CLASSICAL CULTURES

Classical Cultures

Classical Cultures

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, it articulates how, "For six days and six nights the winds blew, torrent and tempest and flood overwhelmed the world, tempest and flood raged together like warring hosts" (Richard, 2007).

In addition, the story of the Flood in Metamorphoses elaborates on the fact that, "Neptune called his river all, and told them, very briefly, to lose their violence, open their houses [...] His trident struck the shuddering earth; it opened the way for the rush of waters" (Tarrant, 2004). Many critics settle on the work of literature that best explains how, when and why the flood occurred.Would it be justified to classify these poetic writings in terms of accurateness or elaboration?

The three works of written documentation in the Epic of Gilgamesh, The Old Testament, and Metamorphoses detail a flood story with resemblance and dissimilarity. Nevertheless, one work should not be judged by what it is lacking in information in relation to the other works of literature. For example, it is quite clear that the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Book of Metamorphoses is a more elaborated diction of the Flood than in the Old Testament. However, lets not be overly critical towards one version of the flood story due to its lack of intricate detailing to another flood story translation! One should take all three books as contrasting forms of linguistic translations that compliment the same flood story, with minor discrepancies. The disagreement lies not in diction, the state of difference lies at the root of cultural diversity and historical background of all three works.

Culturalism is defined by the shaped beliefs that are enculturated by the norms of society through political representation. The moldings of a culture involve race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, language and spiritual inclination(Richard, 2007). However, the main differences in the translation of the Flood in all three books is due to the religious disproportions involved. For example, the divine nature of Gods in the Epic of Gilgamesh and Metamorphoses conflict with the monotheistic beliefs of the Hebrews, Middle Easterners and Romans.

The inaptness in intricate detailing is evident in both the Old Testament and the Book of Metamorphoses. The Norton Anthology illustrates this in Ovid's, "holds up, holds in the land," while, in Genesis, the land {separates} the waters from the waters" (549; 1:9). Ironically, Ovid's Metamorphoses seems to rush the creation of the world by stating that the air,land, ...