The Epic of Gilgamesh

1
The Epic of Gilgamesh

• You Will Never Find that Life for Which You are
  Looking.
• The Epic of Gilgamesh

2
The Earliest Known Writing

• Originated from Ancient Sumerian society (modern
  day Iraq)
• Written in cuneiform (wedge-shaped writing)
• The most complete version existing today is
  preserved on 12 clay tablets in the library
  collection of 7th century BCE Syrian King,
  Ashurbanipal.

3
A King Named Gilgamesh

• The epic was based on a real ruler in the late
  Early Dynastic period (27th Century BCE)
• Originally titled He Who Saw the Deep, or
  Surpassing All Other Kings.
• The essential story revolves around the
  relationship between Gilgamesh, who has become
  distracted and disheartened by his rule, and a
  friend, Enkidu, who is half-wild and who
  undertakes dangerous quests with Gilgamesh. Much
  of the epic focuses on Gilgamesh's thoughts of
  loss following Enkidu's death. It is about their
  becoming human together, and has a high emphasis
  on immortality. A large portion of the poem
  illustrates Gilgamesh's search for and failure to
  gain immortality after Enkidu's death.

4
Gilgameshs Influence on other Epic Literature

• Some aspects of the Noahs Ark story in the Bible
  seem to be based on the flood in the Gilgamesh
  epic.
• Many Greek scholars say that there are a large
  number of parallel verses and themes, which
  indicate an influence of the Gilgamesh epic on
  Homers Odyssey.
• The Alexander the Great myth in Islamic and
  Syrian cultures is thought to be influenced by
  Gilgamesh. Alexander wanders through a region of
  darkness and terror in search of the water of
  life. He faces strange encounters, reaches the
  water but, like Gilgamesh, fails to become
  immortal

5
Influences on Pop Culture

• The Great American Novel, by Philip Roth.
• The Gilgamesh myth is reworked into the tale of a
  fictional baseball player, Gil Gamesh, whose
  immortal aspirations are achieved by disappearing
  after his final game

6
Pop Culture Influences

• Gilgamesh was made into an opera three times!!!
• Italian, Franco Battiato
• Serbian, Rudolph Brucci
• Danish, Per Nogard
• Gilgamesh Voyage into the Golden Screen

7
Pop Culture Influences

• The Mesopotamians, a song by the band, They
  Might be Giants, features Gilgamesh (among
  others).