Gilgamesh Leadership Analysis

The Epic of Gilgamesh, the ancient work which is called the earliest true work of literature, approximately circulating the Near East from as early as 1000 B.C.E portrays the exciting tale of a ruthless ruler named Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh cruelly ruled over the city of Uruk and faced many trials from the loss of a loved one, to a long path of self-revaluation, and truly finding the meaning of life. This ancient work gives us insight on Mesopotamian culture and history, as well as allowing us to reach a deeper understanding of human weakness through it, specifically when put in a position of leadership. The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays certain aspects a ruler is tested by such as mental and physical weakness, as well as defining characteristics a …show more content…
The story portrays a real leader is, at the end of the road, one who can acknowledge, revaluate and fix their weaknesses. We see Gilgamesh displaying this type of leadership as he is concluding his journey, “For whom have my arms labored, Urshanabi? / For whom has my heart’s blood roiled” (97). Gilgamesh is acknowledging his selfishness, never having done anything with his own arms or heart for the benefit of anyone else, besides himself. He continues by saying, “I have not secured any good deed for myself, / but done a good deed for the lion of the ground” (97). Gilgamesh reevaluates his actions and concludes nothing in his life has been dedicated to doing good but only to feed ‘the lion of the ground’. This symbolizes the only deeds Gilgamesh accomplished were towards filling that lion’s hunger; through sex, power and greed. Gilgamesh then states he will fix his human weaknesses, “I will turn back from the journey by sea and leave the boat by the shore” (97). He proclaims he is going back to the city of Uruk, different than how he originally left it, leaving all of his old weaknesses behind, and ready to be a true