{"product_id":"the-ark-before-noah-decoding-the-story-of-the-flood-9780385537117","title":"The Ark Before Noah: Decoding the Story of the Flood","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe recent translation of a Babylonian tablet launches a groundbreaking investigation into one of the most famous stories in the world  challenging the way we look at ancient history.  Since the Victorian period  it has been understood that the story of Noah  iconic in the Book of Genesis  and a central motif in Judaism  Christianity and Islam  derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and biblical traditions was shrouded in mystery. Then  in 2009  Irving Finkel  a curator at the British Museum and a world authority on ancient Mesopotamia  found himself playing detective when a member of the public arrived at the museum with an intriguing cuneiform tablet from a family collection. Not only did the tablet reveal a new version of the Babylonian Flood Story; the ancient poet described the size and completely unexpected shape of the ark  and gave detailed boat building specifications. Decoding this ancient message wedge by cuneiform wedge  Dr. Finkel discovered where the Babylonians believed the ark came to rest and developed a new explanation of how the old story ultimately found its way into the Bible. In The Ark Before Noah  Dr. Finkel takes us on an adventurous voyage of discovery  opening the door to an enthralling world of ancient voices and new meanings.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45279584518197,"sku":"ByrdShop_0385537115","price":55.45,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780385537117.jpg?v=1780602802","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-ark-before-noah-decoding-the-story-of-the-flood-9780385537117","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}