R. A. Orekhov, A. A. Konkova

Eva iz rebra Adama (k voprosu ob istokakh mifa) [Eve of Adam’s rib (to the question of the origins of the myth)]

The article explores origins of a Biblical myth on birth of the first earthly woman from the rib of Adam (Gen. 2: 21–24). After analyzing a number of Sumerian and African myths the authors come to a conclusion that such extraordinary paradigm could be based on an ancient, extremely archaic idea that had first appeared in the Prehistorical period. It is the idea of sacrificing a male ancestor that resulted in the birth of the fist human couple capable of giving birth to the whole human race. Generally, cosmogonies of the aforementioned traditions state that the universe originated from two ancestral deities being a mother and son or a father and daughter. However, in such a case the birth of viable offspring is impossible. Incest is overcome through sacrifice of the ancestral male deity, which results in the birth of a heterosexual human couple capable of reproduction. Thus, ancient civilizations found a way to solve the most important anthropological and social issue — how to create a full-fledged monogamous family. It can be presumed that the first stage was omitted in the Bible while the second one remained in a shape of a beautiful legend of ‘the woman of Adam’s rib’.

Keywords:
the Byblical myth of creation of Eve, the myth of Enki and Ninhursag, S. N. Kramer’s hypothesis, the Dogon cosmogonic myth, incest, sacrifice.

Original language — Russian.

DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2020-00014.

Referring: Orekhov R. A., Konkova A. A., Eve of Adam’s rib (to the question of the origins of the myth) [in Russian] // Egypt and neighbouring countries 4 (2020): 112–132. DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2020-00014.

Read full article