reserved Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia TRANS- Presses Sorbonne Nouvelle info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/1778-3887 URI:https://journals.openedition.org/trans Prescott-Steed, David This discussion explores the intersection of chaos and writing in the context of the Eridu Genesis, a Sumerian cuneiform text dating back to the 18th century BC and containing three narratives : the Creation of humankind, the building of cities, and a flood myth. Researchers analyze the extent to which conceptions of chaos, found in this text, recount the Black Sea deluge that scientists agree occurred around 5500 BC. Having authored the world’s oldest known historical texts, Sumerian writings simultaneously mark the beginning of written literature and the birth pangs of chaos ‘in’ writing. Thus the Eridu Genesis, as the archetype for these narratives, deserves critical attention when affording ‘writing and chaos’ a historical context. The question of whether or not the Black Sea flood continues to underpin late modern notions of chaos remains open. However, this geo-cultural reading shows that writing about chaos can provide insight into the human condition, by giving expression to what it means for a civilization to exist in an unpredictable world. Esta discusión examina la intersección del caos y la escritura en el contexto del Eridu Genesis, un texto cuneiforme Sumerio que data del siglo XVlll AC y que contiene tres narraciones : la creación de la humanidad, la construcción de las ciudades, y un mito sobre una inundación. Los investigadores consideran hasta qué punto las concepciones sobre el caos halladas en este texto, hablan sobre el diluvio del Mar Negro, que los científicos están de acuerdo en afirmar que ocurrió aproximadamente 5500 AC. Las escrituras Sumerias son los más antiguos textos históricos conocidos del mundo, y marcan simultáneamente el principio de la literatura escrita y el nacimiento del caos en la escritura. Así, el Génesis de Eridu, como arquetipo de estas narrativas, merece una atención crítica cuando mencionamos ‘escritura y caos’, en un contexto histórico. La pregunta de si el diluvio del Mar Negro continúa o no sosteniendo las últimas nociones modernas del caos, permanece abierta. Sin embargo, esta lectura geo-cultural demuestra que el escribir sobre el caos puede aportarnos ideas sobre la condición humana, dando expresión a lo que significa para una civilización el existir en un mundo imprevisible. |
| collection |
OpenEdition Journal |
| language |
Anglais |
| format |
Article ou chapitre numérique |
| building |
0/Bibliothèque numérique/ 1/Bibliothèque numérique/OpenEdition Journals/ |
| description |
This discussion explores the intersection of chaos and writing in the context of the Eridu Genesis, a Sumerian cuneiform text dating back to the 18th century BC and containing three narratives : the Creation of humankind, the building of cities, and a flood myth. Researchers analyze the extent to which conceptions of chaos, found in this text, recount the Black Sea deluge that scientists agree occurred around 5500 BC. Having authored the world’s oldest known historical texts, Sumerian writings simultaneously mark the beginning of written literature and the birth pangs of chaos ‘in’ writing. Thus the Eridu Genesis, as the archetype for these narratives, deserves critical attention when affording ‘writing and chaos’ a historical context. The question of whether or not the Black Sea flood continues to underpin late modern notions of chaos remains open. However, this geo-cultural reading shows that writing about chaos can provide insight into the human condition, by giving expression to what it means for a civilization to exist in an unpredictable world. |
| author |
Prescott-Steed, David |
| spellingShingle |
Prescott-Steed, David Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia |
| author_facet |
Prescott-Steed, David |
| author_sort |
Prescott-Steed, David |
| title |
Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia |
| title_short |
Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia |
| title_full |
Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia |
| title_fullStr |
Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Black Sea Abyss: Chaos and Writing in Ancient Mesopotamia |
| title_sort |
black sea abyss: chaos and writing in ancient mesopotamia |
| publisher |
TRANS- |
| publishDate |
2011 |
| container_title |
URI:https://journals.openedition.org/trans |
| url |
https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://doi.org/10.4000/trans.249 https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://journals.openedition.org/trans/249 |
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