1. Warmup
What did the Aryans bring to the Indus Valley civilization?

2. The Epic of Gilgamesh

3. How the Epic of Gilgamesh Endured
Stories of King Gilgamesh were told and handed down for hundreds of years after his death.
When the Babylonians conquered the Sumerians, they “inherited” the Sumerian cultural traditions.
Other Babylonian writers modified the epic, added the prologue and the flood story, as well as emphasized the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

4. The Epic of Gilgamesh: Setting
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.

5. Epic of Gilgamesh: Social Context
Gilgamesh was the actual king of ancient Uruk circa 2700 B.C.
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?

6. Epic of Gilgamesh: Language
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.
This cuneiform writing consists of wedge shapes read right to left.

7. Epic of Gilgamesh: Religion
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
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)

8. What are the major themes of the Epic of Gilgamesh?

9. Who is Who? People Gilgamesh Enkidu Gods Anu Enlil Ea Shamhat Ninsun
Shamash
Ishtar

10. Prologue
What does Gilgamesh’s description tell us about Sumerian society?

11. The Coming of Enkidu What does Enkidu represent?
What is the countersymbol to Enkidu?
What does the harlot represent?
What are the qualities of a hero?

12. The Story of the Flood Why do the gods destroy mankind?
What does this say about the Sumerian view of the gods?

13. On Immortality What is the Sumerian view of death?
What should people do to live a good life?

14. 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.
Ishtar, enraged, sends Bull of Heaven against the people of Uruk.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu destroy the bull.
Enkidu, as a result, is cursed and dies a painful, slow, pathetic death.

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