From: Grant Callaghan (grantc4@hotmail.com)
Date: Fri 15 Nov 2002 - 04:35:29 GMT
The following was taken from a collection of Sumerian religious stories. I
guess you could call a "me" half a "meme." ;-)
"Another important concept in Sumerian theology, was that of me. The me were
universal decrees of divine authority. They are the invocations that spread
arts, crafts, and civilization. The me were assembled by Enlil in Ekur and
given to Enki to guard and impart to the world, beginning with Eridu, his
center of worship. From there, he guards the me and imparts them on the
people. He directs the me towards Ur and Meluhha and Dilmun, organizing the
world with his decrees. Later, Inanna comes to Enki and complains at having
been given too little power from his decrees. In a different text, she gets
Enki drunk and he grants her more powers, arts, crafts, and attributes - a
total of ninety-four me. Inanna parts company with Enki to deliver the me to
her cult center at Erech. Enki recovers his wits and tries to recover the me
from her, but she arrives safely in Erech with them. (Kramer & Maier 1989:
pp. 38-68)"
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