Eng 2R The Epic of Gilgamesh World Lit Survey

How the Epic of Gilgamesh Endured Stories of King Gilgamesh were told and handed down for hundreds of years after his death. Stories of King Gilgamesh were told and handed down for hundreds of years after his death. Finally the tales were written down by the 21st century B.C. Finally the tales were written down by the 21st century B.C. When the Babylonians conquered the Sumerians, they “inherited” the Sumerian cultural traditions. When the Babylonians conquered the Sumerians, they “inherited” the Sumerian cultural traditions. A Babylonian author created the start of the unified Gilgamesh epic as we know it today. A Babylonian author created the start of the unified Gilgamesh epic as we know it today.

Modifications to the Epic Other Babylonian writers modified the epic. Other Babylonian writers modified the epic. They added the prologue and the flood story, as well as emphasized the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. They added the prologue and the flood story, as well as emphasized the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. These writers also gave the narrative its central theme: the search for immortality. These writers also gave the narrative its central theme: the search for immortality. By the 7th century B.C., a written version credited to Sin-liqi-unnini was included in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. By the 7th century B.C., a written version credited to Sin-liqi-unnini was included in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal.

How Did We Get the Story Today? After the fall of Babylon, the written epic was lost in the rubble. After the fall of Babylon, the written epic was lost in the rubble. Archaeologist Austin Henry Layard excavated Ashurbanipal’s library in the mid-1800s. Archaeologist Austin Henry Layard excavated Ashurbanipal’s library in the mid-1800s. Henry Rawlinson discovered and deciphered the poem on clay tablets in cuneiform. Henry Rawlinson discovered and deciphered the poem on clay tablets in cuneiform. George Smith then translated the 11 th tablet containing the portion of the epic describing a great flood, an account remarkably similar to the story of Noah and the ark in the Bible. George Smith then translated the 11 th tablet containing the portion of the epic describing a great flood, an account remarkably similar to the story of Noah and the ark in the Bible.

The Epic of Gilgamesh: Setting Story takes place in ancient Sumer, one of the first settled parts of the Fertile Crescent. Story takes place in ancient Sumer, one of the first settled parts of the Fertile Crescent. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers allowed for the development of water canals and agriculture. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers allowed for the development of water canals and agriculture. This is part of modern- day Iraq. This is part of modern- day Iraq.

Historic Map of Mesopotamia

Epic of Gilgamesh: Social Context Gilgamesh was the actual king of ancient Uruk about 2700 B.C. Gilgamesh was the actual king of ancient Uruk about 2700 B.C. This statue depicts Gilgamesh as a powerful ruler and lion-killer. This statue depicts Gilgamesh as a powerful ruler and lion-killer. What can we learn about Sumerian civilization and kingship by looking at this statue? What can we learn about Sumerian civilization and kingship by looking at this statue?

Epic of Gilgamesh: Legacy Later classical and medieval kings also used lions as their personal symbol. Later classical and medieval kings also used lions as their personal symbol. Examples include Henry “the lion” of Saxony and Richard “the lion- hearted” who led the first crusade c (right). Examples include Henry “the lion” of Saxony and Richard “the lion- hearted” who led the first crusade c (right).

Epic of Gilgamesh: Language Gilgamesh was written down on clay cuneiform tablets. Gilgamesh was written down on clay cuneiform tablets. Scholars were able to translate Sumerian cuneiform by comparing it to later Akkadian tablets with similar stories. Scholars were able to translate Sumerian cuneiform by comparing it to later Akkadian tablets with similar stories. This cuneiform writing consists of wedge shapes read right to left. This cuneiform writing consists of wedge shapes read right to left.

Cuneiform The earliest writing in Mesopotamia was a picture writing invented by the Sumerians who wrote on clay tablets using long reeds. The script the Sumerians invented and handed down to the Semitic peoples who conquered Mesopotamia in later centuries, is called cuneiform, which is derived from two Latin words: cuneus, which means "wedge," and forma, which means "shape." This picture language, similar to but more abstract than Egyptian hieroglyphics, eventually developed into a syllabic alphabet under the Semites (Assyrians and Babylonians) who eventually came to dominate the area. The earliest writing in Mesopotamia was a picture writing invented by the Sumerians who wrote on clay tablets using long reeds. The script the Sumerians invented and handed down to the Semitic peoples who conquered Mesopotamia in later centuries, is called cuneiform, which is derived from two Latin words: cuneus, which means "wedge," and forma, which means "shape." This picture language, similar to but more abstract than Egyptian hieroglyphics, eventually developed into a syllabic alphabet under the Semites (Assyrians and Babylonians) who eventually came to dominate the area.

Cuneiform In Sumer, the original writing was pictographic ("picture writing"); individual words were represented by crude pictorial symbols that resembled in some way the object being represented, as in the Sumerian word for king, lu-gal : In Sumer, the original writing was pictographic ("picture writing"); individual words were represented by crude pictorial symbols that resembled in some way the object being represented, as in the Sumerian word for king, lu-gal :

Cuneiform These wedges and hooks are the original cuneiform and represented in Sumerian entire words (this is called ideographic and the word symbols are called ideograms, which means "concept writing”. These wedges and hooks are the original cuneiform and represented in Sumerian entire words (this is called ideographic and the word symbols are called ideograms, which means "concept writing”. The Semites who adopted this writing, however, spoke an entirely different language, in fact, a language as different from Sumerian as English is different from Japanese. In order to adapt this foreign writing to a Semitic language, the Akkadians converted it in part to a syllabic writing system; individual signs represent entire syllables. The Semites who adopted this writing, however, spoke an entirely different language, in fact, a language as different from Sumerian as English is different from Japanese. In order to adapt this foreign writing to a Semitic language, the Akkadians converted it in part to a syllabic writing system; individual signs represent entire syllables. However, in addition to syllable symbols, some cuneiform symbols are ideograms ("picture words") representing an entire word; these ideograms might also, in other contexts, be simply syllables. For instance, in Assyrian, the cuneiform for the syllable "ki" is written as follows: However, in addition to syllable symbols, some cuneiform symbols are ideograms ("picture words") representing an entire word; these ideograms might also, in other contexts, be simply syllables. For instance, in Assyrian, the cuneiform for the syllable "ki" is written as follows:

Cuneiform However, as an ideogram, this cuneiform also stands for the Assyrian word irsitu, or "earth." So reading cuneiform involves mastering a large syllabic alphabet as well as a large number of ideograms, many of them identical to syllable symbols. This complicated writing system dominated Mesopotamia until the century before the birth of Christ; the Persians greatly simplified cuneiform until it represented something closer to an alphabet. However, as an ideogram, this cuneiform also stands for the Assyrian word irsitu, or "earth." So reading cuneiform involves mastering a large syllabic alphabet as well as a large number of ideograms, many of them identical to syllable symbols. This complicated writing system dominated Mesopotamia until the century before the birth of Christ; the Persians greatly simplified cuneiform until it represented something closer to an alphabet.

Writing’s Effect on History As with all cultures, writing greatly changed Mesopotamian social structure and the civilization's relationship to its own history. Writing allowed laws to be written and so to assume a static and independent character; history became more detailed and incorporated much more of local cultures' histories. Richard Hooker As with all cultures, writing greatly changed Mesopotamian social structure and the civilization's relationship to its own history. Writing allowed laws to be written and so to assume a static and independent character; history became more detailed and incorporated much more of local cultures' histories. Richard Hookerhttp://

Epic of Gilgamesh: Religion Sumerian shrine or Ziggurat, c B.C. in Ur Sumerian shrine or Ziggurat, c B.C. in Ur The ziggurat is a religious temple “rising like a mountain in the desert” where Sumerians worshiped local gods The ziggurat is a religious temple “rising like a mountain in the desert” where Sumerians worshiped local gods In Gilgamesh’s city of Uruk, the popular gods were Anu (father of the gods), Ishtar (goddess of love), and Lugulbanda (Gilgamesh’s personal god) In Gilgamesh’s city of Uruk, the popular gods were Anu (father of the gods), Ishtar (goddess of love), and Lugulbanda (Gilgamesh’s personal god)

Epic of Gilgamesh: Themes Civilization vs. Nature (or Man vs. Nature) Civilization vs. Nature (or Man vs. Nature) Mortality: Mortality: What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of life? Friendship (or Man vs. Man) Friendship (or Man vs. Man) Flood story Flood story Kingship (or Man vs. Society) Kingship (or Man vs. Society) How a should king rule How a should king rule Religion: Religion: How people and gods interact How people and gods interact How Sumerians appeased the gods through ritual How Sumerians appeased the gods through ritual

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Prologue Emphasizes:  Wisdom Acquired in Life  Monuments Erected Which Last For Centuries

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Characters Gilgamesh the God and Man Bad Ruler Bad Ruler Arrogant Person Arrogant Person Oppressive to His People Oppressive to His People Brutal to Friend and Foe Brutal to Friend and Foe

Enkidu Created by Gods as a Match for Gilgamesh Created by Gods as a Match for Gilgamesh Seduced by a Harlot Seduced by a Harlot Tamed by Civilization Tamed by Civilization Possesses the Best of Man and Beast Possesses the Best of Man and Beast Suffers and Dies for the Sins of Gilgamesh Suffers and Dies for the Sins of Gilgamesh (rejection of Ishtar)

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & Action First Adventure Slaying of Humbaba, the giant who the gods appointed to guard the Cedar Forest Slaying of Humbaba, the giant who the gods appointed to guard the Cedar Forest

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & Action Second Adventure Gilgamesh rejects the love of Ishtar, the goddess of the storehouse, love, war, and the evening & morning star. Gilgamesh rejects the love of Ishtar, the goddess of the storehouse, love, war, and the evening & morning star. Ishtar, enraged, sends Bull of Heaven against the people of Uruk. Ishtar, enraged, sends Bull of Heaven against the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh and Enkidu destroy the bull. Gilgamesh and Enkidu destroy the bull. Enkidu, as a result, is cursed and dies a painful, slow, pathetic death. Enkidu, as a result, is cursed and dies a painful, slow, pathetic death.

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & Action Enkidu’s Death Awakens Gilgamesh Emptiness of mortality in spite of worldly fame Emptiness of mortality in spite of worldly fame Search for immortality Search for immortality

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & Action Discoveries  Secrets of immortality from Utnapishtim, an immortal  “The Old Men Are Young Again” plant  Flood story (Universal Story)  A recorded history

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & Action Fails 2 Tests of Potential Immortals Can’t Remain Awake for 6 Days and 7 Nights Can’t Remain Awake for 6 Days and 7 Nights Loses “The Old Men Are Young Again” plant to the Serpent Loses “The Old Men Are Young Again” plant to the Serpent

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & Action Return to Uruk Empty handed… but is he? Empty handed… but is he? Knows his worldly endeavors will endure Knows his worldly endeavors will endure Has gained wisdom Has gained wisdom

Epic of Gilgamesh: Significance What Does the Story Mean To Us We learn how ancient people of Mesopotamia lived. We learn how ancient people of Mesopotamia lived. We see that experiences related through the story are similar to experiences of man today. We see that experiences related through the story are similar to experiences of man today. Religion: We see similar roles that God plays in the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the people of Ancient Uruk to our own. We see how people and gods interact. Religion: We see similar roles that God plays in the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the people of Ancient Uruk to our own. We see how people and gods interact.

Epic of Gilgamesh: Significance Oldest story ever recorded Oldest story ever recorded First recorded “author” First recorded “author” Kingship: How should a king rule? Kingship: How should a king rule? Mortality: What is the meaning of life? Mortality: What is the meaning of life? Friendship: Man’s relationship to man Friendship: Man’s relationship to man Flood story: Validation of Bible story Flood story: Validation of Bible story Shows commonality of human nature, stories, adventures, etc. Shows commonality of human nature, stories, adventures, etc.