The Ark Before Noah: Decoding the Story of the Flood
Irving Finkel
Apr 2014 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Irving Finkel and Gareth Armstrong
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9 hr 2 min
Unabridged
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Since the Victorian period, it has been understood that the story of Noah, iconic in the Book of Genesis, and a central motif in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and biblical traditions was shrouded in mystery. Then, in 2009, Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum and a world authority on ancient Mesopotamia, found himself playing detective when a member of the public arrived at the museum with an intriguing cuneiform tablet from a family collection. Not only did the tablet reveal a new version of the Babylonian Flood Story; the ancient poet described the size and completely unexpected shape of the ark, and gave detailed boat building specifications. Decoding this ancient message wedge by cuneiform wedge, Dr. Finkel discovered where the Babylonians believed the ark came to rest and developed a new explanation of how the old story ultimately found its way into the Bible. In The Ark Before Noah, Dr. Finkel takes us on an adventurous voyage of discovery, opening the door to an enthralling world of ancient voices and new meanings.
Since the Victorian period, it has been understood that the story of Noah, iconic in the Book of Genesis, and a central motif in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and bibli...
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1 review
Janet Lenon
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June 28, 2020
I love having the author reading his work. I also have the hard copy, which goes into a lot more detail on the languages and the Ark Tablet themselves, as well as the television program Finkel mentions. I would recommend having both in your library.
About the author
Irving Finkel is assistant keeper of ancient Mesopotamian script, languages, and cultures at the British Museum. He is the curator in charge of cuneiform inscriptions on tablets of clay from ancient Mesopotamia, of which the Middle East Department has the largest collection of any modern museum. Irving is the author of several academic articles and books on ancient Babylon.
Gareth Armstrong is an experienced actor and voice artist. In addition to performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Globe, in the West End, and major regional theaters in the United Kingdom, he has toured over sixty countries worldwide with his solo performances and drama workshops.
Irving Finkel is assistant keeper of ancient Mesopotamian script, languages, and cultures at the British Museum. He is the curator in charge of cuneiform inscriptions on tablets of clay from ancient Mesopotamia, of which the Middle East Department has the largest collection of any modern museum. ...
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