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The epic of Gilgamesh was found in the mid nineteenth century, written on over twenty five thousand clay tablets. After much studying and deciphering, this ancient Sumerian epic has finally been translated, though many of the tablets have not been found. It appears that all the most important elements of the story probably existed as separate poems when they were first written. One of the oldest pieces of literature found today, Gilgamesh is at least 1, 500 years older than Homer's epics, and was probably composed and recited many years, before being written down. According to scientific data, the tablets were probably written down in the first centuries of the second millennium B. C. , in Mesopotamia.
The tradition reaches back to the time of the Archaic Sumerian civilization. The Sumerians were the first literate inhabitants of Mesopotamia, so their language is found on the tablets of Gilgamesh. In some other historical material, records have been recorded about several expeditions, many ones similar to the ones taken by Gilgamesh. One example contains a man who made a path into a cedar mountain on which no one had ventured before.
According to N. K. Standard, "Behind the solid fleshly Guide we may see the shadowy figure of Gilgamesh, a great builder of temples and cities, who ventured into strange forests and brought back precious cedarwood, " (16). Even if there was no Gilgamesh, the character is not fully fictitious. The story of the epic is mostly about the character Gilgamesh who is superior king of Uruk or summer. An extraordinary individual.
He was one-third a man and two-third god. For his special abilities he was worthy to be worshiped, therefore he was able to supervise everyone around. Citizens of Uruk were unhappy with his behaviors so they asked the gods for help. The gods respond by sending a man named Enkidu, who was double Gilgamesh. Enkidu lived in the forest with animals and was so wild person. One day Gilgamesh sent a hunter and a beautiful woman to the forest, aiming to engross Enkidu from the animals.
The hunter left, and Enkidu and the woman became good friends. Enkidu was turned into a man, and he left with the woman to Uruk. When Enkidu entered Uruk, the citizens there began to glorify him as if he was their king. As son as Gilgamesh heard about Enkidu entrance, he became jealous. After those two men encountered each other they began to fight. As the fight ended, each stood up, and saw themselves in the other's eyes.
They embraced and immediately became friends. The two men got to know each other, and then decided to go on a quest seeking fame. Gilgamesh and Enkidu decided to challenge Humbaba, the guardian-demon of the cedar forest. Gilgamesh and Enkidu prepared for their battle against Humbaba. They went to a temple and the god Nissan performed a ceremony for their protection. As the two heroes left for their journey, the elders of the city turn over Gilgamesh to Enkidu's care.
Enkidu and Gilgamesh walked for many days towards the cedar forest. As they were walking Gilgamesh started to have some doubts. However, Enkidu reassured Gilgamesh and encouraged him. As they approached the gates of the cedar forest Enkidu started to feel afraid. This time Gilgamesh insisted on continuing the journey. The men spend a couple of nights wondering through the forest.
Finally the men meet Humbaba. As the men strike, Humbaba fights for his life. Enkidu advises Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba. Gilgamesh strikes him, but Enkidu delivers the final blow. The men returned to Uruk pleased with their accomplishments.
When they returned the goddess Ishtar spoke to Gilgamesh. She told him that she wanted to become friends with him. Gilgamesh insults the goddess, and refuses his offer. Ishtar is frustrated with Gilgamesh, so she asks her father Anu to send the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh. Descended from above Gilgamesh and Enkidu immediately began to fight. Much like the confrontation with Humbaba, Gilgamesh and Enkidu defeated the Bull of Heaven.
The men briefly celebrated, again happy with their achievements. As Enkidu was asleep that night he had a dream. He dreamed that he was going to be punished severely for the cruel acts that Gilgamesh and he had committed against Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. The next day Enkidu became extremely sick. Enkidu was slowly dying, but Gilgamesh stood by his side. Gilgamesh supported Enkidu, and was with him every moment of his suffering.
Finally, Enkidu dies due to the strange sickness. Gilgamesh was very sad about the death of his friend. He grieved many days afterwards. At the funeral Gilgamesh recounts the wonderful experiences he had with Enkidu, and greatly praises his friend. Gilgamesh dedicates a statue in Enkidu's memory as well as performs a ritual for Enkidu to have a good afterlife. As time proceeds, Gilgamesh becomes scared of his own death.
He decides that he is going to take a trip to visit Utnapishtim, a man who is undying. Gilgamesh begins his journey to visit this man, a journey that no man has ever made. As he is traveling, he passes through the Garden of the Gods. He also meets a woman named Siduri. She informs Gilgamesh that the journey is very dangerous and again tells him that no man has ever made the journey.
Regardless, Gilgamesh continues on the journey. After a brief amount of time Gilgamesh comes upon the waters of death. At first he is skeptical in being able to cross the waters, however he bargains with the boatman, Urshanabi, who takes Gilgamesh across the waters. Gilgamesh finally meets Utnapishtim.
He speaks with him questioning death. Utnapishtim responds by giving Gilgamesh the answer he does not want; he informs Gilgamesh that every man must die, and life is not permanent. Utnapishtim then challenges Gilgamesh to stay awake for six days and seven nights. Gilgamesh fails this challenge, resulting in his having to go home. As he is leaving Utnapishtim gives Gilgamesh a plant called "The-Old-Man-Will-Be-Made-Young." Gilgamesh secures it well, but then loses it when a snake takes it away. Gilgamesh returns home knowing that every man is some day taken from the natural world, and experience the spirits of afterlife.
Who are the Sumerians? Among the earliest civilizations, there was a diverse group of people in the fertile valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates valley called the Mesopotamia. These were known as the Sumerians. The Sumerian civilization has left us with an enduring portrait of their society, philosophy, government, religion, and daily life. Summer was located in the Mesopotamia. Early settlements included Uruk, Ur, and Enkidu.
They all started as independent cities and then became city-states. The land was rich, but was hard in the summer time. In spring, the rivers would flood and irrigate the fields. The riverbed was unstable and would flood at unexpected times.
The river would carry silt down stream, which would help fertilize the land around it. The land was one in which there were few stones or rocks. The Sumerians had an extremely hot climate. There was little to no rain throughout the winter months. The average summer temperature was about 94 degrees. However, the Sumerians used the climate to their advantage.
For instance, they would use irrigation systems to produce a more abundant crop. The Sumerians developed one of the first systems of monarchy. An individual that was considered to be a priest-king ruled each city-state. He was in charge of leading the military, administering trade, and helping with religious ceremonies. Bureaucrats who surveyed the land aided him. A council of elders ruled each city.
Each army was lead by a selected individual called a legal. Over time, the legal took over and established dynasties. To record their courts of justice files, they used clay tablets. One clay tablet even recorded the oldest murder trial in history. The Sumerians believed in justice and mercy, law and order and an organized system of laws. The elders in each city-state generally made the laws.
The king was responsible for all law and justice. However, the eni's was in charge of carrying out the laws. The courts had a specific order in which things were completed. The written laws were actually some of summer's main legal documents. Sumerians believed that law and justice should be followed. There was no clear punishment for any given crime.
The punishment was actually left up to the judge. Some common Sumerian laws include: Marriages- were arranged by law. The marriage license was usually inscribed onto a clay tablet. Divorce was common because husbands were allowed to have more than one wife if their first wife had no children. Children could be adopted.
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