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Hello,

I was very recently intrigued with the idea that Nimrod mentioned in Genesis 10:8-12 was Sargon the Great, who was king of Akkad around the 22nd century BC. I think I've heard before that Nimrod might be the person behind the legend of Gilgamesh, but I think this fits much better with Sargon the Great, but I don't really know. Particularly the description of more or less an empire in Babylonia in Genesis strikes me as very close to Sargon the Great's rule.

Does anyone know or have any ideas about such possibilities? Because this would be a very interesting fixed point for the prehistory of Genesis with history. Thanks

I have read somewhere that Nimrod is behind the legend of Gilgamesh, but I have not read much about it to say anything weighty. I will look into it, though, because I am intrigued now.

Thanks.

_________________
Until He Returns (Rev. 2:17),
Travis

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. ~George Orwell

In the book, "The Ancient Near East - an anthology of texts and pictures," edited by James B. Pritchard, on page 40 on the Gilgamesh Epic he states that "...the Gilgamesh Epic is known also from versions which antedate the first millennium B.C. From the middle of the second millennium have come down fragments...From the first half of the second millennium we possess representative portions of the old Babylonian version of the epic." Although he does state that we have some copies going all the way back to old Babylonian he does not say anything about Nimrod or Sargon the great.

In the "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia" volume 4, "Naarah to Socho" on page 2147, it states that Nimrod did found several cities one of which was Shinar (Babylon) however scholars are divided about who he was and if he is one of the great kings mentioned in history. There have been some that say he was the hero in the Gilgamesh Epic and some say he was a king. "Lack of identification, however, does not necessarily indicate mythical origin of the name..." p. 2147 (I.S.B.E.)

We know that according to the Bible Nimrod did exist and that he was great leader of mankind but we know little outside of the biblical narrative about him.