Did you know the Mesopotamians did not believe in life after death? Or that their queen of the underworld and their arrogant god of war and pestilence had an epic love story?

In this collection, you will enjoy the epic stories of ancient Mesopotamia that echoed through other great works like the Bible and The Odyssey. The Sumerian belief system offers a fascinating insight into the lives of these ancient people as they struggled to establish the first empires of man.

Some of the fantastic stories included are:

• The Epic of Gilgamesh: the adventure of Gilgamesh, a tyrannical king who is blessed with a true friend and companion, Enkidu. As they set out to make their names, the young men encounter demons, gods and goddesses, and death. It is the first recorded hero’s epic!
• Creation Myths: The ancient Mesopotamians had a vivid idea of their origins. Learn how they saw their role in the cosmos and interpreted events in their lives.
• The Descent of Ishtar: No good collection of myths would be complete without a trip to the underworld. In this myth, the queen of heaven is not content with her lot and seeks to gain the power of the underworld as well.
• The Epic of Etana: One of the original action-adventure stories is the story of Etana. Through divine providence, Etana is elevated from shepherd to king but cannot conceive an heir. With help from the gods and a less-than-honorable giant eagle, he seeks to find the plant that will let his wife bear him a child.
• Ereshkigal and Nergal: Stories of star-crossed lovers are common enough, but the Mesopotamian version has a unique twist. Ereshkigal and Nergal are the most unlikely of bedfellows!
• And so much more!