Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1.2 Tablet with cunei-
form inscriptions from the
library of Assur-bani-pal, King
of Assyria, telling part of the
creation story of the Universe
(from Anon., Helps to the
Study of the Bible, Plate 57).
dragon of Chaos. In the beginning the god Apsu and Tiamat came
together and bore the gods of Earth and Heaven. These offspring
attempted to bring some order to their parents' chaotic lives, but
conflict followed and numerous deities were killed and replaced
with others. Marduk, who was the son of Ea, the god of water, armed
himself with thunderbolts and lightning and, with the assistance of
the winds, went into battle against the eleven monsters created
by Tiamat who were under the command of her husband Kingu.
Eventually Marduk prevailed, killing the dragon and dividing her
body into two. One half became the heavens while the other became
the Earth and the oceans. Plants and animals were then created, and
followed by Man who was formed by Ea from clay and the blood of the
god Kingu. It is not clear when creation occurred, but man, according
to the Babylonians, appeared half a million years ago.
INDIAN OR VEDIC CREATION BELIEFS
Vedic faiths are those that arose on the Indian subcontinent, the oldest
of which is Hinduism, followed by the later Buddhism and Jainism.
Essentially all three faiths regard the Universe as having no beginning
nor end.
In Hindu belief the Universe developed from the Hiranyagarbha
or golden egg, which brought into existence the supreme god, the
Brahman ('spirit' in Sanskrit). The egg contained the continents,
oceans, mountains, the planets, the Universe and humanity itself.
After a thousand years, the egg was said to have opened, releasing
