Religion was especially impacted by the development of literature, as epic poems and myths, such as Atrahasis began to be contrived, which sought to provide their readers with explanations of the unexplainable, establish moral guidelines to be meticulously followed and illustrate the human race's place in the universe among a torrent of fuming gods.
Highly valued in ancient times, Atrahasis, the story of the flood, was viewed as an exceedingly significant event that marked a transformation in human nature. As described in the myth, the gods existed in two classes, the Igigi, or lower class, and the Anunnaki, or upper class. Miserable and exhausted from the work load forced upon them of digging the river channels, the Igigi call upon the Anunnaki and beg for another race to be created to endure the toil in their place, "Let her create primeval man so that he may bear the yoke" (Atrahasis 14). The Igigi's cries are heard by Ea, who commands the Womb-Goddess to grant the Igigi their wish. A Mesopotamian reading this would have taken great heed to its implications, and judged that his or her sole purpose in living in the mortal world was to cater to the every demand of the gods. Not simply existing to fulfill their own destiny or success, the Mesopotamians were born, lived, worked, and died in the controlling hands of the gods. This may have greatly simplified the reason for human existence, but the Mesopotamians would have known their distinct, humble role in the scheme of things. .
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Atrahasis also reveals to the Mesopotamian world that the gods are a human-like race of beings, except with fatally short tempers and immeasurable powers. Not only are the humans expected to carry the labor for the gods, they must accomplish this task modestly and silently, so as to not disturb the precious rest of the almighty, as the gods protest, "The country was as noisy as a bellowing bull.