Description: 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.
Brief description: Irving Finkel 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-some 130,000 pieces-of any modern museum. He specializes in ancient Mesopotamian medicine and magic, and he is also interested in literature, religion, and the history of ideas in this part of the world. He is interested in the history of board games throughout the world, especially the preservation of traditional board games in many non-Western societies. Irving is the author of several academic articles and books on ancient Babylon.
Review Quotes:
"Engaging and informative...Finkel is an enthusiast and shows evident delight in bringing this find to the wider public."
-- "Wall Street Journal"