THE BABYLONIAN COSMOGONY ACCORDING TO DAMASCIUS

3 years | 2 minutes | Mesopotamian Text

THE BABYLONIAN COSMOGONY ACCORDING TO DAMASCIUS

Damascius, a Syrian philosopher during the 5th century CE, was considered the last of the Neoplatonists. He was persecuted for his studies of ancient Pagan deities. This account references the primeval Babylonian deities from the more popularly known myth, The Enuma Elish, aka The Seven Tablets of Creation. Unlike other Babylonian texts, this account states that Anshar (Assoros) had 3 male children. Anu (Anos), Enki (Aos) and possibly Enlil (Illinos), are brothers. Another intriguing piece of information is that Enki (Aos) and Damkina (Dauke) give birth to Belos (Marduk). In other texts the title of Bel(us/os) is assigned to Enlil. Finally Damascius identifies Belos (Marduk) as the Demiurge.

Among Barbarians the Babylonians seem to pass
silently over the single origin of all things, but to make
two: Tauthe and Apason, making Apason the husband
of Tauthe, and naming her the mother of the gods. Of
these two was born an only child, Moymis, the same, I
think, as the intelligible Cosmos, proceeding from two
origins. From these same came a second generation,
Lache and Lachos, and also from them a third, Kissare
and Assoros, from whom were born three, Anos, Illinos,
and Aos. Of Aos and Dauke was born Belos, whom
they call the Demiurge.

Damascii Successoris Dubitatione* et Solutiones de primis principii,
edition Car. Aem. Ruelle Parisiis, 1889, pp. 321, 322. Bee also Damascius
le Diadoque. Problemes et Solutions toucnant les Premiers Princij”
A, edition Chaignet. Paris, 1898.