Open AccessReligious Literature, The realistic, and the Fantastic:
Author(s) -
Abraham Ofir Shemesh
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
estudos de religião
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2176-1078
pISSN - 0103-801X
DOI - 10.15603/2176-1078/er.v33n3p235-255
Subject(s) - creatures , mythology , phoenix , judaism , literature , art , archetype , philosophy , history , natural (archaeology) , theology , archaeology , metropolitan area
The current study discusses several ancient Jewish traditions that speak of mythological-fantastic creatures in Noah's ark. The biblical text does not list the types of organisms that entered the ark, rather makes do with noting the groups of animals in general. The Midrashic literature on the story of the ark lists various species of fantastic humans and animals – Og king of Bashan, the giant re'em or the eternally living phoenix. It may be assumed that these creatures were included for several reasons: A. The ancients believed that these were realistic creatures and therefore assumed that they too had entered the ark. B. The mythological animals aroused the imagination of the ancients and they were eager to hear stories about them.