The Myth of Human Creation among the Mandean Sabaeans in Light of the Ginza Rabba

Abstract

The Sabaeans are considered one of the oldest sects, with Mandaeism spreading in Iraq and Palestine before Christianity, and some of them still exist in those areas. The research provides a comprehensive look at Mandaeistic myths regarding the creation of humans, as found in the Mandaeic holy book known as the "Ginza Rabba". The study notes the variations surrounding the presentation of these myths, as Mandaeic heritage hasn't uniformly presented myths and often addresses them in separate messages with variations in style and details. The "Ginza Rabba" is considered sacred among the Sabaeans, who believe it to be the scriptures of Adam and Abraham, with researchers suggesting historical influences have not affected this book, either in language or arrangement. The book is divided into two sections and covers various topics including the system of world formation, human creation, and Mandaeic religious practices. The research discusses these topics, shedding light on variations in the Mandaeic myth concerning human creation, aiming to understand the Sabean perspective on this aspect of creation.