“The Epic of Gilgamesh”

Believed to be the OLDEST written story.

Early Writing• Cuneiform: Wedge-shaped signs on clay tablets.• Found in Mesopotamia (Modern Iraq)• “Between Rivers” (b/w Tigris & Euphrates)• Written by Sumerians (who developed writing)• Sumer was a civilization and historical region in southern

Mesopotamia• Egyptian Hieroglyphics: Carvings on temple walls.• “Gilgamesh” was written in Cuneiform.• Polytheism: Belief in many gods. • Ziggurat: Platform holding temples for gods.

The Epic

• Epic: A story centered on heroic characters; the action takes place on a grand scale.

• Oral

• Characteristics: 1. Hero-Quest• 2. Quest-Obstacles• 3. Supernatural Element• 4. Resurrection of Hero

Epic Hero

• Is always male.• Is larger than life, but human.• Is rewarded spiritually in death.

• Epic Poems are long narrative poems that detail the adventure or journey of a hero.

Epic Conventions• Invocation- petition muse/gods; intro. subject• Epic Question- find cause of main action• Homeric Simile- fully developed comparison • Epithet - Word or phrase applied to a person or thing to

reflect its quality: “rosy-fingered dawn”; “swift-footed Achilles”

• Confrontation• “in media res”: begin in middle of action• Combat• **Journey is the key element in the Epic Cycle.

The Story

• Gilgamesh, KING OF URUK- 2700 B.C.• Unninni, 1500 B.C.• “Story of Flood”, 1872, source for Noah story• Multiple translations

The Sexual Aspect• Gilgamesh has “enormous sexual vigor” and is never satisfied.• Enkidu is created to “equalize” him.• Enkidu is “undone” by sex. Loses innocence.• Gilgamesh & young brides.• Sexual vigor was important to epic heroes. During the Greek &

Roman era, it was the vigor, not the gender, that was important.• Believed that this world is the only world and that sex connects

people.• Enkidu– “a bridegroom”; “long hair like a woman’s”; “you will

love him as a woman and he will never forsake you” (Ninsun’s dream)…

Themes

• The compulsion in people to feel incomplete until joined with another (a theme we will see again!).

• Sex alone is not satisfying.• True love is between equals.• The sex vs. the bond• Women unequal to men; equality only

possible between two men.

Themes, cont.

• Immortality • The search• Physical vs. Abstract understanding of the

term• Utnapishtim: survives the flood (immortal)• The plant & the serpant• ***** Possible references in Bible.

Character List

• Gilgamesh Enkidu• Shamhat Utnapishtim & Wife• Urshanabi The Hunter• Anu Aruru Ea• Humbaba Scorpion Man• Siduri Tammuz Enlil Ereshkigal• Ishtar Lugulbanda Ninsun• Shamash

Epics

• Now that you have read the earliest written epic, you are ready to read the best surviving one…