Adapa is a mythological person in ancient Mesopotamia. He was created by the god of wisdom, Enki, as the first man to walk the earth. Adapa was gifted with great intelligence and ruled the city of Eridu. He is the main character in “Adapa and the South Wind”. In this epic, he unknowingly refuses the gift of immortality.
He is also known as Adamu and shares strong similarities with the biblical figure Adam. When Enki creates Adapa, he gives him knowledge that is not destined for mortals. This knowledge helps him in breaking the wing of the South Wind. For this act of violence, he is judged by the supreme Mesopotamian god Anu, who casts him back to earth. This course of events also strongly resembles Adam being banned from the Garden of Eden after eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.
