Order vs. Chaos in Greek Mythology free essay sample

In the Babylonian Enuma Elish, Marduk, the Storm God defeats the dragon-like monster Tiamat. In the Ugaritic Baal Cycle, the Storm God, Baal, defeats the serpent Yam. In both versions of the Illuyanka Myth, the Storm God defeats Illuyanka to restore order to the land. All three of these myths demonstrate the victory of a Storm God over a dragon-like monster in order to restore order over the chaos these monsters created. In both the Enuma Elish and The Baal Cycle, the Storm God’s are given articles of power to defeat the serpent like monsters. In Enuma Elish, Anu who is Marduk’s grandfather presents Marduk with four winds, with these winds he is able to defeat Tiamat as Tiamat is the sea and these winds disturb the sea. As the author of Enuma Elish says â€Å"Anu brought forth and begot the fourfold wind consigning to its power the leader of the host. We will write a custom essay sample on Order vs. Chaos in Greek Mythology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He†¦ stationed the whirlwind, he produced streams to disturb Tiamat. † The powerful winds disrupted Tiamat and signified the initiation of battle as the author of Enuma Elish says, â€Å"When he created the dread fourfold wind, your vitals were diluted and so we can have no rest. The fourfold wind was what enticed Tiamat to create the monsters and prepare for battle; these winds were what ultimately disturbed the Sea and gave Marduk an advantage over his foe. In The Baal Cycle, Kothar-wa-Hasis who is the craftsman god makes Baal two magic clubs to smash and defeat Yam with. Kothar says to Baal â€Å"behold, you will kill your enemy, behold you will annihilate your foes. You will take your eternal kingship, your dominion forever and ever. Kothar brought down two clubs, and he pronounced their names. Each of the clubs that Kothar made for Baal had a significant purpose; one was the â€Å"Driver† and the other the â€Å"Chaser. † â€Å"Driver† was made to â€Å"strike Prince Sea on the shoulder, Jude River between the arms. † â€Å"Chaser† was made to â€Å"chase Sea from his throne, River from the seat of his dominion. Dance is Baal’s hands, like a vulture from his fingers. Strike Prince Sea on the skull. † These two powerful clubs were what were responsible for the conquering of Yam; they gave Baal the advantage he needed to take down the serpent. Version one of the Illuyanka Myth is comparable to the Enuma Elish as both literary works have deceiving plots that depict failed attempts defeating the Storm God. In version one of the Illuyanka Myth, the Storm God uses the help of his daughter to lure Illuyanka closer to him. Illuyanka is invited to a feast when he gets drunk and eventually lets his guard down long enough for the Inara (the Storm God’s daughter) to have him tied up by a man she met earlier in the day. The author wrote in The Illuyanka Myth â€Å"The serpent and [his offspring] came up, and they ate and drank. They drank up every vessel, so they became drunk. Now they do not want to go back down in their hole again. Hupasiya came and tied up the serpent with a rope. † The Storm God’s daughter was full of trickery and extremely deceitful in luring Illuyanka into a vulnerable position where her father could attack him. As stated in the text â€Å"The Storm God came and killed the serpent, and the gods were with him. † The Illuyanka Myth is a prime example of how family members can play a role in the Storm God’s victory; this is quite the opposite in Enuma Elish where family turned against Marduk in his battle. In the battle of Enuma Elish, Tiamat plots revenge against Marduk and has her first born, Kingu, be the chief in her assembly to overthrow Marduk from power. As stated by the author, â€Å"[Tiamat] elevated Kingu, made him chief among them. The leader of the ranks, command of the Assembly, the raising of weapons for the encounter, to combat, to direct the battle, to control the fight. † Tiamat prepares for battle against one of her own, one of her offspring; she defies family and is ready to fight. As stated by the author, â€Å"Tiamat prepares for battle against the gods, her offspring. † In both version one of the Illuyanka Myth and in the Enuma Elish, the serpents use their children to assist in defeat against the Storm God. The battle between Baal and Yam in The Baal Cycle can also be comparable to the battle between Marduk and Tiamat in the Enuma Elish. In The Baal Cycle, Yam sends for El to try and have Baal surrender to Yam. The gods are afraid of Yam, just like the gods are afraid of Tiamat in the Enuma Elish. The author in The Baal Cycle writes â€Å"Sea sent two messengers†¦Leave, lads, do not turn back; now head toward the Assembly in council, at the center of the mountain of night. Do not fall at El’s feet. † Yam wants to take Baal’s place and stature along with his power, and El agrees. Yam says to El â€Å"El, give up the one you are hiding, give up Baal and his powers, the son of Dagon: I will assume his inheritance. † Baal refuses and conquers the serpent with the two clubs presented to him by Kothar instead of surrendering to the serpent’s request. In the Enuma Elish, Tiamat uses a similar approach to try and get Marduk to surrender to her by evoking fear in the other gods to get them to join her Assembly. Unlike The Baal Cycle, Tiamat does not send for Baal asking him to surrender to her, she instead try’s to scare him by forming an army full of monsters to prepare for the fight. Marduk learns of Tiamat’s scheming and is then called to battle to stop her. The author of Enuma Elish writes, â€Å"Let us make monsters, let us do battle and against the gods! They banded themselves together and marched at the side of Tiamat. Enraged, they plot without cease night and day, they are set for combat, growling, raging† Tiamat forms an assembly of people to prepare for combat, just like in The Baal Cycle when Yam sends an assembly of people calling for Baal. Enuma Elish reads, â€Å"They form a council to prepare for the fight. [Tiamat], she who fashions all things, added matchless weapons, bore monster-serpents, sharp of tooth, unsparing of fang. † The serpent in The Baal Cycle and the serpent in the Enuma Elish are both very chaotic in their ways of enticing their Storm God’s to surrender to them, however the Storm God’s still defeat the serpent’s scheming approaches. There are many underlying relationships that exist in myths pertaining to the battle of the Storm God and the dragon-like monsters. These relationships reveal how a specific culture views their supreme god, and puts all their faith in him, in assurance that he will keep their civilization safe from all chaotic harm. The Storm God of all cultures is the protector of that society; he is the king of the gods, the guard against all evil. In the Enuma Elish, Marduk and Tiamat cannot coexist, and as Tiamat plots against him, Marduk must react and rebel in order to stay alive. Marduk does what he has to do to get rid of this monster and protect the other gods. Similarly, in The Baal Cycle, Baal is enticed to defeat Yam as Yam calls out for Baal and demands that he must surrender. Fisherman, sailors, crop-growers all praise Baal as he is the storm god and controls the rain that their crops need to survive. Therefore, Baal controls the harvest season; he is also the god of fertility, so his culture looks up to him and praises him. They need Baal to survive, so Baal slays the serpent to allow his culture to prosper. In both versions of the Illuyanka Myth, Illuyanka initially defeats the Storm God; but the Storm God comes back to take down the serpent once and for all. The Storm God uses trickery and confining situations to force Illuyanka into vulnerable positions. For example in version two of the myth, when the Storm God has his son marry Illuyanka’s daughter, he asks for his eyes and heart back from the serpent in exchange as a wedding gift. Each of these myths demonstrate the courage and act of confidence the Storm God must possess to defeat its enemy, to maintain order and peace within their civilization.