Gilgamesh and the Quest for the Self Stephen Hagin Kennesaw State University

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Gilgamesh and the Quest for the SelfStephen
HaginKennesaw State University
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dualityyin / yang
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Sumeriafarmers ? 4000 BCE Babyloniaherders
? 2500 BCE
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Alexander PopeEssay on Man from Epistle II
Of the Nature and State of Man with Respect to
Himself, as an Individual
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KNOW then thyself, presume not God to scan,The
proper study of mankind is man.Placd on this
isthmus of a middle state,A being darkly wise,
and rudely great
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He hangs between in doubt to act, or restIn
doubt to deem himself a God, or beastIn doubt
his mind or body to preferBorn but to die, and
reasning but to err
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Created half to rise, and half to fallGreat
lord of all things, yet a prey to allSole
judge of truth, in endless error hurldThe
glory, jest, and riddle of the world!
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? ? Society Nature God be
ast mind body act rest reason igno
rance thought passion lord prey Gilgam
esh Enkidu
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Every agent acts either by nature or by
intelligence. St. Thomas Aquinas, The
End of Man (13th c.)
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? ? Gilgamesh Enkidu
Society Nature
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What is a marriage? The myth tells you what it
is. Its the reunion of the separated duad.
Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (5)
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? ? Gilgamesh? ?Enkidu
Society Nature
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? ? Gilglmesh
Shamhat ?Enkidu Society
Nature
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? ? Gilgamesh Humbaba
? Enkidu Society
Nature Uruk Land of the Living
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? ? Gil. Enkidu Humbaba
Shamash Society
Nature Uruk Land of the Living
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For he who thinks again of what he hates, in a
certain measure suffers that which he does not
love. Adelard of Bath, Questions on
Nature (12th c.)
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? ? Society Nature Aries
Taurus civilization Bull of Heaven
Gil Enkidu societys law Humbaba lumber
Land of Living Shamash Ishtar
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No great credit should be given to what is
merely supported by human reasons, because it may
be combated with arguments equally forcible.
William of Malmesbury, The Cistercian
Order (12th c.)
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Physical Questvs.Spiritual Quest
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? ? death
life/rebirth Gil ? Scorpion Men
Enkidu Society
Nature Uruk Land of the
Far-Away
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Scorpion Men solar guardiansSiduri divine
wine makerUrshanabi ferrymanUtnapishtim
immortal man
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? flowerserpentwaterNature
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Those who study only the authorities and not
the works of nature are in art the grandsons and
not the sons of nature, which is the supreme
guide of the good authorities. Leonardo
da Vinci, Nature as the Supreme Authority (15th
c.)
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All things must die, it is but truth to say.It
cannot profit any soul aliveAgainst this
everlasting law to strive.
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knights Tale, Part IV
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GilgameshUrshanabi, this plant is a plant to
cure a crisis.With it a man may win the breath
of life.Its name shall be An old man grows
into a young man. The Epic of
Gilgamesh, Tablet XI
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Gilgamesh old man, young manbilga
elder, ancestormesh young man, hero
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? ? knowledge Gilgamesh
experience Society Nature
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The Conference of Birds Farid Ud-din Attar
12th century Persian myth
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There in the Simorgh's radiant face they
sawThemselves, the Simorgh of the world with
aweThey gazed, and dared at last to
comprehendThey were the Simorgh at the
journey's end.
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They ask (but inwardly they make no sound)The
meaning of these mysteries that confoundTheir
puzzled ignorance how is it trueThat we is
not distinguished here from you?
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And silently their shining Lord repliesI am
a mirror set before your eyes,And all who come
before my splendor seeThemselves, their own
unique reality
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Though you have struggled, wandered, traveled
far,It is yourselves you see and what you
are. Farid Ud-din Attar, The
Conference of Birds (12th c.)
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Sir Thomas MaloryLe Morte DArthurThe Tale
of the Sangreal
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Arthur, King of the Waste LandTherefore, let
us go to the jousting field and hold our last
tournament, so that when we are dead, men shall
remember us by it. Sir Thomas Malory,
Le Morte DArthur (15th c.)
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Arthur, King of the Waste LandSir Gawain,
said the king, have you not betrayed me?
Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte DArthur (15th c.)
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Sir LauncelotMy lord, of sinful knights you
are still the greatest. Sir Thomas
Malory, Le Morte DArthur (15th c.)
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Sir LauncelotMy lords, those of you who have
sworn to go on the quest of the Holy Grail must
leave your ladies behind you. Sir
Thomas Malory, Le Morte DArthur (15th c.)
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Carnal love does not have the wherewith to
diffuse itself within us. Peter
Damiani, The Monastic Ideal (11th c.)
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Sir GawainSir MelyasSir EctorSir Uwayne
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Sir GalahadWe always think in terms of
opposites. But God, the ultimate, is beyond the
pairs of opposites . Joseph
Campbell, The Power of Myth (57)
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Sir GalahadTranscends the DualitiesGo now,
adventurous knight, to the Maidens Castle, and
change their evil customs. After checking his
arms and putting his shield before him, Sir
Galahad rode on toward the castle. He was met by
seven young noblewomen.
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Sir GalahadTranscends the DualitiesSir, you
ride at your own peril, for you will have to
cross the water, said one of them.My ladies,
why should I not cross the water? said Sir
Galahad, and rode on again.
Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte DArthur (15th c.)
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Through the DreamComes WisdomSir Launcelot
has a vision of the Grail between waking and
sleeping.Sir Ector, in his dream, says We
shall not seek that which we shall not find.
Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte
DArthur (15th c.)
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Gods are magnified dreams, and dreams are
manifestations in image form of the energies of
the body in conflict with each other.
Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (46)
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Enlightenment Harmonize the Masculine and
FeminineThe secret cause of all suffering is
mortality itself, which is the prime condition of
life. It cannot be denied if life is to be
affirmed. Joseph Campbell,
The Power of Myth (xi)
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So I am brought to shame, Launcelot said to
himself. When I sought only worldly fame, none
could gainsay me, whether my quarrel was right or
wrong but now that I search for holy things, by
my sins I am disqualified.
Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte
DArthur (15th c.)
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My sons, the quest of the Holy Grail means
other things than killing your fellow men, and
those are the adventures to which you and your
fellow sinners are accustomed. Sir
Thomas Malory, Le Morte DArthur (15th c.)
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Arcita (Mars)vs.Palamon (Venus) Palamon
wins!
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Pray, what have you seen? Sir Launcelot was
asked.I have seen such things that are beyond
the power of the tongue to describe or the heart
to recall and had I not sinned I should have
seen much more. Sir Thomas Malory, Le
Morte DArthur (15th c.)
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The easy attainment of love makes it of little
value difficulty of attainment makes it
prized. Andreas Capellanus, The Rules of
Courtly Love, Rule XIV (12th c.)