Although not a religious text per se, the “Epic of Gilgamesh” gives us great insight on how the people in ancient Mesopotamian society felt about the gods and their relationship with them. The religion of this time is completely foreign to those raised in the Judeo-Christian western world, whose god plays the role of the concerned parent. The “Epic of Gilgamesh” reveals to us that the ancient Sumerian gods had human characteristics, were dangerous and were not perfect beings whose example we should follow, but were amoral beings with both the capacity of mercy and compassion as well as for great destruction, and since they were not symbols of morality were not worshiped because they were loved, but for mutual benefit between humanity and the gods.
Unlike the popular idea today of god being the amorphous, omnipotent, and omnipresent creator of the universe, the gods in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” possess characteristics typical in every human. Like their human creations, the gods not only feel emotions, but often succumb to them. This is abundantly apparent when Ishtar, …show more content…
The most poignant example of this attitude is Gilgamesh’s rejection of Ishtar. Gilgamesh is wise and knows that becoming too involved with a god (especially Ishtar) will only create trouble. He goes as far as accusing Ishtar of being “a shoe that bites its owner’s feet.” Another apparent instance when the gods show their capriciousness is during Enlil’s flood. No real reason was ever given to why destroying humanity of necessary other than Enlil was angered (pg. 103). Even the reason for his anger was not clear. As hurricanes move and destroy without purpose, so does it seem the people of ancient Mesopotamia thought their gods moved in a similar
Unlike the popular idea today of god being the amorphous, omnipotent, and omnipresent creator of the universe, the gods in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” possess characteristics typical in every human. Like their human creations, the gods not only feel emotions, but often succumb to them. This is abundantly apparent when Ishtar, …show more content…
The most poignant example of this attitude is Gilgamesh’s rejection of Ishtar. Gilgamesh is wise and knows that becoming too involved with a god (especially Ishtar) will only create trouble. He goes as far as accusing Ishtar of being “a shoe that bites its owner’s feet.” Another apparent instance when the gods show their capriciousness is during Enlil’s flood. No real reason was ever given to why destroying humanity of necessary other than Enlil was angered (pg. 103). Even the reason for his anger was not clear. As hurricanes move and destroy without purpose, so does it seem the people of ancient Mesopotamia thought their gods moved in a similar