@article{article_1102139, title={A Comparative Approach to the Oannes Narrative in Mesopotamia and the Prometheus Myth in the Ancient Greek World}, journal={BELLETEN}, volume={86}, pages={39–60}, year={2022}, DOI={10.37879/belleten.2022.039}, author={Yıldırım, Ercüment}, keywords={Oannes, Prometheus, Berossos, Aeschylus, Polyhistor}, abstract={The belief systems in Mesopotamia and Ancient Greece were based on the idea that knowledge was transferred from gods to humans. The common belief regarding the source of knowledge in both societies was somehow different. While Mesopotamian societies believed that knowledge was transferred from gods to humans through a being called Oannes, Ancient Greek society believed that Prometheus stole fire, which was the first knowledge, from Zeus. As written in cuneiform scripts, coming ashore as a half-fish and half-man creature, Oannes was thought to teach Mesopotamians various skills, ranging from building houses to agriculture. On the other hand, it is mentioned in the works of Hesiod and Aeschylus in Ancient Greece that Prometheus created humans and taught them all necessary knowledge to continue their lives. The present study compares different beliefs regarding the source of knowledge in two different societies which existed in two different geographical regions and time periods. Additionally, it aims to reveal the ways in which both societies shaped their world views through divine knowledge. For a closer analysis of both belief systems, Mesopotamian cuneiform scripts and Ancient Greek manuscripts were used as primary sources. After each source was examined in detail, modern interpretations of these sources were also analyzed. Finally, common points in both primary sources were identified in order to characterize the present study based on these common points.}, number={305}, publisher={Türk Tarih Kurumu}