The Epic of Gilgamesh

1
The Epic of Gilgamesh

• Sumerian Literature
• from 2500 B.C.

2
The Epic of Gilgamesh Setting

• Story takes place in ancient Sumer, one of the
  first settled parts of the Fertile Crescent
• The Tigris and Euphrates rivers allowed for the
  development of water canals and agriculture
• This is part of modern-day Iraq

3
Historic Map of Mesopotamia
4
Epic of Gilgamesh Art

• Gilgamesh was the actual king of ancient Uruk
  about 2700 B.C.
• This statue depicts Gilgamesh as a powerful ruler
  and lion-killer
• What can we learn about Sumerian civilization and
  kingship by looking at this statue?

5
Epic of Gilgamesh Legacy

• Later classical and medieval kings also used
  lions as their personal symbol
• Examples include Henry the lion of Saxony and
  Richard the lion-hearted who led the first
  crusade c. 1100 (right)

6
Epic of Gilgamesh Language

• Gilgamesh was written down on clay cuneiform
  tablets it is the oldest written work found thus
  far.
• Scholars were able to translate Sumerian
  cuneiform by comparing it to later Akkadian
  tablets with similar stories
• This cuneiform writing consists of wedge shapes
  read right to left

7
Epic of Gilgamesh Religion

• Sumerian shrine or Ziggurat, c. 2100 B.C. in Ur
• The ziggurat is a religious temple rising like a
  mountain in the desert where Sumerians worshiped
  local gods
• In Gilgameshs city of Uruk, the popular gods
  were Anu (father of the gods), Ishtar (goddess of
  love), and Lugulbanda (Gilgameshs personal god)

8
Epic of Gilgamesh Themes

• Civilization vs. Nature
• Kingship (how should a king rule?)
• Religion How do people and gods interact? How
  do Sumerians appease the gods through ritual?
• Mortality What is the meaning of life?
• Epic literature (slaying the dragon)
• Flood story