This essay examines the position that memory is central to the ideals of the culture depicted in the Torah or Old Testament. Also brought forth is the viewpoint that in Greek culture memory was of primary positive importance and not dangerous or destructive. Basically, the traditions of a culture are initially founded on memory, and this is particularly so of history and literature, which may exist for hundreds of years as an oral tradition before it is actually written. This is just as true of the ancient Greeks as it was of the ancient Hebrews. In both the Judaic and Hellenic cultures, memory was an absolute necessity for the purpose of bringing historical and literary traditions down through the generations. The peoples of the ancient Mediterranean world did not have written libraries. Special individuals trained in the art of recalling from memory the important historical events and literary masterpieces of their ethnic heritage were all important to their particular culture.
Essentially, the folk epic is a perfect example of a memorized oral tradition passed down from one generation to the next by the poets or bards. The epic began as an expression of belief in superhuman heroes who attempted to accomplish some outstanding undertaking for the benefit of their tribal group. Examples of this exist in such Hebrew Scriptural epics as Genesis and Exodus, as well as in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey in the Hellenic culture. Scattered throughout the ancient Mediterranean world, were myths which the many peoples of that region had in common. The creation and flood myths were evident in the cultures of peoples all over that area. The term 'myth' is not used to describe something that is not true; instead, a myth is an attempt on the human, finite level to deal with the truth. Memory and the oral traditions of these ancient peoples were extremely important with regard to keeping these stories alive.
The creation myth was see...