Manyebook

The Oldest Stories in the World

T.H. Gaster's book is a collection of myths and legends from the Ancient Near East from 3500 years ago. There are 5 Babylonian, 5 Hittite and 4 Canaanite stories. Of course, the first story is the Gilgamesh Epic. Next, among the Hittite stories is the Snaring of the Dragon. Finally, among the Canaanite stories are The Heavenly Bow and The Story of Baal. These have been retranslated and retold for the ease of reading of the modern reader. Each story is followed by comments from Theodor Gaster who uses a comparative folklore method. For example, after the story of how toothache came into the world, Gaster writes that in German the expression "Es wurmt mich" (The worm has gotten to me) is still used. Or better yet, Gaster notes in comments to the Hittite story of the god who disappeared that the Babylonians told a similar story about Tammuz while the Greeks told a similar story about Persephone.

Fun reading. However for a more comprehensive picture of what Gaster calls Canaanite stories see Nicolas Wyatt's Religious Texts from Ugarit. — Virgil Brown

  • Format
  • paperback
  • Pages
  • 248
  • Language
  • english
  • ISBN
  • 9780807057872
  • Genres
  • fiction
  • Release date
  • 1958