Gilgamesh
Before you start reading, consider these things to help you notice important elements of the
story.
Context: The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Sumerian epic poem that dates back to the 3rd millennium
B.C. It is one of the earliest known pieces of written literature in the world. Even though this text
was unknown to the modern world until 1853, when it was discovered by Hormuzd Rassam, the
poem was extremely popular in ancient times and knowledge of it extended throughout Asia and
Europe. Its influence can be traced through many texts throughout history, including the
Homeric epics—The Iliad and The Odyssey—and the Bible. The main similarities between The
Epic of Gilgamesh and the Homeric epics are in the personalities and characters of heroes and
gods, and how their interactions are depicted. The most remarkable parallels between The Epic
of Gilgamesh and the Bible are in the Old Testament, particularly the narratives of the flood and
the Garden of Eden. The epic seems to be rooted in history, though many of its incidents are
legendary. Gilgamesh was an historical king of Uruk in Babylonia, on the River Euphrates in
modern Iraq, who lived about 2700 B.C. According to the official Sumerian list of kings, he
reigned for 126 years. The stories and myths of his life form what we know as The Epic of
Gilgamesh. A 1st millennium B.C. catalog of Cuneiform literature named a scribe, Sin-Leqi-
Unnini, as the author of the poem; however, modern scholars generally agree that Sin-Leqi
Unnini, who most likely lived in Uruk in the Middle Babylonian period (1600-1000 B.C.), was
simply an editor trying to record a definitive version of this oral story. Accordingly, the text is
generally regarded as anonymous.
Questions you should consider:
1) If Enkidu is supposed to be GIlgamesh’s equal, or even his second self, what part of
Gilgamesh does he represent?
2) How does this story portray the gods? What function do they serve?
3) How does this story portray death?
4) Given that Gilgamesh is eventually described as a hero, how do you think this culture
described heroism?
5) What do you think the role of women is in this story? What does that tell you about the
role of women in this ancient culture?
6) Does GIlgamesh change over the course of the story? Does he learn anything?
For each of the topics below, find a theme by deciding what the story is saying about the topic.
Nature vs. Civilization
How do humans deal with death?
Friendship
What makes a good king or ruler?
