THE OLDEST FUN-TO-READ EPIC

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest known fictional story in history. It is thought to have been fashioned 5000 years ago on twelve heavy stone tablets. It takes place in the Sumerian city of Urek when Gilgamesh is king. The story if filled with adventures, gods and mythical creatures. Strangely, some parts of it sound similar to the events of the glorious Bible. For example, all the gods destroy all but one man with a “great flood.” Also, a serpent deceivingly steals eternal life from man. How awful!!!!! Word from the real events must have spread through the ancient world. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a fun-to-read story of the Sumerian culture.

By Theodore, September 30, 2009

Ziggurats, Temples and Wishy-Washy Gods

The oldest known civilization was in between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in a region called Sumer. The ancient Sumerians were famous for their pyramid-shaped temples they skillfully fashioned. These ziggurats did not have smooth sides like the monumental pyramids in Egypt. Their sides ascended like colossal stairs. The greatest ziggurat was in the city of Ur. It had seven layers, each smaller than the layer below it. This ziggurat was 160 feet high and covered more than 30,000 square feet. At the top of it there was a couch and a table for the impotent moon god, Nanna, just in case he somersaulted by for a visit. Each ziggurat was dedicated to one of the Sumerian gods.

The Ancient World

Mesopotamia, with two twisting rivers

And zig-zagging ziggurats

Egypt, with fantastic pharoahs
And gigantic pyramids

Israel, with God’s holy law
And the towering temple

Babylon, with the captivating Ishtar Gate
And the beautiful Hanging Gardens

Greece, with wishy-washy gods
And daring athletes

Rome, with imperfect emperors
And brutal armies

The Ancient World,
Beautiful, harsh, and mysterious.

The Great Flood

The rain quickly rushed and gushed.
Flashing lightning streaked
Across the dark night sky.
Thunder BOOMED!
The wind whipped around wrathfully.
Planet Earth shook violently.
Men ran around in panic.
Noah prayed and trusted God.
His family had faith in God.
Animals bellowed and barked, meowed and
howled and growled.
When the enormous storm was over,
Noah sent out a dove.
His eyes gazed out upon the rock earth.
His heart was joyful.
Now, a new earth began from Noah’s family.