Maybe the author should read Gilgamesh. http://www.angelfire.com/tx/gatestobabylon/temple1.html
The temple priestess is sent out to seduce Enkido, to tame him with sex.
Go to Uruk, find Gilgamesh
Praise the wild man’s strength ask for a temple hierodule from the Temple of Love,
Such a child of pleasure;
Bring her and let her power of woman
Subdue this wild man.
When he goes to the wells,
He will embrace the priestess
And the wild beasts will reject him.’
The “heirodule” is a temple slave prostitute.
Enkido is then tamed and civilized by sex to effectively become the mate of Gilgamesh.
What is interesting is the parallels to Genesis 1 and 2. In Gilgamesh the helpmate of the great Gilgamesh is Enkido, made by the gods to be his match. Sex is for pleasure, procreation and civilization. The men are “soulmates”, partners, equals. Women are to be used by men.
Genesis 1 and 2, regularly lambasted seen in contrast to the Babylonian myth is alarmingly positive towards women in contrast with Gilgamesh.
I wonder what other aspects of Babylonian enlightenment the author would like to propose.
Leadingchurch.com 