This idea based on the Sumerian myth known as Enki and Ninhursag (see ANET, pp. 37-41) keeps popping up, especially in popular literature and on the internet. Kramer, however, did give credence to it, as mentioned by the blogger to whom you linked (see Kramer’s History Begins at Sumer, pp. 143-44).
To make a long story short, the god Enki out of curiosity eats 8 plants in the paradise of Dilmun (cf. Eve eating the forbidden fruit), which the goddess Ninhursag considers a mortal sin, so she causes 8 of Enki’s body parts (including his rib) to suffer, and he is on the brink of death. Enlil takes up Enki’s cause and persuades Ninhursag to relent, and so various deities then come to heal each of Enki’s body parts. The one who heals his rib is the goddess Ninti, whose name means both “lady of the rib,” and “lady who makes live,” which serves as a pun. Thus is established a possible parallel between Ninti and Eve, who was created from Adam’s rib (in Hebrew tesla) and whose name in Hebrew (hawwa) connotes life (thus Eve was called “the mother of all the living” in Genesis 3:20). The pun doesn’t work in Hebrew since the words for rib and life differ, but I’m not sure the biblical writer knew about it or, if he did, cared. (Having said that, it looks like the biblical writer made his own pun, because the Hebrew word for rib, tsela, can also connote “stumbling,” so although Eve was ostensibly created to be Adam’s helper (Gen. 2:18), she proved to be his stumbling block.)
Argythree over 7 years ago
Before or after he ate the apple?
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 7 years ago
I’ve been hoping he’d find the full instruction manual.
Not that he, or any of the other men would actually read it…..
but at least Pam would have it to refer to.
Obviously, whoever first set it all up was only using the Quick-Start guide.
VincentGoudreault over 7 years ago
What was the delivery address?
realexander over 7 years ago
I’m a little surprised to see Rickard referring to creationism, even as a joke.
Radish... over 7 years ago
Adam bought it one eve on E-Bay.
gantech over 7 years ago
He couldn’t have gotten it from Amazon, because humans had not yet migrated to South America.
David Rickard Premium Member over 7 years ago
Adam? Adam Carolla? Man, he ages better than Dick Clark…
cooganm Premium Member over 7 years ago
I think it was Adam Weishaupt. The Illuminati DO control the world, you know.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 7 years ago
https://mythology.stackexchange.com/questions/312/was-the-story-of-adam-and-eve-influenced-by-sumerian-ninti-and-enki
This idea based on the Sumerian myth known as Enki and Ninhursag (see ANET, pp. 37-41) keeps popping up, especially in popular literature and on the internet. Kramer, however, did give credence to it, as mentioned by the blogger to whom you linked (see Kramer’s History Begins at Sumer, pp. 143-44).
To make a long story short, the god Enki out of curiosity eats 8 plants in the paradise of Dilmun (cf. Eve eating the forbidden fruit), which the goddess Ninhursag considers a mortal sin, so she causes 8 of Enki’s body parts (including his rib) to suffer, and he is on the brink of death. Enlil takes up Enki’s cause and persuades Ninhursag to relent, and so various deities then come to heal each of Enki’s body parts. The one who heals his rib is the goddess Ninti, whose name means both “lady of the rib,” and “lady who makes live,” which serves as a pun. Thus is established a possible parallel between Ninti and Eve, who was created from Adam’s rib (in Hebrew tesla) and whose name in Hebrew (hawwa) connotes life (thus Eve was called “the mother of all the living” in Genesis 3:20). The pun doesn’t work in Hebrew since the words for rib and life differ, but I’m not sure the biblical writer knew about it or, if he did, cared. (Having said that, it looks like the biblical writer made his own pun, because the Hebrew word for rib, tsela, can also connote “stumbling,” so although Eve was ostensibly created to be Adam’s helper (Gen. 2:18), she proved to be his stumbling block.)