Final answer:
The first gods' names in the Greek Theogony and Babylonian Enuma Elish signify their cultures' cosmological views, with the Greeks focusing on elemental forces and the Babylonians on astral gods as rulers with human traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The names of the first gods in Hesiod's Theogony and in the Babylonian Enuma Elish reflect the different materials and understandings of the universe in ancient Greek and Babylonian cultures. In the Greek account, we begin with primordial deities like Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky), symbolizing natural elements that form the foundation of the cosmos. In comparison, the Babylonian narrative considers divine beings, such as Marduk and Ea (Enki), who represent cosmic authority and the forces of nature and were closely linked with celestial bodies like the sun and moon, stressing the astral aspect of their cosmology. A central theme in both narratives is the personification of natural and cosmic elements. The Greeks perceived their earlier gods as monumental and elemental forces, therefore the etymology of their names reflects their intrinsic qualities, such as Gaia being the Earth. In contrast, the Babylonians, with deities who are intertwined with human emotions and societal hierarchy, gave human characteristics to their gods, and their names often denote power and authority, aligning with their view of the gods as ruling figures.