The Crown of Creation and Wild Flowers (With Special Regard to Czech Literary and Professional Texts)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Humans, as the pinnacle of creation, strive to understand the meaning of their existence while confronting decay and ultimately accepting death. The idea of eternal existence, or immortality, appears frequently in ancient texts. This article examines four works from the ancient Near East: the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, the Ugaritic Epic of Aqhat, and the biblical Psalms 8 and 103. It will explore the possibility of human immortality and consider whether such a state can be achieved. These works remain central in the cultural memory of those familiar with the written tradition. How can we interpret these ancient texts in light of our current knowledge? Although paradoxically subject to decay, the characters of Gilgamesh, Aqhat, and the psalmist continue to inspire reflection on the concept of eternity. They serve as fundamental elements of our civilised self-awareness.
Source: COMMUNIO VIATORUM
Author: Eva Vymětalová Hrabáková
Institution: University of Oxford
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Univerzita Karlova v Praze
OpenAlex ID: W7124296253
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