Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did the Myth of the Creation of the Hoe describe Enlilās creation of people?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
In the Mesopotamian "Myth of the Creation of the Hoe," the god Enlil is described as creating the first human beings through an agricultural process.
According to the myth, Enlil first separated heaven from earth to create the necessary space for seeds to grow. He then invented the hoe and used it to break the hard crust of the earth at a location in Nippur known as Uzumua, or "the flesh-grower". Upon breaking the earth's crust with the tool, people sprang forth from the opening, growing from the ground in a manner similar to grass and herbs.12