The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a long poem of literary merit from ancient Mesopotamia (the region now known as Iraq). It was written in cuneiform script (a wedge-shaped writing system impressed into clay), in the Sumerian and Akkadian languages. The poem tells the story of Gilgamesh, king of the city of Uruk, and his journeys.

The text survives on clay tablets, some of which are damaged. For this reason, no single complete version has ever been found; scholars have assembled different fragments recovered from various locations. Since the nineteenth century, when cuneiform script was deciphered, new passages continue to come to light.

Plot

Gilgamesh is described as a powerful king whom the people of Uruk resent. A man called Enkidu, raised in the wilderness, comes to him; the two fight, then become friends. They journey together, undertaking adventures including a battle with the guardian of the cedar forest. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh begins a quest to find a way to escape death.

Part of the poem contains a flood narrative: a man who survived a great flood tells Gilgamesh how he built a boat. This section is among the most frequently compared passages to later religious texts that discuss the flood.

Versions and composition

There are separate Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh that predate the unified Akkadian version. The best-known later version—commonly called the 'Standard Babylonian' version—was found in the library of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh. Most of the tablets used in modern translations come from this version.

Significance

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an important source for understanding Mesopotamian thought on kingship, friendship, death, and the limits of human power. It also aids in the study of ancient languages, as the numerous tablet versions of the same text allow for linguistic comparison.