The Role Of Kingship In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
In ancient Sumerian society, kings considered a human agent of the gods. In Uruk, it is located in an agriculturally productive region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers also known as the “Fertile Crescent”. Gilgamesh was the fifth sovereign he was part god and part man. From him we learn kingship was a matter of divine entitlement and human authority. In the excerpt from Epic Gilgamesh (2100 BC), As the king Gilgamesh was honor and said to be "two-thirds god" (46) and "a god and a man" (15). Kings were divinely chosen and granted great supremacy with god-like status. However, god-like status did not make the king incapable of making mistakes or being wrong. Gilgamesh was labeled "a tyrant" (15) and his followers "had grown tired of his
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contradictions and his heartless ways" (16). One example of divine advantage was "sleeping with their brides before the husbands were permitted" (15) and the right to "sleep with the virgins" (17). The Sumerian civilization provided this freedom to their ruler in part due to their more advanced status as part god, and also from "an old birthright" (15) granted to them. Another privilege was the imposition of hash work mandates uncensored, such as when he "forced his people partly to death with work rebuilding Uruk’s walls" (16). Kings during this period of time were military leaders, builders, and protectors, who possessed qualities like strength, cunning, divine lineage, and immortality.
Rulers also had human duties in the ruling of their followers. The need to build up and preserve the city was the duty of the king. Sometimes the king took this need vigorously, "he looked at the walls, impressed at the heights" (92), while other times he allowed "the walls go unattended and disrepair " (16). In meeting help was accessible to the ruler through the Council of senior citizens. Gilgamesh went "to notify the senior citizen of Uruk who were meeting in their senate" (30) before setting out on a hunt to protect his people from "the Evil One, Humbaba" (27). And while it doesn’t appear that the king submitted to the senate, their opinion was valued. This was exemplified when Gilgamesh talked of "the wise of Uruk" (31), and by the fact "the council of Elders give their harsh blessing" (31) for his Pursuit. The role of supremacy set apart the king from his followers. Gilgamesh symbolize the priority placed on religion and the gods by Sumerian society. Gilgamesh was assign to rule and care for his people, and through his accomplishment we are able to learn much about his
culture.
contradictions and his heartless ways" (16). One example of divine advantage was "sleeping with their brides before the husbands were permitted" (15) and the right to "sleep with the virgins" (17). The Sumerian civilization provided this freedom to their ruler in part due to their more advanced status as part god, and also from "an old birthright" (15) granted to them. Another privilege was the imposition of hash work mandates uncensored, such as when he "forced his people partly to death with work rebuilding Uruk’s walls" (16). Kings during this period of time were military leaders, builders, and protectors, who possessed qualities like strength, cunning, divine lineage, and immortality.
Rulers also had human duties in the ruling of their followers. The need to build up and preserve the city was the duty of the king. Sometimes the king took this need vigorously, "he looked at the walls, impressed at the heights" (92), while other times he allowed "the walls go unattended and disrepair " (16). In meeting help was accessible to the ruler through the Council of senior citizens. Gilgamesh went "to notify the senior citizen of Uruk who were meeting in their senate" (30) before setting out on a hunt to protect his people from "the Evil One, Humbaba" (27). And while it doesn’t appear that the king submitted to the senate, their opinion was valued. This was exemplified when Gilgamesh talked of "the wise of Uruk" (31), and by the fact "the council of Elders give their harsh blessing" (31) for his Pursuit. The role of supremacy set apart the king from his followers. Gilgamesh symbolize the priority placed on religion and the gods by Sumerian society. Gilgamesh was assign to rule and care for his people, and through his accomplishment we are able to learn much about his
culture.