GILGAMESH

GILGAMESH

INTRODUCTION

In the view of many scholars this is a very ancient story.

And some go so far as to say this is the first long story of all.

This work had been forgotten for more than two millennia,

Encrypted as it was on tablets of clay underground

Along with relics of  civilizations we call Assyrian-Accadian.

Gilgamesh was unearthed by archaeologists in eighteen-fifties.

This happened somewhere near the town known as Uruk

Which is now in the country that the world calls modern Iraq.

Reconstructions by  scholars have given more than one version

Of the great Epic of Gilgamesh readable in modern tongues.

THE HERO

It is said that Gilgamesh was n ancient Sumerian who lived

Four thousand plus years ago in that ancient country.

The South Babylonian version of the epic, called Sa Nagba Imuru

Has been translated in English as  He who all things has seen.

Let us sketch in brief the story per Stephen Langdon’s version

Which is a fine rendering available to modern English readers.

Gilgamesh wasn’t fully human: Two-thirds of him was Divine.

He could see the ends of the Earth, learn everything there is.

 He was the King of an ancient Sumerian city-state known as Uruk

He could peered through all secrets. traveled to many places.

He recorded everything. Such was this wondrous hero.

Gilgamesh  woke up one morning and reported to his dear mother

About a dream where he had seen a meteor landing in a field..

This and other dreams were in fact taken as some omens.

As dreams in those days were generally interpreted.

Gilgamesh craved to violate women: He e felt that he had the right

To rape any pretty virgin right on her wedding night.

He forced his men to labor during day and during night.

They were forced  to build tall walls to protect his great Uruk.

The over-worked laborers appealed to their goddess Aruru:

They begged her to please create someone who could engage

Their hero-king Gilgamesh in a tough arduous fight.

This shows how much they hated their cruel ruler Gilgamesh.