Arrival - SML Challenge Week 9

The theme for this week is Ancient Cultures, and I can dig that!

My take on this theme is Ancient Sumeria.

And from Ancient Sumeria, I wrote a song about their Religion, and Man's Creation Myth. Ancient Sumer is said to have been first settled around 5500 BC according to some, and to others around 4500 BC. Depends on whom you ask... either way... Ancient.

If you are not familiar with this Ancient Culture, you are missing out. The legends and myths that have come from this culture are quite interesting. I particularly find the Creation of Man by Enki, an Anunnaki God, fascinating.

There are quite a few myths of man's creation, genocide, and rescue using the Anunnaki Gods as a source. Most well known are the Enûma Eliš, and the Atra-Hasis, Akkadian Epics. The Epic of Giglamesh also includes 5 Sumerian Poems as a base. Enki was also known as Ea, and the Lord of the Water. Sound familiar...Earth, and Poseidon perhaps?

Most of these links are from Wikipedia, if you want more in depth knowledge, start digging!

As I said, there are many versions of Sumerian Legends, and the watered down version is as follows, and used as an idea for this weeks challenge.

The Old Gods Arrived on this planet long ago, and were in need of some workers to keep their own kind happy. The lesser gods were tasked with agriculture, mining, and other laborious duties. These lesser gods, grew tired of being the lowly workers, and demanded action. So Enki as the Chief Counselor of the Gods, in his infinite wisdom genetically altered Homo Erectus, an extinct species of very early man. Using Homo Erectus as a base, he created Homo Sapiens giving them spirit and knowledge. Home Sapiens were used a labor class to serve the Gods and resided in the Garden of Eden.

His brother Enlil, who happened to be Chief among the Gods, grew ever impatient with Enki's creation. Enki and Enlil eventually agreed to the population control of human kind, with plagues that came every 1200 years. Dissatisfied and growing ever more impatient, feeling slighted that man was growing ever smarter, Enlil ordered the genocide of mankind with a flood that would wipe out every living thing. Enki, having a great connection to his creation, decided to go against Enlil and save a few of us lowly humans. This angered Enlil, and there was a long fought war over saving mankind. Mankind survives thanks to the benevolent Enki, and Enlil departs from Earth, returning home. But it is not over by a long shot. Read up on Ancient Sumer, it's legends and myths, you may learn a few interesting tidbits. :-)