The Tablet of Destinies is a captivating retelling of the ancient Mesopotamian Flood myth, masterfully woven by Roberto Calasso, "a literary institution of one" (The Paris Review). In this eleventh installment of his monumental literary project, Calasso explores the eternal life of Utnapishtim, the savior of humankind. Long ago, when the gods grew weary of the clamor of humans, they resolved to destroy them with a great Flood. Yet Ea, the god of fresh underground water, dissented and guided his favored mortal, Utnapishtim, to build a boat and preserve the creatures of the Earth.
As a reward for his courage, Utnapishtim is granted immortality by Enlil, king of the gods, and exiled to the island of Dilmun. Millennia later, Sindbad the Sailor finds himself shipwrecked on this legendary isle, where he and Utnapishtim embark on a profound discourse about bravery, sacrifice, and the human condition. The Tablet of Destinies delves into our most ancient mythologies, presenting a continuous narrative that traces the genesis of human civilization. Calasso's sweeping epic, commencing with The Ruin of Kasch in 1983, is a testament to the enduring power of myth and storytelling.
