In this episode we're discussing the earliest forms of human storytelling, tracing narrative origins from prehistoric cave paintings to ancient written works.

The Sulawesi cave painting, dating back 52,000 years, is presented as the oldest known visual narrative. Written traditions are explored through Sumerian wisdom literature, like the Instructions of Shuruppak (early 3rd millennium BCE), and the foundational Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2100–1200 BCE), which notably includes a flood myth that parallels the biblical Genesis narrative.

The Eridu Genesis (c. 1600 BCE), another Sumerian text, further elaborates on creation and flood myths. These sources collectively highlight how early narratives, encompassing both mythological and more "fictional" tales like The Poor Man of Nippur (c. 1500 BCE), served to explore fundamental human experiences, establish societal norms, and entertain.

#history #ancienthistory #cavepaintings #archaeology

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