Epic Of Gilgamesh Essay
Running head: THE EPIC OF Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Barbara A Karnes
New MexicoCommunity College
The Epic of Gilgamesh The epic of Gilgamesh is story of love, meaning, companionship, the search for immortality and what it means to be human. Consequently, it is not only an epic story that conveys the beliefs and philosophies of the Mesopotamian civilization and Sumerian culture, but it is also a timeless, classic tale of spiritual pilgrimage that explores universal themes that transcend its cultural and historical context, making this an enduring and relevant story for any age. Gilgamesh is created by the gods. He is two thirds god and one third man. Although Gilgamesh is considered a god, he is also mortal. He is the king of Uruk. Gilgamesh did not value nor have compassion for his people. He raped his subjects’ daughters and killed their sons. As a consequence, the gods create Enkidu as a companion for Gilgamesh. Enkidu lives in the wilderness among the beasts. While living in the wilderness he saves the beasts by destroying the traps set by the hunters. Enkidu’s journey out of the wilderness with Gilgamesh.leads to his death. Gilgamesh, distraught over his companion’s death, goes on a search for everlasting life. Gilgamesh continues his journey to Dilmun in search of …show more content…
For Enkidu and Gilgamesh civilization is a process, the transformation of the primitive. Without the primitive, civilization would cease to exist. This Epic helps one to see past the conventional classifications of “civilized” and “primitive” so that one might recall what each of us gains in developing from one state of being to another. The conflict in this area is represented in Gilgamesh’s refusal to acknowledge the wisdom in Enkidu’s outrage at the abusive aspect of the practice of having intercourse with new
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Barbara A Karnes
New MexicoCommunity College
The Epic of Gilgamesh The epic of Gilgamesh is story of love, meaning, companionship, the search for immortality and what it means to be human. Consequently, it is not only an epic story that conveys the beliefs and philosophies of the Mesopotamian civilization and Sumerian culture, but it is also a timeless, classic tale of spiritual pilgrimage that explores universal themes that transcend its cultural and historical context, making this an enduring and relevant story for any age. Gilgamesh is created by the gods. He is two thirds god and one third man. Although Gilgamesh is considered a god, he is also mortal. He is the king of Uruk. Gilgamesh did not value nor have compassion for his people. He raped his subjects’ daughters and killed their sons. As a consequence, the gods create Enkidu as a companion for Gilgamesh. Enkidu lives in the wilderness among the beasts. While living in the wilderness he saves the beasts by destroying the traps set by the hunters. Enkidu’s journey out of the wilderness with Gilgamesh.leads to his death. Gilgamesh, distraught over his companion’s death, goes on a search for everlasting life. Gilgamesh continues his journey to Dilmun in search of …show more content…
For Enkidu and Gilgamesh civilization is a process, the transformation of the primitive. Without the primitive, civilization would cease to exist. This Epic helps one to see past the conventional classifications of “civilized” and “primitive” so that one might recall what each of us gains in developing from one state of being to another. The conflict in this area is represented in Gilgamesh’s refusal to acknowledge the wisdom in Enkidu’s outrage at the abusive aspect of the practice of having intercourse with new