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Adam and Eve

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Feb 1, 2026

Guest

Dr. Dylan Johnson

Dr Dylan Johnson, a lecturer in ancient Near Eastern history and biblical scholar, explores Adam and Eve as Near Eastern mythic figures. He traces the fruit tradition, locates Eden toward Mesopotamia, contrasts Genesis creation strands, and maps parallels with Gilgamesh, Adapa and royal wisdom themes. Short, provocative takes on serpents, immortality, gardens and why the story mattered in antiquity.

59:05

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INSIGHT

Near Eastern Parallels To Eden

Genesis borrows Near Eastern motifs: humans formed from clay, divine breath, and creation to relieve gods’ toil (Atrahasis parallels).
These shared themes circulated widely rather than implying direct textual copying.

insights

INSIGHT

Enkidu And The Role Of The Woman

The Enkidu episode in Gilgamesh parallels Eden: a wild, naive human becomes civilized via a woman, gaining consciousness.
The woman’s role in both stories links femininity to the transition from animality to social awareness.

insights

INSIGHT

Adapa’s Missed Immortality Mirrors Eden

The Adapa myth echoes Eden’s trade-off: Adapa attains wisdom but misses immortality, reinforcing the wisdom/immortality split.
Ancient audiences would view wisdom and immortality as separable divine attributes.

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Why no apple? Origins of the forbidden fruit

01:36 • 4min

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Where Eden sits in biblical geography

05:27 • 1min

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Two creation stories in Genesis

06:41 • 48sec

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Dating the Eden narrative

07:29 • 55sec

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Antediluvian time and primeval history

08:24 • 1min

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Genesis 2: The man formed and garden details

09:25 • 3min

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Creation of woman and naming conventions

12:20 • 2min

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The two trees and the four rivers explained

14:32 • 2min

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The serpent, knowledge, and consciousness

17:00 • 9min

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Original sin vs wisdom interpretations

26:27 • 3min

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Wisdom theme and royal ideology

29:08 • 4min

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Mesopotamian parallels: Atrahasis and toil

33:13 • 4min

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Gilgamesh and Enkidu: consciousness via woman

36:46 • 2min

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Adapa: wisdom without immortality

39:13 • 2min

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Were Adam and Eve ever immortal?

41:41 • 4min

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Divinity as a spectrum in the ancient Near East

45:45 • 7min

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Why the Eden story mattered to ancient listeners

52:40 • 13sec

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Gardens, pardes, and royal estates

52:53 • 2min

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The subterranean river and Sumerian id

55:19 • 3min

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Possible Egyptian and snake symbolism

58:08 • 55sec

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What might the forbidden fruit be?

59:02 • 1min

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Eden as prototype of the temple

01:00:08 • 1min

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Legacy: Eden in late antiquity and art

01:01:17 • 3min

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Eden as universal lost golden age

Akkadian creation myth

Anonymous

The Atra-Hasis epic describes how the lower gods, burdened by labor, revolt, leading the god Enki (Ea) to create humans from clay and divine blood to take over the work. Humanity's noise disturbs Enlil, prompting plagues, famine, and finally a catastrophic flood to wipe them out. Enki warns the pious Atrahasis ('exceedingly wise'), who builds a boat to save his family, animals, and provisions. After the flood, the gods regret their decision, accept Atrahasis's sacrifice, and institute measures like infertility and infant mortality to control human population.

#77609

The South Wind

A sizzling standalone fantasy of second-chance love inspired by Sleeping Beauty and the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur

Alexandria Warwick

Princess Sarai of Ammara is cursed to fall into a deadly sleep on her twenty-fifth birthday. To secure her kingdom's future, she faces an arranged marriage to Prince Balior, but her ex-lover Notus, the South Wind, returns. Faking an engagement with Notus, Sarai uncovers Balior's dark secrets tied to a menacing labyrinth, battling curses, desires, and monsters to save her realm.

#95078

The Sumerian king list

Thorkild Jakobsen

#623

• Mentioned in 52 episodes

Ezekiel

Walther Eichrodt

This volume by Walther Eichrodt provides a thorough, verse-by-verse commentary on the Book of Ezekiel. It delves into the origin and composition of the book, addressing the complex issues related to the prophet's message and ministry. The work is part of the Old Testament Library series and offers an in-depth, learned analysis of the text, making it a valuable resource for biblical scholars and theologians.

#3617

• Mentioned in 13 episodes

Enuma Elish

The Seven Tablets of Creation

L.W. King

The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian creation myth etched on seven clay tablets, recounting the struggle between cosmic order and chaos. It tells the story of Marduk, the patron deity of Babylon, who defeats the forces of chaos and establishes order in the world. The myth includes the creation of the heavens, earth, and humanity. The book, compiled and translated by L.W. King, includes detailed commentary, historical context, and comparisons with Hebrew scriptures. It also features additional Babylonian mythological accounts and an afterword discussing the impact of ancient Near Eastern mythology on the Hebrew Bible.

#3313

• Mentioned in 14 episodes

Book of Deuteronomy

King James

The Book of Deuteronomy is a part of the Pentateuch and serves as a recap of the history and laws given to the Israelites. It includes Moses' final speeches, emphasizing the importance of obeying God's commandments, statutes, and judgments to ensure their survival and prosperity in the Promised Land. The book also contains warnings against idolatry and the consequences of disobedience, as well as promises of blessings for those who follow God's will.

#3120

• Mentioned in 15 episodes

Gilgamesh

A Verse Narrative

Herbert Mason

This version of 'Gilgamesh' by Herbert Mason presents the classic epic in a verse narrative, emphasizing themes such as love, death, loss, and the transformative journey of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk. The story follows Gilgamesh's friendship with Enkidu, their adventures, and Gilgamesh's quest for immortality after Enkidu's death. Mason's retelling is a blend of scholarship and poetic style, making the ancient tale accessible and poignant. The book also explores modern themes such as weakness, grief, and the human condition, while maintaining the core elements of the original epic.

Adam and Eve: parents of humanity, or characters in a Near Eastern myth about wisdom, mortality, and the limits of being human?

Tristan Hughes and Dr Dylan Johnson strip away the Sunday school varnish to re-examine the story of Adam and Eve, starting with the question: was there really an apple? They discuss the origins and multiple layers of the story, try and pinpoint where Eden might have been located, and trace the tale of lost immortality that echoes through the legends of Gilgamesh, Sumerian rivers, and the earliest biblical texts

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Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

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