the epic of gilgamesh mesopotamian epic 2000-1600 b.c.e

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of GilgameshMesopotamian Epic Mesopotamian Epic

2000-1600 B.C.E.2000-1600 B.C.E.

Poetic Forms – The EpicPoetic Forms – The EpicEpicEpic – “A long narrative poem written – “A long narrative poem written in elevated style, in which heroes of in elevated style, in which heroes of great historical or legendary great historical or legendary importance perform valorous deeds.”importance perform valorous deeds.”

A portion of the Babylonian clay tablet on which the epic of Gilgamesh is recorded.

Poetic Forms – The EpicPoetic Forms – The Epic

In an epic, “the setting is vast in scope, In an epic, “the setting is vast in scope, covering great nations, the world or the covering great nations, the world or the universe, and the action is important to universe, and the action is important to the history of a nation or people.”the history of a nation or people.”

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Poetic Forms – The EpicPoetic Forms – The Epic The IliadThe Iliad, , The OdysseyThe Odyssey and and The AeneidThe Aeneid are are

some great epics from world literature, some great epics from world literature, and two great epics in English are and two great epics in English are BeowulfBeowulf and and Paradise LostParadise Lost..

Poetic Forms – The EpicPoetic Forms – The Epic Figuratively, any task of great magnitude Figuratively, any task of great magnitude

may be called “epic” as in an “epic feat” may be called “epic” as in an “epic feat” or an “epic undertaking.” (“epic”)or an “epic undertaking.” (“epic”)

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh is a long, is a long, narrative poem classified as an narrative poem classified as an “epic”. First evidence of this poem “epic”. First evidence of this poem about a legendary king appears in about a legendary king appears in 2200 – 2100 B.C.E. 2200 – 2100 B.C.E.

(B.C.E. =“Before the Current Era)(B.C.E. =“Before the Current Era)


Gilgamesh was the king of Sumer (a Gilgamesh was the king of Sumer (a forerunner of Babylonian and Assyrian forerunner of Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations). Located between the civilizations). Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, it is a land Tigris and Euphrates rivers, it is a land now centered in present day Iraq.now centered in present day Iraq.


Map of probable location of Sumer and surrounding kingdoms.


Provided that Gilgamesh was based on Provided that Gilgamesh was based on an actual person (and not simply a myth an actual person (and not simply a myth created by the ancient Sumerians), he created by the ancient Sumerians), he reigned between 2700 and 2500 B.C.E.reigned between 2700 and 2500 B.C.E.

Conveying the tale of friendship Conveying the tale of friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, the between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, the epic also deals with themes of mortality epic also deals with themes of mortality and loss.and loss.


In the epic, Gilgamesh is the king of In the epic, Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, a Sumerian city. Gilgamesh is Uruk, a Sumerian city. Gilgamesh is initially presented as arrogant and initially presented as arrogant and desiring of fame.desiring of fame.

To test him, the Sumerian gods and To test him, the Sumerian gods and goddesses provide tests for him.goddesses provide tests for him.

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh The goddess Aruru creates a half-The goddess Aruru creates a half-

man, half-beast named Enkidu as a man, half-beast named Enkidu as a test for Gilgamesh. test for Gilgamesh.


Eventually, Enkidu challenges Eventually, Enkidu challenges Gilgamesh’s leadership and the two Gilgamesh’s leadership and the two fight in a heated wrestling match fight in a heated wrestling match which Gilgamesh ultimately wins.which Gilgamesh ultimately wins.

The two become friends, despite The two become friends, despite their original conflicts.their original conflicts.

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh Enkidu and Gilgamesh experience Enkidu and Gilgamesh experience

many adventures together including many adventures together including a battle with a giant named a battle with a giant named Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh In the epic, Gilgamesh and Enkidu battle In the epic, Gilgamesh and Enkidu battle

Humbaba; a giant protector god of the Humbaba; a giant protector god of the cedar forest that may represent man’s cedar forest that may represent man’s opposition to nature.opposition to nature.


Sumerian gods such as Humbaba “had human or Sumerian gods such as Humbaba “had human or humanlike forms, were male or female… and humanlike forms, were male or female… and reacted to stimuli with both reason and emotion. reacted to stimuli with both reason and emotion. Being similar to humans, they were considered to Being similar to humans, they were considered to be unpredictable and oftentimes capricious. Their be unpredictable and oftentimes capricious. Their need for food and drink, housing, and care mirrored need for food and drink, housing, and care mirrored that of humans. Unlike humans, however, they that of humans. Unlike humans, however, they were immortal and, like kings and holy temples, were immortal and, like kings and holy temples, they possessed a splendor called they possessed a splendor called melammumelammu. . MelammuMelammu is a radiance or aura, a glamour that the is a radiance or aura, a glamour that the god embodied. It could be fearsome or awe god embodied. It could be fearsome or awe inspiring.” (Spar)inspiring.” (Spar)

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh The god of earth wind, air and agriculture; The god of earth wind, air and agriculture;

Enlil was enraged by what Gilgamesh and Enlil was enraged by what Gilgamesh and Enkidu had done to Humbaba and his Enkidu had done to Humbaba and his forest and he distributes Humbaba’s forest and he distributes Humbaba’s “splendor” after his death.“splendor” after his death.

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh Because Gilgamesh rejected the Because Gilgamesh rejected the

advances of Ishtar, the goddess of advances of Ishtar, the goddess of love, she sends the Bull of Heaven to love, she sends the Bull of Heaven to threaten Uruk – Gilgamesh’s city.threaten Uruk – Gilgamesh’s city.

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh Gilgamesh and Enkidu are able to defeat Gilgamesh and Enkidu are able to defeat

the Bull of Heaven, but Enkidu eventually the Bull of Heaven, but Enkidu eventually dies as punishment for his involvement dies as punishment for his involvement with the death of the Bull and Humbaba.with the death of the Bull and Humbaba.


Following Enkidu’s Following Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh death, Gilgamesh goes on a quest for goes on a quest for immortality and ends immortality and ends up with Utnapishtim up with Utnapishtim who has gained the who has gained the secret of living secret of living forever after he and forever after he and his family survive a his family survive a great flood (similar to great flood (similar to the story of Noah).the story of Noah).

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh The epic was lost until the mid-1880’s, The epic was lost until the mid-1880’s,

when it was re-discovered in the when it was re-discovered in the library of an ancient Assyrian king; library of an ancient Assyrian king; Ashurbanipal.Ashurbanipal.

The epic was “Printed” on clay tablets The epic was “Printed” on clay tablets using a dead writing form called, using a dead writing form called, “cuniform,” that utilized reeds to “cuniform,” that utilized reeds to create wedge shaped symbols in clay.create wedge shaped symbols in clay.

Works CitedWorks Cited

"epic." "epic." The American Heritage® New Dictionary of The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third EditionCultural Literacy, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin . Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. 12 Sep. 2010. Company, 2005. 12 Sep. 2010. <Dictionary.com <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/epic>.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/epic>.

Spar, Ira. "Mesopotamian Deities". In Spar, Ira. "Mesopotamian Deities". In Heilbrunn Heilbrunn Timeline of Art HistoryTimeline of Art History. New York: The . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/deit/hd_deit.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/deit/hd_deit.htm (April 2009)htm (April 2009)

the epic of gilgamesh mesopotamian epic 2000-1600 b.c.e

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