The Epic of GilgameshGilgamesh, King of Uruk, and his companion Enkidu are the only heroes to have survived from the ancient literature of Babylon, immortalized in this epic poem that dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. Together they journey to the Spring of Youth, defeat the Bull of Heaven and slay the monster Humbaba. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh's grief and fear of death are such that they lead him to undertake a quest for eternal life. A timeless tale of morality, tragedy and pure adventure, The Epic of Gilgamesh is a landmark literary exploration of man's search for immortality. |
Contents
The Historical Background 4 The Literary Background | |
The Hero of the Epic | |
The Principal Gods of the Epic 7 The Story | |
Survival | |
The Diction of the Epic | |
Remarks on this Version Acknowledgements THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH | |
GILGAMESH KING IN URUK | |
THE COMING OF ENKIDU | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Anatolia ancient appears Assyrian beginning boat body bring brother brought called carried cedar century comes covered cross darkness dead death described destroy dream earth Enkidu Enlil entered Epic episode face father fell flood followed forest fragment gate gave Gilgamesh give given glorious goddess gods hand heard heart heaven hero historical Humbaba Ishtar journey killed king known lament land language lapis lazuli later leagues light lines lion living look lord lost mankind material millennium mother mountain mouth night Ninhursag Ninsun Old Babylonian opened perhaps Persian poem probably published rest river round Semitic seven Shamash sleep storm story strong Sumerian tablets tell temple texts things third took translation underworld Urshanabi Uruk Utnapishtim wall waters wife wild wilderness wind woman written young