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Gilgamesh

            An epic is defined as a long serious poem that tells the story of a hero or heroes. To be considered an epic a story must be consistently relevant to a human society but also carry immortal themes and messages. Some examples of epics are the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Gilgamesh. One of the most famous epics of all is probably the Epic of Gilgamesh. Not only is it very well known but it is also thought to be one of the first stories that were written down. With all the numerous and variety of events that happened in Gilgamesh, there are several lessons that can be learned from this age old epic. It shows one thing that has not changed from the beginning of time is that the fundamental laws of society never change, people are what they are and the nature of people will remain consistent till the end of time.
             The history of the epic is quite remarkable. Although it is thought to be one of the first stories carved in stone this is not the birth place of this wonderful epic. The legend itself was told verbally and passed on for many years. Scholars have dated the written version of the epic to at least as early as 2000 B.C. The tale is from the Sumerian culture and found on various sets of tablets in Mesopotamia. Each tablet has a slightly different story; some even have different events that took place. It is believed by most historians that because of the many different findings of the epic and the different variations of the story that is was not collected all in one piece or at one time. It has kind of evolved and grown by the many story tellers over the years. .
             Gilgamesh in the story is known as the King of Uruk. He was the son of the goddess Ninsun and a Uruk priest. So he is considered to be two-thirds god and one-third man. He was a very cocky and arrogant king who loved having control and showing how powerful he really was. He looked down on everyone in his kingdom. The people of Uruk viewed him as a tyrant, who was not fair to his people and would work them too hard for no reason at all.


Essays Related to Gilgamesh

1. Gilgamesh

... that Enkidu is destroying the traps and helping the beasts escape. The trapper needs to tame Enkidu just as the people of Uruk need to tame Gilgamesh. What Enkidu gains as he goes through early life is wisdom. The harlot represents this wisdom, civilization, and even an object of sexual desire. ... of loss and of growing older, the meaning of mortality. He teaches him life. Ultimately, Enkidu's journey out of the wilderness and his adventure with Gilgamesh lead to his death and, looking back in his sickness, Enkidu curses the cedar forest: "I would have taken my ax and chopped to bits / ...

  • Word Count: 1360
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Personal Growth of Gilgamesh

... mile of Ishtar's dwelling, three and a half square miles is the measure of Uruk!" (Puchner13). Though his many accomplishments, Gilgamesh was a somewhat ruthless king to begin with. He was two-thirds god and one-third man. This probably played a large role in the way he thought ... gods heard the cries of the people, and they created Enkidu. Enkidu was a wild man raised with animals. He had equal strength to Gilgamesh; he was created to humiliate Gilgamesh and keep him in check. "They grappled each other at the door to the wedding, they fought in the street, the public ... compassion, th...

  • Word Count: 935
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Mestopotamian Mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh

... Gods to decide that one of the two friends must be punished for their wrongdoing. Enkidu suffers immensely from illness and eventually dies. After Enkidu's demise, Gilgamesh's fear of death drives him to search for the power of immortality. Enkidu was formed from clay and saliva from Aruru, the goddess of creation, ... of mankind, which is that of birth and death. Furthermore, this natural cycle relates back to Enkidu's creation in the natural world. Gilgamesh is afraid after Enkidu's death, which makes him question his own mortality. The final fate of all mankind that is death, becomes...

  • Word Count: 940
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

4. gilgamesh

... never ending existence? That question has a different answer for everyone. History and mythology exhibit many ways men and women attempt to achieve immortality. Gilgamesh believed that never ending existence happened by never physically dying. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh investigates the possibility of his immortality, and finds his own version, following the death of his friend and brother, Enkidu. After this incident ... his immortal father, he sees how continually watching his own friends die makes his father unhappy. On his journey to visit his father he meets an old man tha...

  • Word Count: 851
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Gilgamesh's Trials and Tribulations

... a noble death in order to convince Enkidu that if he happens to die while attempting to conquer Humbaba, his death would be honored for years to come. Gilgamesh is also making fun of Enkidu in a slightly sarcastic way; " has your courage returned? Are you ready to leave? Or are you still afraid of ... order that the gods have decreed. But until the end comes, enjoy your life, spend it in happiness, not despair" (p.168). Shiduri says that Gilgamesh should not live his life in despair and in fear, but to love and cherish every second of it. Do all to the best of his ability ... for this tha...

  • Word Count: 1175
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Women in The Epic of Gilgamesh

... was overtly inappropriate with females by initiating violent sexual acts on them, costing the could be future Queens at their spot in higher society because after Gilgamesh attacked them, the young women no longer held purity in the eyes of the citizens. Despite his disapproving actions and negative attitude towards women, his ... who is important to the story is the temple prostitute, Shamahat. In the story, the father of the hunter told the hunter to "tell Gilgamesh of the mightiness-man. He will give you Shamhat the harlot, take her with you, Let her prevail over him, instead of the m...

  • Word Count: 1521
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Gilgamesh

... one who plucks it. But if you can possess this plant, you"ll be again as you were in your youth" (XI. 281-286). Once again, Gilgamesh displays his changed character. He proclaims that he will return to Uruk and share the plant with his people: "This plant, Ur-shanabi, is the "Plant ... To Uruk-the-Sheepfold I will take it, to an ancient I will feed some and put the plant to the test" (XI. 295-298). Although Gilgamesh failed in returning to Uruk with the magic plant, the significance of his underlying intentions is immeasurable and he finally comes to accept that he is human, ... is the ...

  • Word Count: 1444
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Epic of Gilgamesh

... and restlessness. From his father he inherited mortality. However, because he is part mortal, the hero discovers in the story that he must eventually die. Gilgamesh is full of himself and abuses his rights as king. He has sexual intercourse with the virgins of his town and acts as though he is a ... day. He heads off into the wilderness in search of Utnapishtim, who was rumored, to have been granted everlasting life from the gods. In time Gilgamesh comes to Mashu, the mountain which guards the rising and setting sun. Here is confronted by a man-scorpion and after telling him why he ... ...

  • Word Count: 1439
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. gilgamesh

... one who plucks it. But if you can possess this plant, you"ll be again as you were in your youth" (XI. 281-286). Once again, Gilgamesh displays his changed character. He proclaims that he will return to Uruk and share the plant with his people: "This plant, Ur-shanabi, is the "Plant ... To Uruk-the-Sheepfold I will take it, to an ancient I will feed some and put the plant to the test" (XI. 295-298). Although Gilgamesh failed in returning to Uruk with the magic plant, the significance of his underlying intentions is immeasurable and he finally comes to accept that he is human, ... is the ...

  • Word Count: 1445
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

10. Gilgamesh and Achilles

... Because of he's divine blood he is considered a superhuman and the strongest of he's time. He's unmatched strength makes him a skilled fighter. Instead of Gilgamesh accepting the way he was, he saw himself as a full god. He was blinded by his actions and how this view portrayed to his people of ... his mortality. As a result of his friends death he chose that he didn't want to live a longer glorious life but a shortened happy life. Neither Gilgamesh nor Achilles consider having a family life or a romantic relationships with women, and no such thing is discussed in these two epic hero's l...

  • Word Count: 1671
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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