Question

identifying mythical elements
which elements of a myth appear in this story from early babylon? check all that apply.
□ a supernatural being
□ an explanation of natural phenomena
□ a fantastic setting
□ a heroic human
□ a conflict between beings

ea called on marduk, a great warrior god, saying that if marduk should be victorious, he would be the lord of all the gods. a great battle ensued, with gods raging against each other. marduk reached tiamat, the embodiment of chaos, and smashed her head with his great club. he sliced her in half, making the north wind bear her pieces away. from each half of her ribs he created the vault of the heavens and the earth. her weeping eyes became sacred rivers, and tiamat was no more.
—\enuma elish,\ early babylonian myth

Explanation:

1. a supernatural being: Marduk and Tiamat are divine, supernatural figures in the myth.
2. an explanation of natural phenomena: The story explains the creation of heavens, earth, and rivers from Tiamat's body.
3. a fantastic setting: The battle occurs in a mythic, non-ordinary realm of gods and chaos.
4. a conflict between beings: The myth centers on a battle between Marduk and Tiamat, both supernatural beings.
5. a heroic human: No human characters are present; Marduk is a god, not a human.

Answer:

• a supernatural being
• an explanation of natural phenomena
• a fantastic setting
• a conflict between beings