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“The Epic of Gilgamesh”

“The Epic of Gilgamesh”. Believed to be the OLDEST written story. Early Writing. Cuneiform: Wedge-shaped signs on clay tablets. Found in Mesopotamia (Modern Iraq) “Between Rivers” (b/w Tigris & Euphrates) Written by Sumerians (who developed writing)

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“The Epic of Gilgamesh”

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  1. “The Epic of Gilgamesh” Believed to be the OLDEST written story.

  2. Early Writing • Cuneiform: Wedge-shaped signs on clay tablets. • Found in Mesopotamia (Modern Iraq) • “Between Rivers” (b/w Tigris & Euphrates) • Written by Sumerians (who developed writing) • Sumer was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia • Egyptian Hieroglyphics: Carvings on temple walls. • “Gilgamesh” was written in Cuneiform. • Polytheism: Belief in many gods. • Ziggurat: Platform holding temples for gods.

  3. The Epic • Epic: A story centered on heroic characters; the action takes place on a grand scale. • Oral • Characteristics: 1. Hero-Quest • 2. Quest-Obstacles • 3. Supernatural Element • 4. Resurrection of Hero

  4. Epic Hero • Is always male. • Is larger than life, but human. • Is rewarded spiritually in death. • Epic Poems are long narrative poems that detail the adventure or journey of a hero.

  5. Epic Conventions • Invocation- petition muse/gods; intro. subject • Epic Question- find cause of main action • Homeric Simile- fully developed comparison • Epithet - Word or phrase applied to a person or thing to reflect its quality: “rosy-fingered dawn”; “swift-footed Achilles” • Confrontation • “in media res”: begin in middle of action • Combat • **Journey is the key element in the Epic Cycle.

  6. The Story • Gilgamesh, KING OF URUK- 2700 B.C. • Unninni, 1500 B.C. • “Story of Flood”, 1872, source for Noah story • Multiple translations

  7. The Sexual Aspect • Gilgamesh has “enormous sexual vigor” and is never satisfied. • Enkidu is created to “equalize” him. • Enkidu is “undone” by sex. Loses innocence. • Gilgamesh & young brides. • Sexual vigor was important to epic heroes. During the Greek & Roman era, it was the vigor, not the gender, that was important. • Believed that this world is the only world and that sex connects people. • Enkidu– “a bridegroom”; “long hair like a woman’s”; “you will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you” (Ninsun’s dream)…

  8. Themes • The compulsion in people to feel incomplete until joined with another (a theme we will see again!). • Sex alone is not satisfying. • True love is between equals. • The sex vs. the bond • Women unequal to men; equality only possible between two men.

  9. Themes, cont. • Immortality • The search • Physical vs. Abstract understanding of the term • Utnapishtim: survives the flood (immortal) • The plant & the serpant • ***** Possible references in Bible.

  10. Character List • Gilgamesh Enkidu • ShamhatUtnapishtim & Wife • Urshanabi The Hunter • AnuAruru Ea • Humbaba Scorpion Man • Siduri Tammuz EnlilEreshkigal • Ishtar LugulbandaNinsun • Shamash

  11. Epics • Now that you have read the earliest written epic, you are ready to read the best surviving one…

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