The Ancient Tradition: Audio Writ

Edmund Nequatewa, a Hopi man from the village of Shung-opovi, Second Mesa, Hopiland, and an initiated member of the One-Horned Fraternity, a ceremonial priesthood responsible for safeguarding and transmitting this sacred Hopi Emergence story, narrated this account which was first published in 1936 by the Museum of Northern Arizona as Bulletin No. 8. In 1967, it was reissued in book form under the title, Truth of a Hopi. This Hopi emergence account is notable for its attestation of a pre-earth existence; the presence of an established pre-earth religious order consisting of chiefs and priests; the presence of formal religious rituals in the pre-earth world; the eruption of a division between good and bad people in the pre-earth world; the expressed desire of pre-earth humanity to enter the present world; the convening of a council of wise men who formulated a deliberate plan to assist the people’s passage from the pre-earth realm to earth; the growth of an immense tree at the center of the pre-earth world; the existence of a passage or opening within that tree through which human beings could ascend to this world; the requirement that individuals adhere to a prescribed or “set” path prior to being allowed to pass through the tree to this world; the guarding of the tree’s entrance by two powerful beings; the prohibition of bad people from entering the tree and coming into this world; and the ultimate emergence of human beings into this world through the top of the tree, where they performed sacred ceremonies in this world like they had done in the pre-earth world. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

In 2009, Douglas Simmonds, son of RAF pilot, Leonard Simmonds, who’d acquire a small cuneiform tablet while serving in the Middle East in the 1940s, took his father’s tablet to Dr. Irving Finkel, one of the world’s leading Assyriologist, a curator at the British Museum. Dr. Finkel translated the tablet and discovered that it contained a remarkable account of the Mesopotamian Flood story, where Atrahasis, the Mesopotamian Noah, was commanded by Enki, the son of the High God An, to construct a circular boat to survive the deluge. The tablet, known as The Ark Tablet, dated to the Old Babylonian period (circa 1900-1700 B.C.), is particularly significant for its detailed portrayal of the ark as circular in shape, its emphasis on housing the heart of life within, its meticulous attention to waterproofing the vessel, and for its focus on the ark as a sanctuary offering protection from the catastrophic floodwaters. These elements collectively suggest that the ark was not just a boat, but a temple- a microcosmic model of the macrocosm. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

In 1900, Depot Charlie, Chief of the Tituni-Joshua people—whose ancestral lands are situated in southern Oregon—narrated the creation story of his people to an anthropologist, who subsequently documented it in Volume 28 of the Journal of American Folklore. The Tituni-Joshua people had significant interactions with European settlers in the late 1700s, though the extent to which these encounters shaped Chief Charlie's account remains unknown. The Tituni-Joshua creation narrative is particularly significant for its depiction of the creator residing on the primordial waters in a sweat lodge, the mention of a foundation stone, the involvement of the First Man in the creation process, and the portrayal of the creator imparting instructions to the First Man prior to his ascension to the sky. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

In the early 1900s, the creation account of the Native American Maidu people, whose ancestral lands are located in northern California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, was documented in Volume 17 of the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. During the mid-19th century, amid the Gold Rush, the Maidu people had significant encounters with European settlers. The extent to which these interactions influenced their creation narrative is unclear. The Maidu account is notable for its anthropomorphic description of the creator, the inclusion of co-creators, mention of a “sky rope”, mention of a raft on the primordial waters, the growth of a sacred tree, the onset of physical entropy on the earth, and most importantly, an account of the creator visiting and imparting important instructions to the First Man, instructions which the First Man subsequently imparts to the Maidu people. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Esira Temple Text, known as Weld-Blundell 161, or "A Hymn of Eridu", is hailed by the distinguished British Assyriologist Stephen Langdon as a document of exceptional "theological, epigraphical, and philological" significance. Discovered in the spring of 1922 by Weld Blundell of Queen's College, this cuneiform prism details the grandeur of a temple dedicated to the Sumerian god Enki, situated in Eridu, one of the oldest cities in the ancient world (c. 5400 B.C.). The Esira Temple, also referred to as the Apsu, served as the epicenter of southern Mesopotamian society, central to both religious practice and the institution of kingship. The text's significance lies in its portrayal of the temple as a source of fertility, abundance, and life-giving power, the repository of sacred mysteries, instruction, a "profound ritualistic order", and wisdom, and its prominence as the "Mountain of the Land". Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Kesh Temple Hymn stands as one of humanity's oldest preserved literary treasures, originating in the city of Nippur nestled in ancient Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq. Unearthed by archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania during excavations in the 19th century, the hymn, inscribed on clay tablets, dates to the Early Dynastic IIIa period, circa 2600-2500 BCE. The hymn's significance lies not only in its antiquity, but in the elaborate description it provides of the temple's pivotal role in the religious ethos of ancient Mesopotamia. Revered as a sacred locus, the hymn lavishes praise upon the temple's fixed foundation, verdant properties, live-giving power, heaven-reaching height, three-fold “upper end”, mighty name, guarded gate, auspicious position as the birthplace of kings, and the place where “heroes make their way straight into its interior and perform its oracle rites perfectly.” Eight songs illuminate the profound reverence and significance bestowed upon the Kesh Temple in ancient Sumer. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

In this episode, Dr. Logan delves into the treasures concealed within the Epistle to the Hebrews, Chapter 1, uncovering remarkable textual evidence of The Ancient Tradition. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Osiris myth was one of the most prominent and influential myths in ancient Egypt; it permeated virtually every aspect of ancient Egyptian life. While a singular manuscript of the myth remains elusive, allusions to the myth are abundant in a number of ancient Egyptian sources including the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead. In the early 1900s, Scottish journalist and folklorist, Donald Alexander McKenzie, compiled the scattered elements of the myth into a unified historical narrative, which serves as the source of today's audio recording. In the myth, the god Set, jealous of his brother Osiris’s kingship over Egypt, concocts a cunning plan to kill him. At a grand royal feast, Set unveils an exquisitely adorned chest, declaring that the one who perfectly fits its dimensions shall claim it as a prize. One by the one, the guests attempt to fit within the chest, but none succeed until the benevolent king Osiris fits flawlessly inside. Seizing the opportunity, Set’s malevolent followers spring up, ruthlessly nailing the chest shut, tragically suffocating Osiris. Set secretly orders his followers to dump the coffin into the Nile river. Devastated by the loss, Isis, Osiris’ queen consort, tirelessly searches the riverbank for any trace of the chest or her beloved’s remains. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

In the Babylonian rendition of the Epic of Anzu, known as the Anzu Myth, drawn from tablets unearthed in the ancient Assyrian cities Nineveh, Tabisu, and Sultantepe, dating to the 7th century BC, the tale recounts the exploits of Anzu, a fearsome creature with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle. Driven by a thirst for supremacy, the monster Anzu brazenly steals the Tablet of Destinies, the sacred emblem of kingship, from Enlil, the chief god of the Sumerian pantheon. Confronted with this dire situation, the high god Anu convenes the Council of the Gods, seeking a champion to confront the monstrous Anzu and reclaim the Tablets of Destiny. His own sons- Adad, Gerra, and Shara- however, shy away from the perilous task. It is only Ninurta, favored by his mother Mami, who heeds the call to action. Determined to restore balance to the divine realm, Ninurta embarks on a heroic quest to vanquish Anzu and recover the tablets. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

In 1805, the British Museum acquired one of its first…and most important, ancient Egyptian artifacts, the Shabaka Stone, an unassuming green breccia millstone. The inscription on the stone sat untranslated in the museum for nearly 100 years before American Egyptologist James Henry Breasted translated it into English in 1901. It was only then that Egyptologists realized the profound significance of what they had in their possession- a copy of the world's earliest (arguably) surviving creation story. The stone’s inscription begins with a list of King Shabaka’s royal names followed by a dramatic account of the unification of Upper and lower Egypt. The inscription concludes with a description of the Supreme God Ptah’s creation of the gods, the cosmos, and the earth. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Enuma Elish, also known as The Seven Tablets of Creation, is one of the oldest stories in the world. Dated to between 1800 and 1600 B.C., this Babylonian creation myth gives an account of the creation of the world and the rise of the Babylonian gods. The epic is included here for its rich symbolism, description of the pre-creative state of the universe, its portrayal of the cosmic battle between order and disorder, and its emphasis on kingship. In this audio recording of the Enuma Elish, Tablets V-VII, Marduk creates the earth from the corpse of Tiamat. The gods proclaim Marduk king and he is set upon a throne. Marduk calls an assembly of the gods. The gods petition Marduk to make shrines for themselves. They build dwellings on high. The gods swear an oath and confirm the sovereignty of Marduk over heaven and earth. Marduk's royal titular of fifty names is recited. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Enuma Elish, also known as The Seven Tablets of Creation, is one of the oldest stories in the world. Dated to between 1800 and 1600 B.C., this Babylonian creation myth gives an account of the creation of the world and the rise of the Babylonian gods. The epic is included here for its rich symbolism, description of the pre-creative state of the universe, its portrayal of the cosmic battle between order and disorder, and its emphasis on kingship. In this audio recording of the Enuma Elish, Tablets I-IV, the Babylonian gods are born out of the disordered, undifferentiated waters of pre-creation, personified by the goddess Tiamat and her consort, Apsu. Troubled by the restless young gods, Apsu and his minister, Mummu, plot to destroy them. The young god, Ea, slays Apsu. Ea builds his dwelling over the dead remains of Apsu. In their splendid home, Ea and his lover conceive and begat Marduk, the Babylonian King of the gods, the sovereign over the whole universe. Tiamat prepares for war with Marduk by assembling a fearsome army of dragons, vipers and monsters. The gods give Marduk weapons to challenge Tiamat. Marduk harnesses the seven winds, shoots Tiamat with an arrow, and slays her. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, a Jewish apocalyptic writing, is one of the most compelling ancient texts to survive to the present day. Although knowledge of the book was unknown in the West until 1892, Slavonic manuscripts of the book survived in Russia for more than 1200 years. Although not part of the Biblical canon today, R.H. Charles, editor of the first English translation (1896), noted that it was "much used...by Christian[s]...in the early centuries". Considering its status as a Jewish book, it's intriguing that early Christians and not Jews were the ones known to have preserved it. The preservation of the text, coupled with references to the text in early Christian writings and among early Church theologians and ecclesiastical leaders, suggests the text may have constituted part of the sanctioned canon of the early Church. The book is included here for its exceptional preservation of many elements of The Ancient Tradition. In this audio recording of The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, Chapters 61-73, Enoch teaches his children to make offerings with a pure heart. He encourages them to look to God and love one another. Enoch is taken to heaven and darkness covers the land. Enoch's son, Methuselah, erects an altar and makes offerings to God. The Lord appears to Methuselah in a dream and appoints him High Priest. The elders of the people dress Methuselah in priestly clothes and place a crown on his head. When Methuselah is close to death, the Lord commands him to give his priestly clothes to Nir, his grandson. Nir's wife, Sopanim, immaculately conceives a child. Noah and Nir dress the child in priestly clothes and name him Melchizedek. Melchizedek reigns as the first priest and king of Salem (Jerusalem). Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, a Jewish apocalyptic writing, is one of the most compelling ancient texts to survive to the present day. Although knowledge of the book was unknown in the West until 1892, Slavonic manuscripts of the book survived in Russia for more than 1200 years. Although not part of the Biblical canon today, R.H. Charles, editor of the first English translation (1896), noted that it was "much used...by Christian[s]...in the early centuries". Considering its status as a Jewish book, it's intriguing that early Christians and not Jews were the ones known to have preserved it. The preservation of the text, coupled with references to the text in early Christian writings and among early Church theologians and ecclesiastical leaders, suggests the text may have constituted part of the sanctioned canon of the early Church. The book is included here for its exceptional preservation of many elements of The Ancient Tradition. In this audio recording of The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, Chapters 41-60, Enoch shares with his children what he saw in the heavens. He declares God has a face like man's, he speaks of the scales of the end-time judgment, and teaches his children to make offerings with a pure heart. Enoch encourages his children to make copies of the books he's written and "love them more than any sweet food on earth, and read them and follow them". Enoch gathers his son Methuselah's family, along with the elders of the people, to bless them. He testifies the Lord "came down to the earth" in the days of Adam and appointed Adam a King over all the peoples and creatures on the earth. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, a Jewish apocalyptic writing, is one of the most compelling ancient texts to survive to the present day. Although knowledge of the book was unknown in the West until 1892, Slavonic manuscripts of the book survived in Russia for more than 1200 years. Although not part of the Biblical canon today, R.H. Charles, editor of the first English translation (1896), noted that it was "much used...by Christian[s]...in the early centuries". Considering its status as a Jewish book, it's intriguing that early Christians and not Jews were the ones known to have preserved it. The preservation of the text, coupled with references to the text in early Christian writings and among early Church theologians and ecclesiastical leaders, suggests the text may have constituted part of the sanctioned canon of the early Church. The book is included here for its exceptional preservation of many elements of The Ancient Tradition. In this audio recording of The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, Chapters 21-40, Enoch ascends to the highest heaven where he sees the Lord's glorious face. The Lord commands Michael to anoint Enoch with oil and robe him in clothes of glory. The Lord tutors Enoch "like a man talks to his neighbor" in the holy secrets of creation, the fall of the archangel Satanail, the prisoners in Hades anxiously awaiting the judgment, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the history of the world, and "all things that it is fitting to learn". The Lord commands Enoch to write the holy secrets down in books and share them with his children. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, a Jewish apocalyptic writing, is one of the most compelling ancient texts to survive to the present day. Although knowledge of the book was unknown in the West until 1892, Slavonic manuscripts of the book survived in Russia for more than 1200 years. Although not part of the Biblical canon today, R.H. Charles, editor of the first English translation (1896), noted that it was "much used...by Christian[s]...in the early centuries". Considering its status as a Jewish book, it's intriguing that early Christians and not Jews were the ones known to have preserved it. The preservation of the text, coupled with references to the text in early Christian writings and among early Church theologians and ecclesiastical leaders, suggests the text may have constituted part of the sanctioned canon of the early Church. The book is included here for its exceptional preservation of many elements of The Ancient Tradition. In this audio recording of The Book of the Holy Secrets of Enoch, Chapters 1-20, Enoch is woken from a distressing sleep to find two angels at the foot of his bed. The angels recount God's command to escort Enoch to the highest heaven. In the first heaven, Enoch is shown the rulers of the stellar orders and the angels guarding the storehouses. In the second heaven, he's shown the prisoners awaiting the great judgment. In the third heaven, he's shown a paradisical-like Eden and a tree of "incomprehensible goodness." In the fourth heaven, he's shown all of the movements and sequences of the sun, moon and stars. In the fifth heaven, he's shown the Watchers who broke their covenants on the summit of Mount Hermon. In the sixth heaven, he's shown the seven archangels who rule over angels. In the seventh heaven, he is shown the "dominions, orders and governments" of heaven and he's shown a glimpse of God sitting on his throne in the highest heaven. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

Hidden within the poetic verses of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world's oldest religious texts, are indispensable clues to the nature and origin of the world's earliest religious tradition- The Ancient Tradition. Once you've given Tablet XI a listen, turn your ear to our sister podcast, The Ancient Tradition, where we reveal striking similarities in the ancient record- myths, cosmologies, theologies, and sacred writings- which point to an original, pure religion in deep antiquity. Is it the true religion? If so, you are in for the theological adventure of a lifetime. In this audio recording of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet XI, King Gilgamesh asks Utnapishtim how he found eternal life. Utnapishtim gives an account of building a boat, stocking it with provisions, and sealing the hatch on the day commanded by the Sun God. Utnapishtim recounts how, upon surviving the deluge, the god Enlil boarded the boat, touched Utnapishtim and his wife on the forehead and transformed them into gods. Gilgamesh desires the same for himself. Utnapisthtim tests Gilgamesh's fortitude by challenging him to go without sleep for a week. Gilgamesh fails the test. Unable to conquer sleep, Gilgamesh relents, knowing he is incapable of conquering death. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh of a precious plant at the bottom of the sea capable of restoring youth. Gilgamesh acquires the plant. The plant is stolen by a snake. Gilgamesh returns to Uruk without eternal life. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.

Hidden within the poetic verses of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world's oldest religious texts, are indispensable clues to the nature and origin of the world's earliest religious tradition- The Ancient Tradition. Once you've given Tablet X a listen, turn your ear to our sister podcast, The Ancient Tradition, where we reveal striking similarities in the ancient record- myths, cosmologies, theologies, and sacred writings- which point to an original, pure religion in deep antiquity. Is it the true religion? If so, you are in for the theological adventure of a lifetime. In this audio recording of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet X, King Gilgamesh encounters Shiduri, a tavern-keeper, outside of the garden, near the seashore. Gilgamesh confides in her the sorrow he feels over the death of his friend, Enkidu, and seeks her aid to cross the Waters of Death so he can continue his quest for Utnapishtim, guardian of the secret of eternal life. Shiduri warns him of the perils of crossing the Waters and directs him towards Ur-shanabi, Utnapsithtim's boatman, who can ferry him across. Ur-shanabi and Gilgamesh successfully cross the Waters. Upon landing, Gilgamesh encounters Utnapishtim. Join us for this episode and visit us on the web at theancienttradition.com and www.youtube.com/@theancienttradition for more amazing comparative religion.