The Key to Epic of Gilgamesh Mesopotamia The Key to Epic of Gilgamesh

Mesopotamia Location: modern day Iraq Formation: fertile crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers Civilizations: Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonia

Discovery of the Epic Sumerian cities: Ur and Uruk-- surrounded by walls Sumerian writing: pictographic--improved into cuneiform Hammurabi-- first legal code Assyrian/Akkadian-overthrew Sumerians Greatest King: Ashurbanipal His library at Nineveh contained the tablets with the Epic Deciphered by George Smith

George Smith’s Discovery An account of a great flood Known as “The Deluge Tablets” Funded a return trip-- Found all 12 tablets of the Epic- but died

A Protest Against Death The Epic of Gilgamesh A Protest Against Death

Gilgamesh 2/3 god; 1/3 man Built walls of Uruk Perfect body Courageous Went on a journey-- wrote down his story HE is the one telling the story

Enkidu Gilgamesh’s loyal sidekick Ashamed to have been cursed by a goddess

Gilgamesh’s Reaction Long speech to people and things of Uruk Rages like a lion Tears out his hair and throws off his clothes Acts like this for 7 days and 7 nights Buries Enkidu when “worm fastened to him” Afraid of his own death Goes in search of Utnapishtim

The Story of the Flood The Gods were angry because of all of the BABEL Enlil encouraged the gods to exterminate mankind Ea warned Utnapishtim about the flood thru a dream Utnapishtim “ironically” told everyone that Enlil was mad at him and would “rain abundance upon everyone else” Utnapishtim built a barque

Utnapishtim’s Barque 120 cubits 7 decks Family (kin), gold, wild and tame beasts Prepared just in time for the storm

The Storm Gods were even terrified of the storm Ishtar regrets exterminating mankind 7th day storm stops 7 days the boat rests Dove, swallow, raven

Utnapishtim’s actions Build a sacrifice: 7 cauldrons Ea to Enlil-- punishment too harsh Enlil grants Utnapishtim immortal life

The Return Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh of a plant “the Old Men are young again” grants eternal youth Gilgamesh ties stones to his feet and retrieves the plant Gilgamesh plans to give plant to old men first While bathing, a serpent steals the plant The serpent loses his skin Gilgamesh returns home disappointed Gilgamesh looks at his accomplishments and writes the story down