Another Worldview

Original Stone Map ca 500-700BC

probably from Sippar (modern day Iraq)

Map Interpreted

What the heck is it?

"This celebrated map shows the world as a disc, surrounded by bitter water. Babylon is in the centre of the River Euphrates, which flows south through the marshes to the Gulf. Circles are used to indicate cities or countries. Eight outlying regions, triangular in shape, are the home of strange or legendary beings. At the top the scribe has written 'Where the sun is not seen,' to indicate north. The accompanying text, describing these regions, mentions Utnapishtim and Sargon of Akkad." (http://www.roie.org/bab.htm)

Why is it relevant

Another view of the world as others have explained it.

Questions:

So how does this differ from our maps, exactly?

What the heck does this have to do with literature?

Is this the same worldview as would be described, say, in the Epic of Gilgamesh (ancient Babylonian myth-history)?