The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh is Samaritan mythology that comes from
2,600 B.C.. Written in Cuneiform, it is composes of twelve tablets. Gilgamesh is historically known as an early Samaritan king who was very highly revered. Several texts say that he was a demigod who reigned for 126 years. In this version of the myth he is the only son of the goddess Ninsun and a Samaritan king or high priest with godlike qualities such as extreme age. Gilgamesh has five known(recorded) stories that include great battles and even his death. Though the greatest of these five stories is The Epic of Gilgamesh. The picture to the right and above are Gilgamesh and Enkidu(horned). In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is trying to become immortal. On his path to immortality he learns many lessons, looses his best friend and ultimately accepts his mortality. Each tablet that composes this story consist of smaller stories that all create the Epic of Gilgamesh. |
So the story goes Gilgamesh was a tyrannical king, the greatest king on earth, who also happened to be 2/3 god. He was extremely harsh on his people, he even went so far as to take the virginities of newly wedded brides before their
husbands. After much prayer from his subjects the gods created for him the perfect rival, Enkidu. Enkidu was a wild man who was known to be accepted by all the animals of the forests. The gods made him an equal to Gilgamesh. After Enkidu destroys the lively hood of a trapper his existence becomes known. Gilgamesh sends him a sacred harlot(prostitute) after which he looses all sanctity with animals and they run from him. The harlot then takes Enkidu to civilization where he learns to be a socially acceptable man. Upon meeting king Gilgamesh he challenges him to a fight which he losses. Though his godlike qualities did not go unnoticed. Upon loosing to Gilgamesh the two became very close friends. The first milestone in their relationship was an attempt form Gilgamesh to achieve immortality. It arose when they set off to defeat the demon guardian of the cedar forest. However they are not strong enough to defeat him alone. A
certain god who is watching takes pity on the two friends and assist them by sending eight supernatural winds in for the demon. Upon defeating the demon he(the demon) asks that they spare his life in exchange for all the lumber the king ever wanted. The two agreed and returned triumphant, their friendship became stronger then ever. Gilgamesh's victory caught the attention of the a certain wicked goddess who had a reputation for being cruel to lovers. She asked for betrothal to him, but he rejected her offer. The enraged goddess called on her father, Anu, for vengeance. He unleashed the Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgamesh. Enkidu, however killed the bull with the assistance of Gilgamesh before it could kill him. The gods decided that Enkidu should pay with his life for the life of the Bull of Heaven. He fell ill and passed away. Gilgamesh returned to his quest of immortality in grievance of his dear friend. He seeked the guidance of the immortal man who survived the great flood. This man told him that if he could remain awake for 7 days. Of course, he fails, so instead he does as instructed by the immortal man and finds the plant of youth that grows at the bottom of the sea. On his return home the plant is stolen by a serpent while he is bathing. Somber in his defeat he returns home. But his spirits rise when he sees the walls of his great city and he comes to terms with his inevitable death. In the last tablet it features another outcome of this story in which Enkidu is alive and has a wife and child. He is sent on a mission by Gilgamesh to retrieve something from the under world.
husbands. After much prayer from his subjects the gods created for him the perfect rival, Enkidu. Enkidu was a wild man who was known to be accepted by all the animals of the forests. The gods made him an equal to Gilgamesh. After Enkidu destroys the lively hood of a trapper his existence becomes known. Gilgamesh sends him a sacred harlot(prostitute) after which he looses all sanctity with animals and they run from him. The harlot then takes Enkidu to civilization where he learns to be a socially acceptable man. Upon meeting king Gilgamesh he challenges him to a fight which he losses. Though his godlike qualities did not go unnoticed. Upon loosing to Gilgamesh the two became very close friends. The first milestone in their relationship was an attempt form Gilgamesh to achieve immortality. It arose when they set off to defeat the demon guardian of the cedar forest. However they are not strong enough to defeat him alone. A
certain god who is watching takes pity on the two friends and assist them by sending eight supernatural winds in for the demon. Upon defeating the demon he(the demon) asks that they spare his life in exchange for all the lumber the king ever wanted. The two agreed and returned triumphant, their friendship became stronger then ever. Gilgamesh's victory caught the attention of the a certain wicked goddess who had a reputation for being cruel to lovers. She asked for betrothal to him, but he rejected her offer. The enraged goddess called on her father, Anu, for vengeance. He unleashed the Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgamesh. Enkidu, however killed the bull with the assistance of Gilgamesh before it could kill him. The gods decided that Enkidu should pay with his life for the life of the Bull of Heaven. He fell ill and passed away. Gilgamesh returned to his quest of immortality in grievance of his dear friend. He seeked the guidance of the immortal man who survived the great flood. This man told him that if he could remain awake for 7 days. Of course, he fails, so instead he does as instructed by the immortal man and finds the plant of youth that grows at the bottom of the sea. On his return home the plant is stolen by a serpent while he is bathing. Somber in his defeat he returns home. But his spirits rise when he sees the walls of his great city and he comes to terms with his inevitable death. In the last tablet it features another outcome of this story in which Enkidu is alive and has a wife and child. He is sent on a mission by Gilgamesh to retrieve something from the under world.
http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Fi-Go/Gilgamesh.html
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Gilgamesh,_Epic_of
http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/
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http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Gilgamesh,_Epic_of
http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/
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Amerika Jayme