The World Before The Flood
What did the world look like before the Great Flood? The Antediluvian period, a term derived from Latin words 'ante' meaning 'before' and 'diluvium' meaning 'flood,' refers to a time in ancient history before the Great Flood, as described in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. A mysterious world, a somewhat unknown lifestyle, creatures that no longer exist, people who lived hundreds of years, giants that are said to have roamed the Earth—these all describe an era that sparks the curiosity of many. But did this really happen? And before the Biblical Flood washed away the old world to birth a new one, what was life really like? How could humans have lived for hundreds of years? Were humans more spiritually advanced during this time?
Flood myths are a prevailing theme in global mythologies, often serving as cautionary tales or explanations for the origins of civilization. In Mesopotamian legends such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Atrahasis Epic, characters like Utnapishtim and Atrahasis are warned by gods to build boats to escape catastrophic deluges. A similar story exists in Hindu mythology, where Manu receives a divine warning from a fish, an avatar of the god Vishnu. Greek mythology offers the tale of Deucalion and Pyrrha, who survive a flood sent by Zeus and repopulate the Earth through a unique ritual involving stones. In Native American Hopi tradition, the deity Sotuknang orchestrates a flood, sparing only the faithful who are led underground by the Ant People. China's legendary Yu the Great tackles the floodwaters by draining them through channels, earning him enduring respect. Similarly, African and Mesoamerican myths, like those of the Tutsi in Rwanda and the Aztecs, recount stories of a sole surviving pair who escape annihilation in a reed basket or hollow log. These globally dispersed myths often share elements of divine warning, a life-saving vessel, and a fresh start for humanity, illustrating the universality of flood narratives in human cultural history.
But what was it like before this global flood described in myths around the world? Accounts of the Antediluvian period often describe a landscape dramatically different from today's. Biblical texts and similar accounts in other cultures often portray the Earth as an idyllic, fertile paradise. It was a time when humanity was relatively new and, according to some interpretations, possessed knowledge or abilities that have since been lost. The land was often described as lush and fertile, filled with abundant resources that made for an easy life compared to the hardships that would follow after the flood.
The descriptions of the world before the flood vary across different mythological traditions, but there are some common themes. Interestingly, in many myths, the period preceding the flood is often marked by moral or social decay, disobedience, or some form of imbalance that prompts divine intervention. For example, in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Atrahasis Epic from Mesopotamia, the gods decide to flood the Earth because humans have become too noisy and disruptive, disturbing the divine order. Similarly, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Bible records the antediluvian period in the first chapters of the Book of Genesis. According to the biblical text, in the pre-diluvian era, human civilization achieved great accomplishments but also created a culture of sin.
So, what was life like for people at that time? What did they do? Obviously, the first antediluvian family as described in the Bible, was the family of Adam. After being expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve settled and had sons and daughters. As we know, the first son of the first couple was Cain. But Cain was also the first murderer of the antediluvian world. He brutally killed Abel, his own brother. After his terrible sin, Cain received a mark from God and built a city in the Land of Nod. Cain named this city after his first son, Enoch. This antediluvian city is the first city mentioned in the Bible. In the Sumerian creation myths, this city is known as Eridu.
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