The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian or Mesopotamian myth of creation recounting the struggle between cosmic order and chaos. It is basically a myth  and stars Marduk, the patron deity of the city of Babylon. Written sometime in the 12th century BC in cuneiform on seven clay tablets. They were found in the middle 19th century in the ruins of the palace of Ashurbanipal in Nineveh. First published in 1876 as The Chaldean Genesis(by George Smith). Because of many parallels with the Genesis account, some historians concluded that the Genesis account was simply a rewriting of the Babylonian story.   In reaction, many who wanted to maintain the uniqueness of the Bible argued either that there were no real parallels between the accounts or that the Genesis narratives were written first and the Babylonian myth borrowed from the biblical account.   I find this very facinating.   There are too many similarities between the accounts to deny any relationship between them. There are significant differences as well that should not be ignored. There is a  Sumerian version of the story that predates the biblical account by several hundred years. 

Archeological and anthopological digs uncovered the tablets containing these stories.  Interesting, I must note, historical evidence seems to support the similarities (like Noah and the Ark).  But for those men writing the Bible the stories used are inspired by God and provide foundational wisdom for the humans that God was conditioning for his purposes.  In the Mesopotamian version multiple gods came into play, yet the people of the Bible had but one God. 

This is only the start of a bit of discovery into ancient texts, but I will remain objective and considerate of all evidence.  It is the use of the stories for guiding man’s life and future that I find most appealling, and thus the Biblical rendition holds the most sway.