6 - The “Two Brothers – Two Nations” Pattern in Eastern Mediterranean Origin Traditions

Summary

This chapter discusses stories describing pairs of brothers representing rival groups—such as two cities, two tribes, two families, two kingdoms, and so forth—that form a pattern characteristic of the origin story genre of the ancient eastern Mediterranean basin. In some of these stories, the siblings begin fighting at birth or even in the womb. A similar pattern can be found in the writings of Philo of Byblos, in the story of Samemroumos (Hypsouranios), who bears the same name as a quarter in Sidon, and his brother Ousoos, who represents Ushu, mainland Tyre.