Analytical Essay: The Epic Of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is often recognized as the first considerable forms of literate. The Sumerian story date back to early Mesopotamia roughly 2100 B.C.E. The town of Uruk, in which Gilgamesh was born ruler, lie south of present day Iraq. The town became prominent for being one of the first urbanized cities. In a matter of time the small agriculture rooted village turn into a complex society. Those present day events help mold The Epic of Gilgamesh, which is why the epic is such a rich part of history today.

The Epic of Gilgamesh consist of two main character, the first is Gilgamesh who is two- third god and one – third human. He is described as a strong undefeated man with cruel and savage ways. Gilgamesh take boys from their families and make them warriors, and lust

after girls and take their purity. “No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all; and this is a king, the shepherd of the people? His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warriors’ daughters nor the wife of a noble.” (62). Enkidu is characterized as an inhuman beastly man, who runs wild with the animals. “Enkidu ate grass in the hills with the gazelle and lurked with wild beast at the water- holes; he had joy of the water with the herds of wild game.”(62) After being seduced by a prostitute Enkidu was disowned by the animals. He was forced into civilization, in which he became aware of Gilgamesh cruel ways. Enkidu and Gilgamesh starts off as rivals, but after Gilgamesh defeats him their relationship take an astonishing twist. Enkidu and Gilgamesh not only become friends, but more like soulmates. They vanquish Humbaba the god of the Cedar forest, and become nearly unstoppable.
The gods was seen as inferior to almost everyone in The Epic of Gilgamesh.

They interfered with lives of nobles and Gilgamesh throughout the story. It all started with the creation of Enkidu, who was created in Gilgamesh image by Aruru. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu united to conquer Humbaba the gods became enraged. They punished the two by making Enkidu suffer a slow and painful death. The gods also displayed humanly characteristics throughout the story. For example, Ishtaar lust for Gilgamesh, but after he turned her down she became furious. Those humanly characteristics was the gods biggest weakness.

Gilgamesh travel’s to the end of the earth after the death of his lover Enkidu. In the mist of his journey he meets Ustnapishtim. Ustnapishtim claims to have gain immortality by obeying the god’s orders to build a ship to survive the Great Deluge. The gods directed him to gather all the animals and his relatives to aboard the ship. Ustnapishtim released the birds to help find land, and in return Ustnapishtim family was safe form he storm and became untouchable. In relation, The Epic of Gilgamesh flood myth was a result of change in the earth’s climate, which caused ice to melt and sea levels to

increase.
The Epic of Gilgamesh displays different dynamics of the Sumerian society throughout the story. The god’s and their roles in the story illustrates that the Sumerian community was very religious. They were mostly likely a polytheistic society, in which the worshiped multiple gods. The Sumerian community was very complex for their time, which is also shown in the story. They a written language of their own, which shows that there was some form for education being taught to the citizens. Overall, The Epic of Gilgamesh gives a great historical insight of the Sumerian society and their beliefs and values during that time period.