The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story about the king of the sumerian city-state Uruk in about 2700 BCE: Gilgamesh was a great warrior during his lifetime and he left a lasting impression on Mesopotamian culture. The historical significance of The Epic of Gilgamesh is that it is one of the “earliest surviving pieces of literature” from this period, and the most well-known. (Tignor 2013). In The Epic of Gilgamesh the hero, Gilgamesh, goes through many changes in his character and lifestyle throughout the story in order to find his purpose in his society. Uruk was one of the most famous and most important cities in ancient Mesopotamia. It was founded around 4500 BCE and was the first “true” city created (Mark 2011). Uruk was
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He would cause havoc all around him and go to bed with women all over his kingdom, even if they were married. At this point in his life he was not really the king that he would come to be. The gods realized that they would have to create an equal to Gilgamesh, which would be Enkidu. Enkidu lived in the wild with gazelle and one day he upset a trapper because he kept releasing his game. The trapper then brought in a harlot that would seduce Enkidu because of this Enkidu was not accepted by the wilderness anymore. By having sex with the harlot he becomes more aware of himself and he falls from nature. This self awareness and fall from nature and innocence parallels the story of Adam and Eve; she takes the forbidden fruit from the snake and then they realize that they are naked and original sin is created from this exchange because she disobeyed God’s rules. Enkidu is excluded from the wild because he interacts with this harlot and becomes human and gives up his wild characteristics. Enkidu then enters the city of Uruk and he learns of Gilgamesh and his escapades. Enkidu then hears that Gilgamesh is going to lay with a bride on her wedding night before her husband and he goes to stop Gilgamesh and they fight. Gilgamesh eventually overpowers Enkidu and it is at this moment that they pledge their loyalty and friendship to each …show more content…
Enkidu and Gilgamesh set out to the Land of Cedars to destroy the beast that guards it, Humbaba. He prays to the god Shamash, who was the judge and lawgiver, to help him in this endeavor. Shamash accepts and does a series of things that make Enkidu and Gilgamesh’s journey easier. Most of Gilgamesh’s journeys are for the purpose of being remembered for being great and they have a lot to do with his pride. This pride is seen in this quote from the text, “I will set up my name where the names of famous men are written…” Gilgamesh wishes to be remembered for his greatness, and in these tasks that he undergoes he accomplishes amazing feats. These feats though, are a large weakness when looking at this epic as historical reference. Most of these endeavors are intertwined with, more than likely, fictional beasts and gods, which are often referenced in the text as harming or helping Gilgamesh in his tasks. The parts of the text cannot be used as direct historical references because of those reasons. However, all of the different buildings and monuments mentioned in the text, including the great wall thought to be erected by Gilgamesh, is believed to have been found by archaeologists (Mark 2010). So this aspect of the text can be considered a strength when looking at this text as a historical
He would cause havoc all around him and go to bed with women all over his kingdom, even if they were married. At this point in his life he was not really the king that he would come to be. The gods realized that they would have to create an equal to Gilgamesh, which would be Enkidu. Enkidu lived in the wild with gazelle and one day he upset a trapper because he kept releasing his game. The trapper then brought in a harlot that would seduce Enkidu because of this Enkidu was not accepted by the wilderness anymore. By having sex with the harlot he becomes more aware of himself and he falls from nature. This self awareness and fall from nature and innocence parallels the story of Adam and Eve; she takes the forbidden fruit from the snake and then they realize that they are naked and original sin is created from this exchange because she disobeyed God’s rules. Enkidu is excluded from the wild because he interacts with this harlot and becomes human and gives up his wild characteristics. Enkidu then enters the city of Uruk and he learns of Gilgamesh and his escapades. Enkidu then hears that Gilgamesh is going to lay with a bride on her wedding night before her husband and he goes to stop Gilgamesh and they fight. Gilgamesh eventually overpowers Enkidu and it is at this moment that they pledge their loyalty and friendship to each …show more content…
Enkidu and Gilgamesh set out to the Land of Cedars to destroy the beast that guards it, Humbaba. He prays to the god Shamash, who was the judge and lawgiver, to help him in this endeavor. Shamash accepts and does a series of things that make Enkidu and Gilgamesh’s journey easier. Most of Gilgamesh’s journeys are for the purpose of being remembered for being great and they have a lot to do with his pride. This pride is seen in this quote from the text, “I will set up my name where the names of famous men are written…” Gilgamesh wishes to be remembered for his greatness, and in these tasks that he undergoes he accomplishes amazing feats. These feats though, are a large weakness when looking at this epic as historical reference. Most of these endeavors are intertwined with, more than likely, fictional beasts and gods, which are often referenced in the text as harming or helping Gilgamesh in his tasks. The parts of the text cannot be used as direct historical references because of those reasons. However, all of the different buildings and monuments mentioned in the text, including the great wall thought to be erected by Gilgamesh, is believed to have been found by archaeologists (Mark 2010). So this aspect of the text can be considered a strength when looking at this text as a historical