The epic of Gilgamesh, the king who tried to conquer death - Soraya Field Fiorio

Summary

In 1849, archaeologists discovered the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh in Nineveh, Iraq. This 4,000-year-old tale tells of Gilgamesh, a king of Uruk, whose wild ways are tamed by the creation of Enkidu. Together, they embark on heroic quests, including slaying a monster and resisting the goddess Ishtar's advances. After Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh seeks immortality, encountering various challenges and mythical beings. Ultimately, he accepts mortality and vows to leave a legacy, as his story has resonated through literature for millennia.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known stories, inscribed on clay tablets found in the ancient city of Nineveh in Iraq.
• 👑 Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, was depicted as a tyrant who forced himself on brides before their weddings, prompting the creation of Enkidu.
• 🌿 Enkidu, created by the goddess Aruru, was wild and lived among the chaos beyond the city walls until he was rejected by the animals and entered Uruk.
• ⚔️ Gilgamesh and Enkidu became close friends after a wrestling match where Gilgamesh narrowly won, leading to a change in Gilgamesh's behavior.
• 🌲 Together, they embarked on a quest to defeat Humbaba, a creature guarding the Forest of Cedar, showcasing their strength and bravery.
• 💔 The goddess Ishtar's unrequited love for Gilgamesh led to her unleashing the Bull of Heaven, which resulted in Enkidu's death as a punishment.
• 😢 Gilgamesh's grief over Enkidu's death and fear of his own mortality led him on a journey to find the secret to immortality.
• 🌄 He encountered various challenges and mythical beings, including scorpion people and a goddess named Shiduri, who advised him to accept mortality.
• 🌊 Gilgamesh met Utanapishti, who survived a great flood and was granted immortality, but even he could not offer Gilgamesh eternal life.
• 🌿 Despite failing to achieve immortality, Gilgamesh found solace in the pursuit of great deeds, leaving a legacy for future generations through his story.
• 🏺 The story of Gilgamesh, though mythical, is believed to have a basis in historical fact, with the king possibly being a real ruler of Uruk, and the tale's influence still felt in literature today.

Q & A

In what year were the ancient clay tablets containing the Epic of Gilgamesh discovered?

The ancient clay tablets containing the Epic of Gilgamesh were discovered in 1849.

Where was the library containing the Epic of Gilgamesh found?

The library containing the Epic of Gilgamesh was found in the ancient city of Nineveh in northern Iraq.

Who was the main character in the Epic of Gilgamesh?

The main character in the Epic of Gilgamesh is Gilgamesh, the king of the city of Uruk.

What was the purpose of creating Enkidu in the story?

Enkidu was created by the goddess Aruru to tame Gilgamesh, who was crashing every wedding and sleeping with the brides.

How did Enkidu's life change after the priestess of the goddess Ishtar seduced him?

After the priestess of the goddess Ishtar seduced Enkidu, the wild animals beyond the city walls rejected him, leading him to venture into the city.

What was the first significant act of friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu?

The first significant act of friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu was when they wrestled each other in the city streets, after which they became inseparable.

Who was Humbaba and why did Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out to slay him?

Humbaba was a creature with a thousand faces who guarded the trees of the Forest of Cedar. Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out to slay him to prove their strength in combat.

What did the goddess Ishtar do when Gilgamesh refused her romantic advances?

When Gilgamesh refused the romantic advances of the goddess Ishtar, she unleashed the Bull of Heaven on Uruk to destroy crops and kill people.

What happened to Enkidu after he and Gilgamesh killed the Bull of Heaven?

After Enkidu and Gilgamesh killed the Bull of Heaven, the gods killed Enkidu as punishment, and he entered the House of Dust, the Mesopotamian underworld.

What did Gilgamesh seek beyond the cosmic mountains?

Gilgamesh sought immortality beyond the cosmic mountains, fearing the fate of death like Enkidu.

Who was Utanapishti and what was his connection to immortality?

Utanapishti was an immortal man granted eternal life by the gods after surviving a great flood by building a boat and landing on a mountain peak.

What was the outcome of Gilgamesh's quest for immortality?

Gilgamesh's quest for immortality ended without him achieving it. Instead, he made peace with his mortality and vowed to spend his lifetime doing great deeds.

How did the story of Gilgamesh come to be part of Ashurbanipal's library?

The story of Gilgamesh was part of the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal because the tablets containing the story were found in Nineveh, which was under his rule.