Tristan Hughes

And if we go back to the fruit, I asked you right at the beginning to dismantle the apple idea.

Okay.

But of course, I didn't ask, are there any theories as to what the fruit could have been if it wasn't an apple?

And the possible, once again, that's Mesopotamia, we're thinking in the east.

I had to ask that.

We've covered so many themes from the story of Adam and Eve, but are there any other particular mentions, parts of the story that have clear links to Mesopotamia or other places in the early first millennium BC that we haven't covered yet?

That leads me nicely into what I was going to ask, which was the legacy of the Adam and Eve story.

Does it remain very important into the Roman period where you have the first Christians and you have apostles like Paul spreading the word?

I guess it's a much more recognizable story than the other creation story of Genesis 1, of God and how would you depict, of course, creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh.

The Adam and Eve creation story, or those you highlighted early on, they almost contradict each other with the story of the creation of man and woman.

It's easier for these artists to depict, for people to recognize as time goes on.

And also the Garden of Eden and its meaning today for any beautiful place that you enter.

The Eden Project in Britain today, for the plants and everything that's there.

It's a phrase that has endured down to the present day, like Sodom and Gomorrah, which we've done in the past, a symbol of destruction.

It's one that, if someone mentions, oh, this is a Garden of Eden, you know exactly what they're talking about.

something desirable but not within your grasp idea kind of thing heading back to a past time and your own fictional idea of it Dylan this has been absolutely fantastic is there anything else that you'd like to mention about the Garden of Eden before we finish I think that covers it we've covered everything well it has been an absolutely fantastic interview and it just goes for me to say thank you so much for taking the time to come back on the podcast it's been great thank you

Well, there you go.

There was Dr Dylan Johnson returning to the show to talk through the story of Adam and Eve and the many different themes linked to this well-known creation story, whether that be the theme of immortality or wisdom, and of course, the links to Mesopotamia.

I hope you enjoyed the episode.

Thank you for listening.