Garden of Eden
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gbslater52
I think that it is possible that a very simple approach can define the location of the Garden of Eden. If you take the bible literally then you must seek the "headwaters" or source for 4 rivers, 2 of which we know well. There is a place, in fact a definite location where 4 river have their origin. The Pishon could be the Kura, the Gihon, could be the Araxes. If so then the location of the Garden of Eden is found at;
40 19 27.65 N and 42 38 34.98 E. There, within a small area lies the headwaters of the Kura, Araxes, Tigris, and Euphrates. Does anyone else feel the same?
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replied to:  gbslater52
Autumnman
Replied to:  I think that it is possible that a very simple approach...
I do not feel the same. A literal (word-for-word) translation of the Hebrew Eden Narrative presents us with one un-named river that divides and becomes four heads (i.e. river-origins). Water flows according to the force of gravity; water flows 'down-hill'. Tributaries feed into one another until a mighty river is formed. As far as I know that is how actual, natural rivers are formed (the Tigris and Euphrates rivers being actual, natural rivers); they do not "literally" originate from "one un-named river".

The manner in which the Hebrew Eden Text describes the origination of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers presents these two actual, natural rivers originating in an un-natural, riddle-like fashion. They are presented as if they are flowing backwards.

However, the fact remains that actual rivers flow down from a high elevation to the sea. Thus, the author is quite likely describing Eden as being a metaphorical mountain; the sacred central spiritual mountain from which the first river (the river of life) flows into the garden (or enclosure) and from there it divides and becomes four metaphorical rivers of mortal existence = East (beginning/spring), South (childhood/summer), West (adulthood/autumn), and North (old age/winter). These four metaphorical, mortal rivers are indeed nurished by the one river of eternal life.

I look forward to your thoughts.
Autumnman
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