Eng 2REng 2RThe Epic of The Epic of GilgameshGilgamesh

World Lit SurveyWorld Lit Survey

How the How the Epic of Epic of Gilgamesh Gilgamesh Endured Endured

Stories of King Gilgamesh were told and Stories of King Gilgamesh were told and handed down for hundreds of years after his handed down for hundreds of years after his death. death.

Finally the tales were written down by the 21st Finally the tales were written down by the 21st century B.C. century B.C.

When the Babylonians conquered the When the Babylonians conquered the Sumerians, they “inherited” the Sumerian Sumerians, they “inherited” the Sumerian cultural traditions. cultural traditions.

A Babylonian author created the start of the A Babylonian author created the start of the unified Gilgamesh epic as we know it today. unified Gilgamesh epic as we know it today.

Modifications to the EpicModifications to the Epic

Other Babylonian writers modified Other Babylonian writers modified the epic. the epic.

They added the prologue and the They added the prologue and the flood story, as well as emphasized flood story, as well as emphasized the friendship between Gilgamesh the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu.and Enkidu.

These writers also gave the These writers also gave the narrative its central theme: the narrative its central theme: the search for immortality. search for immortality.

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh: : SettingSetting

Story takes place in Story takes place in ancient ancient SumerSumer, one , one of the first settled of the first settled parts of the parts of the Fertile Fertile Crescent.Crescent.

The The TigrisTigris and and EuphratesEuphrates rivers rivers allowed for the allowed for the development of water development of water canals and canals and agriculture.agriculture.

This is part of This is part of modern-day modern-day Iraq.Iraq.

Historic Map of Historic Map of MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh: Social : Social ContextContext

GilgameshGilgamesh was the was the actual king of ancient actual king of ancient UrukUruk about 2700 about 2700 B.C.B.C.

This statue depicts This statue depicts Gilgamesh as a Gilgamesh as a powerful ruler and powerful ruler and lion-killer.lion-killer.

What can we learn What can we learn about Sumerian about Sumerian civilization and civilization and kingshipkingship by looking by looking at this statue?at this statue?

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh: : LanguageLanguage

Gilgamesh was written Gilgamesh was written down on clay down on clay cuneiformcuneiform tablets. tablets.

Scholars were able to Scholars were able to translate Sumerian translate Sumerian cuneiform by comparing cuneiform by comparing it to later it to later AkkadianAkkadian tablets with similar tablets with similar stories.stories.

This cuneiform writing This cuneiform writing consists of consists of wedge wedge shapesshapes read right to read right to left.left.

CuneiformCuneiform

The earliest writing in Mesopotamia was a picture The earliest writing in Mesopotamia was a picture writing invented by the Sumerians who wrote on writing invented by the Sumerians who wrote on clay tablets using long reeds. The script the clay tablets using long reeds. The script the Sumerians invented and handed down to the Sumerians invented and handed down to the Semitic peoples who conquered Mesopotamia in Semitic peoples who conquered Mesopotamia in later centuries, is called later centuries, is called cuneiformcuneiform, which is , which is derived from two Latin words: derived from two Latin words: cuneus cuneus , which , which means "wedge," and means "wedge," and forma forma , which means "shape." , which means "shape." This picture language, similar to but more abstract This picture language, similar to but more abstract than Egyptian hieroglyphics, eventually developed than Egyptian hieroglyphics, eventually developed into a syllabic alphabet under the Semites into a syllabic alphabet under the Semites (Assyrians and Babylonians) who eventually came (Assyrians and Babylonians) who eventually came to dominate the area. to dominate the area.

CuneiformCuneiform

In Sumer, the original writing was In Sumer, the original writing was pictographicpictographic ("picture writing"); individual words were ("picture writing"); individual words were represented by crude pictorial symbols that represented by crude pictorial symbols that resembled in some way the object being resembled in some way the object being represented, as in the Sumerian word for king, represented, as in the Sumerian word for king, lu-lu-gal gal ::

CuneiformCuneiform These wedges and hooks are the original cuneiform and These wedges and hooks are the original cuneiform and

represented in Sumerian entire words (this is called represented in Sumerian entire words (this is called ideographicideographic and the word symbols are called and the word symbols are called ideogramsideograms, , which means "concept writing”.which means "concept writing”.

The Semites who adopted this writing, however, spoke an The Semites who adopted this writing, however, spoke an entirely different language, in fact, a language as different entirely different language, in fact, a language as different from Sumerian as English is different from Japanese. In from Sumerian as English is different from Japanese. In order to adapt this foreign writing to a Semitic language, order to adapt this foreign writing to a Semitic language, the Akkadians converted it in part to a syllabic writing the Akkadians converted it in part to a syllabic writing system; individual signs represent entire syllables. system; individual signs represent entire syllables.

However, in addition to syllable symbols, some cuneiform However, in addition to syllable symbols, some cuneiform symbols are symbols are ideogramsideograms ("picture words") representing an ("picture words") representing an entire word; these ideograms might also, in other contexts, entire word; these ideograms might also, in other contexts, be simply syllables. For instance, in Assyrian, the cuneiform be simply syllables. For instance, in Assyrian, the cuneiform for the syllable "ki" is written as follows:for the syllable "ki" is written as follows:

CuneiformCuneiform

However, as an ideogram, this cuneiform also However, as an ideogram, this cuneiform also stands for the Assyrian word stands for the Assyrian word irsitu irsitu , or "earth." So , or "earth." So reading cuneiform involves mastering a large reading cuneiform involves mastering a large syllabic alphabet as well as a large number of syllabic alphabet as well as a large number of ideograms, many of them identical to syllable ideograms, many of them identical to syllable symbols. This complicated writing system symbols. This complicated writing system dominated Mesopotamia until the century before dominated Mesopotamia until the century before the birth of Christ; the Persians greatly simplified the birth of Christ; the Persians greatly simplified cuneiform until it represented something closer cuneiform until it represented something closer to an alphabet.    to an alphabet.    

Writing’s Effect on Writing’s Effect on HistoryHistory

As with all cultures, writing greatly As with all cultures, writing greatly changed Mesopotamian social structure changed Mesopotamian social structure and the civilization's relationship to its and the civilization's relationship to its own history. Writing allowed laws to be own history. Writing allowed laws to be written and so to assume a static and written and so to assume a static and independent character; history became independent character; history became more detailed and incorporated much more detailed and incorporated much more of local cultures' histories. more of local cultures' histories.

Richard HookerRichard Hooker http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/GLOSSARY/CUNEI.HTMhttp://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/GLOSSARY/CUNEI.HTM

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh: : ReligionReligion

Sumerian shrine or Sumerian shrine or ZigguratZiggurat, c. 2100 B.C. in , c. 2100 B.C. in UrUr

The ziggurat is a The ziggurat is a religious temple “rising religious temple “rising like a mountain in the like a mountain in the desert” where Sumerians desert” where Sumerians worshiped local godsworshiped local gods

In Gilgamesh’s city of In Gilgamesh’s city of Uruk, the popular gods Uruk, the popular gods were were AnuAnu (father of the (father of the gods), gods), IshtarIshtar (goddess of (goddess of love), and love), and LugulbandaLugulbanda (Gilgamesh’s personal (Gilgamesh’s personal god)god)

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh: : ThemesThemes

Civilization vs. Nature (or Man vs. Nature)Civilization vs. Nature (or Man vs. Nature) Mortality: Mortality:

What is the meaning of life?What is the meaning of life? Friendship (or Man vs. Man)Friendship (or Man vs. Man) Flood storyFlood story Kingship (or Man vs. Society)Kingship (or Man vs. Society)

How a should king rule How a should king rule Religion: Religion:

How people and gods interact How people and gods interact How Sumerians appeased the gods through ritualHow Sumerians appeased the gods through ritual

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: PrologueThe Story: Prologue

Emphasizes: Emphasizes:

Wisdom Acquired in LifeWisdom Acquired in Life Monuments Erected Which Last Monuments Erected Which Last

For For CenturiesCenturies

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: CharactersThe Story: Characters

Gilgamesh the God and Gilgamesh the God and ManMan

Bad RulerBad Ruler

Arrogant PersonArrogant Person

Oppressive to His PeopleOppressive to His People

Brutal to Friend and FoeBrutal to Friend and Foe

EnkiduEnkidu

Created by Gods as a Match for Created by Gods as a Match for GilgameshGilgamesh

Seduced by a HarlotSeduced by a Harlot Tamed by CivilizationTamed by Civilization Possesses the Best of Man and BeastPossesses the Best of Man and Beast Suffers and Dies for the Sins of Suffers and Dies for the Sins of

GilgameshGilgamesh

(rejection of Ishtar)(rejection of Ishtar)

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & The Story: Plot Lines &

ActionActionFirst AdventureFirst Adventure

Slaying of Humbaba, the Slaying of Humbaba, the giant who the gods appointed giant who the gods appointed to guard the Cedar Forestto guard the Cedar Forest

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & The Story: Plot Lines &

ActionActionSecond AdventureSecond Adventure

Gilgamesh rejects the love of Ishtar, Gilgamesh rejects the love of Ishtar, the goddess of the storehouse, love, the goddess of the storehouse, love, war, and the evening & morning star.war, and the evening & morning star.

Ishtar, enraged, sends Bull of Heaven Ishtar, enraged, sends Bull of Heaven against the people of Uruk.against the people of Uruk.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu destroy the Gilgamesh and Enkidu destroy the bull.bull.

Enkidu, as a result, is cursed and dies Enkidu, as a result, is cursed and dies a painful, slow, pathetic death.a painful, slow, pathetic death.

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & The Story: Plot Lines &

ActionActionEnkidu’s Death Enkidu’s Death

Awakens GilgameshAwakens Gilgamesh

Emptiness of mortality in spite Emptiness of mortality in spite of worldly fameof worldly fame

Search for immortalitySearch for immortality

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & The Story: Plot Lines &

ActionActionDiscoveriesDiscoveries

Secrets of immortality from Secrets of immortality from Utnapishtim, an immortalUtnapishtim, an immortal

““The Old Men Are Young Again” plantThe Old Men Are Young Again” plant Flood story (Universal Story)Flood story (Universal Story) A recorded historyA recorded history

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & The Story: Plot Lines &

ActionActionFails 2 Tests of Potential Fails 2 Tests of Potential

ImmortalsImmortals

Can’t Remain Awake for 6 Days and Can’t Remain Awake for 6 Days and 7 Nights7 Nights

Loses “The Old Men Are Young Loses “The Old Men Are Young Again” plant to the SerpentAgain” plant to the Serpent

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh The Story: Plot Lines & The Story: Plot Lines & Action Return to UrukAction Return to Uruk

Empty handed… but is he?Empty handed… but is he?

Knows his worldly endeavors will Knows his worldly endeavors will endureendure

Has gained wisdomHas gained wisdom

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh: : SignificanceSignificance

What Does the Story Mean What Does the Story Mean To UsTo Us

We learn how ancient people of We learn how ancient people of Mesopotamia lived.Mesopotamia lived.

We see that experiences related through We see that experiences related through the story are similar to experiences of the story are similar to experiences of man today.man today.

Religion: We see similar roles that God Religion: We see similar roles that God plays in the attitudes, values, and beliefs plays in the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the people of Ancient Uruk to our own. of the people of Ancient Uruk to our own. We see how people and gods interact.We see how people and gods interact.

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh: : SignificanceSignificance

Oldest story ever recordedOldest story ever recorded First recorded “author”First recorded “author”

Kingship: How should a king rule?Kingship: How should a king rule? Mortality: What is the meaning of life?Mortality: What is the meaning of life? Friendship: Man’s relationship to manFriendship: Man’s relationship to man Flood story: Validation of Bible storyFlood story: Validation of Bible story Shows commonality of human nature, Shows commonality of human nature,

stories, adventures, etc.stories, adventures, etc.