When reviewing the epic of Gilgamesh one needs to understand some of the historical context of the ancient Mesopotamia. Secondly, the story reflects several worldviews. Looking deeper in the epic one can see different stages of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. And finally, the epic has many different universal concepts that relate to our society today.
To begin, the epic begins with the introduction of the city of Uruk and Gilgamesh its king. Gilgamesh is two thirds god, and one third man. Gilgamesh is credited with the creation of great structures including ziggurats, and high walls. Atop the grand structures Gilgamesh also laid out the orchards and fields. Though credited with these great accomplishments, Gilgamesh was able to succeed …show more content…
Later Gilgamesh opens passages through the mountains and dug wells in the wilderness. This is a direct illustration of the connection that humans had a need for nature and nature needed man. Man, needs the wells for water. Nature needs planed fields and orchards to increase the harvest.
The easiest example of the reflection of humans with each other is the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. They are brought together, and have a bound that is almost stronger than that of brothers. They love each other. It is through that connection and example we can see how we are connected and how we should be connecting to our fellow man.
The connection man has to the supernatural is illustrated throughout the epic of Gilgamesh. But, my favorite is the plant that restores youth. The idea that there is a way to keep us young. How much more of a supernatural thing could there be? This is a bridge between the world of mortality, and immortality. This is not a new concept for humanity to question how to become immortal. And it leads us to the modern Christian interpretation of the soul and after …show more content…
Today, everyone is searching for a reason to live. The idea of immortality has shifted from the idea of living forever, to an idea of a reason to live and how one will be captured and preserved for the future. The idea of legacy is the modern version of immortality. Weather that be through children, an endowment, the other lives we touch, writing a book or becoming famous or, even better, infamous! Each of us, like Gilgamesh is looking to find our immortality. If we are lucky we not only find our immortality, but our mortality along the
To begin, the epic begins with the introduction of the city of Uruk and Gilgamesh its king. Gilgamesh is two thirds god, and one third man. Gilgamesh is credited with the creation of great structures including ziggurats, and high walls. Atop the grand structures Gilgamesh also laid out the orchards and fields. Though credited with these great accomplishments, Gilgamesh was able to succeed …show more content…
Later Gilgamesh opens passages through the mountains and dug wells in the wilderness. This is a direct illustration of the connection that humans had a need for nature and nature needed man. Man, needs the wells for water. Nature needs planed fields and orchards to increase the harvest.
The easiest example of the reflection of humans with each other is the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. They are brought together, and have a bound that is almost stronger than that of brothers. They love each other. It is through that connection and example we can see how we are connected and how we should be connecting to our fellow man.
The connection man has to the supernatural is illustrated throughout the epic of Gilgamesh. But, my favorite is the plant that restores youth. The idea that there is a way to keep us young. How much more of a supernatural thing could there be? This is a bridge between the world of mortality, and immortality. This is not a new concept for humanity to question how to become immortal. And it leads us to the modern Christian interpretation of the soul and after …show more content…
Today, everyone is searching for a reason to live. The idea of immortality has shifted from the idea of living forever, to an idea of a reason to live and how one will be captured and preserved for the future. The idea of legacy is the modern version of immortality. Weather that be through children, an endowment, the other lives we touch, writing a book or becoming famous or, even better, infamous! Each of us, like Gilgamesh is looking to find our immortality. If we are lucky we not only find our immortality, but our mortality along the