Oldest World Stories

Compiled by a distinguished scholar specializing in language and religion, this book aims to present the most comprehensive collection of ancient stories known to humanity. Predating even the Bible, Homer, and the epic poems of India, these tales have been unearthed from the remains of ancient civilizations and were originally crafted and narrated by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, and Canaanites of Mesopotamia.

Containing a total of 13 stories, some familiar to readers while others more obscure, the collection includes The Adventures of Gilgamesh, The War of the Gods, Borrowed Plumes, The Lost Chance, How Toothache Came into the World, The God Who Disappeared, The Monster Made of Stone, The Snaring of the Dragon, Kessi and Huntsman, Master Good and Master Bad, The Heavenly Bow, The King Who Forgot, and The Story of Baal.

The author, a former head of the Hebraic section at the Library of Congress and the pioneer of a complete English translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, provides valuable insights and commentary following each story, offering cross-cultural comparisons and intriguing facts. For instance, following The Story of Baal, the author reveals that while the main narrative was sourced from cuneiform tablets in Syria, its ending was found on a fragment of papyrus in Egypt.

This book is indispensable for those delving into the origins of human civilization or exploring ancient tales of deities.

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