The Epic of Gilgamesh (Ca. 2500-1500 B.C.E.) Mesopotamian text of unmatched antiquity Precedes Hebrew scriptures Lengthy textual evolution Was once tremendously popular Vanishes during infancy of Hebrew civilization

The Epic of Gilgamesh Originally written down in Sumerian Gets adapted and modified Modern text based on collection of 12 hardened clay tablets written in Semetic language of Akkadian 12 tablet (“Gilgmesh and the Underworld”) usually treated as appendix

The Epic of Gilgamesh Great influence on Hebrew, Greek, and Roman mythology Strong influence on Bible—Old Testament specifically Bible adopts/adapts Flood story

The Ancient Middle East

The Ancient Middle East

Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia

The Epic of Gilgamesh Historical Gilgamesh ruled in ancient Mesopotamian city of Uruk Beginning in roughly 2700 B.C. Great story of friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu Gilgamesh divinely endowed with great strength, courage, and beauty More god than man Mortal father

The Epic of Gilgamesh Gilgamesh initially appears as bad ruler People of Uruk complain Gods’ respond by creating Enkidu as counter to Gilgamesh Enkidu as godlike mixture of human and wild animal Animal initially dominant Enkidu Raised by wild beasts Breaks hunters’ traps

Gilgamesh and Enkidu Gilgamesh and Enkidu initially want to destroy each other Becomes tale of great friendship, true companionship, and heroism 1st adventure: Gilgamesh’s desires to slay great giant of the Cedar Forest—Humbaba

Gilgamesh and Enkidu 2nd adventure: Gilgamesh’s harsh rejection of Ishtar causes her to send the Bull of Heaven against people of Uruk Destruction of Bull brings about slow death of Enkidu

Gilgamesh’s Search for Immortality Gilgamesh attempts to learn secret of immortality Comes to accept his mortality Consolation is the endurance of his worldly accomplishments

Epic as Genre Long narrative poem that treats a serious, grand, or heroic subject Formal elevated style Revolves around heroic or semi-divine figure Recounts events of national, cultural, or tribal consequences

Epic as Genre Traditional Epics imitated in Literary Epics (e.g. Paradise Lost) Aristotle ranked epic second in grandeur only to tragedy Epic hero as figure of great national or perhaps cosmic significance Setting grand in scale Action involves superhuman elements

Epic as Genre Divine creatures take interest in human activity Ceremonial style Includes machinery Numerous conventions of epic Epic simile: formal and sustained similes in which vehicle (secondary subject) is developed extensively beyond its close parallel to the tenor (primary subject)

Epic conventions Epic argument, theme, or question Invocation of muse Begins in media res (in the middle of things) Catalogues and genealogies Becomes influential in development of modern novel

Epic of Gilgamesh 18: Epic proclamation: to “proclaim to the world the deeds of Gilgamesh” Also author of his own story Gods gave him great wisdom, courage, and physical strength 19: 2/3 god and 1/3 man Great city of Uruk

Epic of Gilgamesh Ana: father of the gods Ishtar: goddess of love 19: claims city is still there today Gilgamesh arrogant and abusive ruler Aruru—goddess of creation—creates Enkidu Enkidu innocent of human world part wild animal, part human

Epic of Gilgamesh 20: Trapper’s report of Enkidu Enkidu helps wild game escape Harlot to teach Enkidu “your woman’s art” Enkidu spends six days and seven nights with harlot Wild animals now run from Enkidu Enkidu made weak—”thoughts of man were in his heart”

Epic of Gilgamesh 21: Enkidu longs for comrade Wants to go with harlot to Uruk to proclaim his greatness Gilgamesh’s mother explains his dreams 22: Enkidu made to eat bread and drink wine Becomes a man Enkidu to change order

Epic of Gilgamesh 22: Gilgamesh and Enkidu fight 23: Enkidu and Gilgamesh become friends Gilgamesh to go to forest to destroy evil and make name for himself Humbaba 24: Gilgamesh on the despair of city life Arming of Gilgamesh and Enkidu

Epic of Gilgamesh 24: Gilgamesh determined to leave behind great name 25: Counselors or Uruk discourage Gilgamesh from going to forest Shamash gave Gilgamesh a restless heart 26: Counselors tell Gilgamesh to let Enkidu lead the way Gilgamesh rallies Enkidu

Epic of Gilgamesh 27: Humbaba awakened by Gilgamesh cutting down cedar 28: Enkidu wants to go back to city Gilgamesh must rally Enkidu again 29: Humbaba emerges at 1st cut of cedar Enkidu claims Humbaba must die Gilgamesh and Enkidu attack Humbaba

Epic of Gilgamesh 30: Mountains and hills moved when guardian of forest downed Ishtar asks Gilgamesh to be her bridegroom Gilgamesh won’t marry Ishtar Claims she doesn’t love anyone very long Recounts tales of Ishtar’s many lovers 31: Ishtar’s rage

Epic of Gilgamesh 31: Ishtar to let loose Bull of Heaven Bull let loose on people of Uruk 32: Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill Bull Enkidu now to die 33: Enkidu curses harlot 34: Gilgamesh realizes end of life is sorrow Enkidu’s lengthy sickness Enkidu claims he will die a shameful death—not in battle

Epic of Gilgamesh 35: Everyone is now mourning Enkidu Enkidu dies 26: Gilgamesh to mourn Enkidu Gilgamesh now wanders over wilderness To go see man who survived flood—Utnapishtim 37: Gilgamesh’s lengthy mourning of Enkidu

Epic of Gilgamesh 37: Gilgamesh now in search of eternal life Wants to talk with Utnapishtim Gilgamesh enters mountain of Mashu Darkness 38: Gilgamesh to break through gate of Siduri Gilgamesh doesn’t want to experience death

Epic of Gilgamesh 38: Siduri encourages Gilgamesh to be happy 40: Gilgamesh must bring poles to travel through waters of death Can’t let hands touch the water Gilgamesh explains despair to Utnapishtim Gilgamesh now afraid of death 41: Utnapishtim has entered assembly of gods

Epic of Gilgamesh 41: Utnapishtim explains that nothing is permanent Utnapishtim appears normal Time when world population increased and people became wild Gods agreed to exterminate humankind 42: Utnapishtim builds boat—fills it full Land smashed—even gods terrified by flood

Epic of Gilgamesh 43: All mankind turned to clay Lets loose dove on 7th day 44: Utnapishtim made immortal as lone survivor of flood 45: Gilgamesh given clothes that won’t age until he gets home Utnapishtim’s secret to Gilgamesh re: rose plant

Epic of Gilgamesh 45: Gilgamesh takes plant Serpent then takes rose—Gilgamesh weeps 46: Men, like moon, wax and wane Kingship, not immortality, was Gilgamesh’s destiny Gilgamesh dies 47: Gilgamesh’s great praise