The Epic Of Gilgamesh Analysis
The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a legendary king of Uruk in South Baby-lonia (van Reeth 1994). He was the fifth ruler of Uruk after the deluge and possibly ruled Uruk around 2800 BCE (van Reeth 1994).
The Epic itself was originally conveyed in oral form, but was written down in Sumerian using cuneiform writing on clay tablets around 2000 BCE (Hooker
1996). Many fragments of the epic also survive in other languages such as Hurrian and Hittite (Hooker 1996). The most complete surviving version of the Epic was written in Akkian on twelve tablets (Hooker 1996); these were “Written down according to the original and collated in the palace of Ashurbani- pal, King of the tablets is named: Shin-eqi-unninni (Hooker …show more content…
1996).
This essay focuses on the life of Gilgamesh and ignores other events, such as Enkidu’s reflections on the value of civilised life or Utnapishtim’s account of the flood. The emphasis also falls on Gilgamesh’s life as described in the Epic, rather than on other sources. Gilgamesh’s essential quest for immortality is then highlighted. Finally, the Epic is compared to well-known heroic patterns typical of such myths.
Gilgamesh is born. His mother is Lady Wildcow Ninsun, a minor goddess who is caring and wise. His father is named Lugulbanda, who we do not learn much about during the course of the story. When Gilgamesh grows up he is strong and handsome. He builds the towering city of Uruk with intricately woven inner and outer walls and beautiful temples dedicated to Anu, the god of the heavens, and for his daughter Ishtar, goddess of love and war. His kingdom is full orchards, ponds, and irrigated fields.
But Gilgamesh himself is selfish and evil. He steals any maiden that catches his eye and kills his own warriors just for the fun of it. He works his people so hard that they beg the gods to help them. The gods tell Ninsun it is her responsibility to take care of the problem because Gilgamesh is her son. Ninsun creates another men, a strong wild being named Enkidu. He shuns mankind and goes to live with the animals. Nearby hunters are soon complaining because he un-sets their traps and ruins their trade. They lure him out with a beautiful woman who sleeps with him for six days. He goes back to the animals but they no longer regard him as kin and run away from him. Confused, he goes back to the woman. She comforts him by telling him the wonders of civilization, and she warns him of the great strong Gilgamesh. Enkidu sets out to challenge him. By this time, Gilgamesh had had a dream that foretold a good friend coming into his life. Gilgamesh didn 't know it, but this person would be Enkidu.
Enkidu ventures into the town with the woman. They stop at a Shepard 's hut. He graciously gives them food and fresh clothes. This is the first time Enkidu has eaten anything other than grass. He sings happily after drinking the wine, and for several days watches over the sheep and protects them from the wolves that prey on them. After a while he hears about a young bride who is going to be forced to sleep with Gilgamesh before she has even slept with her husband. Outraged, Enkidu sets out to stop him, planting himself firmly outside the young woman 's bedchamber door. Angry that that anybody dared oppose him, he engages Enkidu in combat, and the wrestle all over the village. Gilgamesh, who is slightly stronger, wins. But as he towers over the defeated Enkidu, he realizes he is a man worthy of his friendship. They embrace and bind themselves together in alliance. Ninsun approves of this and gives them her blessing.
Now that the two are friends they seek an epic journey to undertake together. Enkidu tells Gilgamesh of the fearsome Humbaba, a monster that watches over Cedar Forest, a sacred place in which no mortal is allowed to enter. As soon as he hears of him Gilgamesh is determined to fight Humbaba, even though Enkidu warns him winning will be impossible. But Gilgamesh is okay with the idea of dying as long as his memory is forever preserved in the minds of the kindom, and fighting Humbaba will make him legendary even if he dies doing it.
Gilgamesh announces to his people that he is about to undertake the quest to Cedar Forest to kill Humbaba. He expects praise, instead the elders of the city are appalled. They tell him that he is underestimating Humbaba 's power and he cannot rely on his strength alone. They point out that Enkidu has more experience in the wilderness and knows more about Humbaba than him. If Gilgamesh wants to survive the giant 's wrath, he will need all the support he can get from Enkidu. Gilgamesh makes an offering of water to the sun god Shamash for his protection. Next he visits his mother and asks for her blessing. Ninsun is distraught. She summons Shamash and asks why her son must risk his life in such a difficult quest. She then commands Shamash to give him protection. Ninsun the officially adopts Enkidu as her son; now the two are true brothers.
They now prepare themselves for the journey by praying, feasting and conducting several sacrifices. Then they set off, covering 450 miles in three days. They dig a well to honor Shamash and set off again. They support each other, encouraging the other when they lose faith.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu arrive at Cedar Forest. A huge gate towers over them, and they marvel at the size of the trees. They start their journey into the forbidden territory, Gilgamesh is plagued with frightening dreams. Enkidu keeps on interpreting them as positive omens and reassures him. But Gilgamesh is still terrified. He begs Shamash to protect him and sprinkles flour on the ground as and offering. Shamash tells him that Humbaba has seven garments of terror, and at the moment he is only wearing one. If Humbaba puts on all seven, then Gilgamesh and Enkidu will be too afraid to continue with success. Gilgamesh realizes they need to defeat Humbaba soon if they are to be successful.Finally they reach the mountain of the gods at the very end of Cedar forest, the place where Isthar and all the other gods sit on their thrones. They cut down several trees; soon they hear the roar of Humbaba. He confronts them in rage. Several moments of confusion follow, and the battle begins. In the middle of the fight Gilgamesh offers a prayer to Shamash, who unleashes thirteen storms against the monster. Humbaba falls to the ground, defeated. He begs Gilgamesh to spare his life, promising to become his personal servant. But Enkidu urges Gilgamesh to kill him, saying that they would not achieve the fame they desire if he is not killed. So Humbaba dies at the hands of Gilgamesh.
After Gilgamesh comes home from defeating Humbaba, he is so splendid that Ishtar instantly falls in love with him, begging him to be his wife and promising him riches.
Gilgamesh wisely refuses, pointing out that Ishtar is immortal and her love for him will soon fade. And when it does, her treacherous heart will seek someone else and she will get rid of Gilgamesh, as she has done with all her other husbands in the past.Seething with rage at Gilgamesh 's rejection, Ishtar goes to her father Anu and demands to have the Bull of Heaven so she can set it upon Gilgamesh 's city and watch it kill Gilgamesh. Anu is surprised at Ishtar 's anger, as he knows all of the things Gilgamesh has said to her to be true. He cautions her daughter, warning that the bull will unleash seven years of famine. Throwing herself into a rage, Ishtar threatens to unleash all of the dead in the underworld to prey upon the living if her father does not let her use the bull. Finally, Anu consents.A crack opens up in the ground and swallows one hundred men. The bull emerges, bellowing and shaking the entire city of Urk. Another crack opens up and swallows another one hundred men. But before the bull can do this a third time, Gilgamesh engages it in battle, grabbing it by the horns. He calls to Enkidu and together the wrestle the bull to the ground and kill it. Gilgamesh then tears out the bull 's heart and sacrifices it as an offering to Shamash. Ishtar screams in rage, but Gilgamesh threatens to do the same to her if she comes any closer. After scrubbing the gore from their bodies, Gilgamesh and Enkidu parade around the city and bask in the praise of the citizens of Urk.However, Enkidu wakes up troubled in the middle of the night. The gods have called a counsel, and he nervously wonders
why.
Works Cited Page
Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia (1983), Funk & Wagnalls
Harris, S. L. & Platzner, G. (1995), Classical Mythology — Images and Insights,
Second edition, Mayfield.
Sandars, N. K. (1972), The Epic of Gilgamesh, Penguin Books.
The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a legendary king of Uruk in South Baby-lonia (van Reeth 1994). He was the fifth ruler of Uruk after the deluge and possibly ruled Uruk around 2800 BCE (van Reeth 1994).
The Epic itself was originally conveyed in oral form, but was written down in Sumerian using cuneiform writing on clay tablets around 2000 BCE (Hooker
1996). Many fragments of the epic also survive in other languages such as Hurrian and Hittite (Hooker 1996). The most complete surviving version of the Epic was written in Akkian on twelve tablets (Hooker 1996); these were “Written down according to the original and collated in the palace of Ashurbani- pal, King of the tablets is named: Shin-eqi-unninni (Hooker …show more content…
1996).
This essay focuses on the life of Gilgamesh and ignores other events, such as Enkidu’s reflections on the value of civilised life or Utnapishtim’s account of the flood. The emphasis also falls on Gilgamesh’s life as described in the Epic, rather than on other sources. Gilgamesh’s essential quest for immortality is then highlighted. Finally, the Epic is compared to well-known heroic patterns typical of such myths.
Gilgamesh is born. His mother is Lady Wildcow Ninsun, a minor goddess who is caring and wise. His father is named Lugulbanda, who we do not learn much about during the course of the story. When Gilgamesh grows up he is strong and handsome. He builds the towering city of Uruk with intricately woven inner and outer walls and beautiful temples dedicated to Anu, the god of the heavens, and for his daughter Ishtar, goddess of love and war. His kingdom is full orchards, ponds, and irrigated fields.
But Gilgamesh himself is selfish and evil. He steals any maiden that catches his eye and kills his own warriors just for the fun of it. He works his people so hard that they beg the gods to help them. The gods tell Ninsun it is her responsibility to take care of the problem because Gilgamesh is her son. Ninsun creates another men, a strong wild being named Enkidu. He shuns mankind and goes to live with the animals. Nearby hunters are soon complaining because he un-sets their traps and ruins their trade. They lure him out with a beautiful woman who sleeps with him for six days. He goes back to the animals but they no longer regard him as kin and run away from him. Confused, he goes back to the woman. She comforts him by telling him the wonders of civilization, and she warns him of the great strong Gilgamesh. Enkidu sets out to challenge him. By this time, Gilgamesh had had a dream that foretold a good friend coming into his life. Gilgamesh didn 't know it, but this person would be Enkidu.
Enkidu ventures into the town with the woman. They stop at a Shepard 's hut. He graciously gives them food and fresh clothes. This is the first time Enkidu has eaten anything other than grass. He sings happily after drinking the wine, and for several days watches over the sheep and protects them from the wolves that prey on them. After a while he hears about a young bride who is going to be forced to sleep with Gilgamesh before she has even slept with her husband. Outraged, Enkidu sets out to stop him, planting himself firmly outside the young woman 's bedchamber door. Angry that that anybody dared oppose him, he engages Enkidu in combat, and the wrestle all over the village. Gilgamesh, who is slightly stronger, wins. But as he towers over the defeated Enkidu, he realizes he is a man worthy of his friendship. They embrace and bind themselves together in alliance. Ninsun approves of this and gives them her blessing.
Now that the two are friends they seek an epic journey to undertake together. Enkidu tells Gilgamesh of the fearsome Humbaba, a monster that watches over Cedar Forest, a sacred place in which no mortal is allowed to enter. As soon as he hears of him Gilgamesh is determined to fight Humbaba, even though Enkidu warns him winning will be impossible. But Gilgamesh is okay with the idea of dying as long as his memory is forever preserved in the minds of the kindom, and fighting Humbaba will make him legendary even if he dies doing it.
Gilgamesh announces to his people that he is about to undertake the quest to Cedar Forest to kill Humbaba. He expects praise, instead the elders of the city are appalled. They tell him that he is underestimating Humbaba 's power and he cannot rely on his strength alone. They point out that Enkidu has more experience in the wilderness and knows more about Humbaba than him. If Gilgamesh wants to survive the giant 's wrath, he will need all the support he can get from Enkidu. Gilgamesh makes an offering of water to the sun god Shamash for his protection. Next he visits his mother and asks for her blessing. Ninsun is distraught. She summons Shamash and asks why her son must risk his life in such a difficult quest. She then commands Shamash to give him protection. Ninsun the officially adopts Enkidu as her son; now the two are true brothers.
They now prepare themselves for the journey by praying, feasting and conducting several sacrifices. Then they set off, covering 450 miles in three days. They dig a well to honor Shamash and set off again. They support each other, encouraging the other when they lose faith.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu arrive at Cedar Forest. A huge gate towers over them, and they marvel at the size of the trees. They start their journey into the forbidden territory, Gilgamesh is plagued with frightening dreams. Enkidu keeps on interpreting them as positive omens and reassures him. But Gilgamesh is still terrified. He begs Shamash to protect him and sprinkles flour on the ground as and offering. Shamash tells him that Humbaba has seven garments of terror, and at the moment he is only wearing one. If Humbaba puts on all seven, then Gilgamesh and Enkidu will be too afraid to continue with success. Gilgamesh realizes they need to defeat Humbaba soon if they are to be successful.Finally they reach the mountain of the gods at the very end of Cedar forest, the place where Isthar and all the other gods sit on their thrones. They cut down several trees; soon they hear the roar of Humbaba. He confronts them in rage. Several moments of confusion follow, and the battle begins. In the middle of the fight Gilgamesh offers a prayer to Shamash, who unleashes thirteen storms against the monster. Humbaba falls to the ground, defeated. He begs Gilgamesh to spare his life, promising to become his personal servant. But Enkidu urges Gilgamesh to kill him, saying that they would not achieve the fame they desire if he is not killed. So Humbaba dies at the hands of Gilgamesh.
After Gilgamesh comes home from defeating Humbaba, he is so splendid that Ishtar instantly falls in love with him, begging him to be his wife and promising him riches.
Gilgamesh wisely refuses, pointing out that Ishtar is immortal and her love for him will soon fade. And when it does, her treacherous heart will seek someone else and she will get rid of Gilgamesh, as she has done with all her other husbands in the past.Seething with rage at Gilgamesh 's rejection, Ishtar goes to her father Anu and demands to have the Bull of Heaven so she can set it upon Gilgamesh 's city and watch it kill Gilgamesh. Anu is surprised at Ishtar 's anger, as he knows all of the things Gilgamesh has said to her to be true. He cautions her daughter, warning that the bull will unleash seven years of famine. Throwing herself into a rage, Ishtar threatens to unleash all of the dead in the underworld to prey upon the living if her father does not let her use the bull. Finally, Anu consents.A crack opens up in the ground and swallows one hundred men. The bull emerges, bellowing and shaking the entire city of Urk. Another crack opens up and swallows another one hundred men. But before the bull can do this a third time, Gilgamesh engages it in battle, grabbing it by the horns. He calls to Enkidu and together the wrestle the bull to the ground and kill it. Gilgamesh then tears out the bull 's heart and sacrifices it as an offering to Shamash. Ishtar screams in rage, but Gilgamesh threatens to do the same to her if she comes any closer. After scrubbing the gore from their bodies, Gilgamesh and Enkidu parade around the city and bask in the praise of the citizens of Urk.However, Enkidu wakes up troubled in the middle of the night. The gods have called a counsel, and he nervously wonders
why.
Works Cited Page
Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia (1983), Funk & Wagnalls
Harris, S. L. & Platzner, G. (1995), Classical Mythology — Images and Insights,
Second edition, Mayfield.
Sandars, N. K. (1972), The Epic of Gilgamesh, Penguin Books.