Re: tugging on Baba's coattails again
Posted by Babaganooj on May 16, 2000 at 17:59:12:
In Reply to: tugging on Baba's coattails again posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on May 16, 2000 at 15:32:43:
: Mr. Babaganooj ..... if I can tug on your coattails some more......
: Is there any sort of a first date when "henna" (red) and
"tenderness" were closely linguistically related? What early
languages would have carried those two together? Any other than
Arabic? What were the pre-Arabic languages?
I don't know but it is part of the haystack I'd like to dig in
if I could. Actually, if you can pin down which semitic
language is the suspect, we could probably take it from there.
Prior to Arabic, and thsoe that were contempraneous to it
but were not fortunate to survive Old Syriac, Ugaritic,
phoenician. I don't know if I missed some.
: Is Finno-Ugric related to Ugarit or is that just coincidence (Last
I heard Finno-Ugric wasn't even Indo-European, but I've always wanted
to ask)
Might be a coincidence. Sounds like it might be related
to Finnish (out of my area code sorry)
: What seems to be the earliest origin date for the myths that
compose the Syrian epic poetry of the myth of Baal and Anath (I've
heard anywhere from 4000 BCE to 1800 BCE) or is it probable that it
simply goes back to the Neolithic?
This is something interesting. In fact, there was a major
discovery in the last 15 -20 years that took the literary
world by storm. Prior to that, the Greek Epics were
believed to be the foundation for this great genre
of literary expression.
Roughly about 15 years ago, archelogists discovered
tablets in Syria and Iraq upon which the Epic of
Gilgamesh was engraved. Gilgamesh, they believe predates
Greek epics by a few thousand years, I'm not sure about
how far back they believe it goes because there are
varying opinions on the topic, but we're probably
looking at 6000-8000 BC.
It is a fascinating work of art that (albeit has missing
tablets) can undoubtedly account for the form and the
foundation of the Greek Epic. I read it a few years ago.
It is amazing and you know what, you find the story of
a great flood that was to happen in Mesopotamaia (the
land between the two rivers) and how the gods told
Gilgamesh about it and he set out to build a ship
to save the species. Which makes me wonder does it
predate even the Old Testament Noah, or did it come
after? I have no idea.
Another fascinating character is Enkido, who was begotten
from the loins of gods, and was raised by the animals of the
wild and who would stand by the spring of water
and prevent and harrass people who wanted to drink.
He was utterly invincible. No one could knock him
down, not even King Gilgamesh, who was the most powerful man
in his time. Until, they decided to send him a beautiful
woman who would seduce him, enchant him, make love to him,
thereby tame him, and make him human. Surely she did,
and after that, Gilgamesh was able to equal him in strenght,
and there was no winner in their fight, so they
(Gilgamesh and Enkido)decided to become friends instead
of being enemies of equal strength. Enkido was to join
Gilgamesh in building the ship, and to sail with him
in search of eternal life. Sadly enough, they discovered
that they are mortals, and that eternity is only meant
for the gods.
: Would you happen to have any of the original text for the Inanna
and Dumuzi and Descent of Inanna epic poems? There are some things
there I REALLY wonder about, but I only have English translations....
: I have about 300 more questions I'd like to ask of you, but I'll
hold off just a few more minutes...
I'm there too my friend, it's a needle worth finding.
I can't remember if there is any mention of henna in
Gilgamesh, but it is worth looking for.
will let you know if I come across clues or remeber
things that might be helpful.
Please, you keep me posted as well. This butterfly
started to circle around my hat :-)
Regards
Babaganooj
