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GILGAMESH BACKGROUNDGILGAMESH BACKGROUND

• World Literature I

• Presentation by:

• Ralph Monday

• World Literature I

• Presentation by:

• Ralph Monday

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MesopotamiaMesopotamia

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MesopotamiaMesopotamia

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The Descent of InannaThe Descent of Inanna

• This journey into the underworld is a bit older than Gilgamesh.

• It is probably the oldest extant written story in the world.

• The story can actually be located in the urban culture of Sumer to 3500 B.C.E.

• This journey into the underworld is a bit older than Gilgamesh.

• It is probably the oldest extant written story in the world.

• The story can actually be located in the urban culture of Sumer to 3500 B.C.E.

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• Both Sumer and Egypt developed a written language at about 3200 B.C.E.

• Mesopotamia and Egypt have the oldest written literature in the world.

• Urban civilization is thought to begin with Sumer.

• Both Sumer and Egypt developed a written language at about 3200 B.C.E.

• Mesopotamia and Egypt have the oldest written literature in the world.

• Urban civilization is thought to begin with Sumer.

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Ancient SumerAncient Sumer

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GilgameshGilgamesh

• The story came to us from 22,000 clay tablets of cuneiform writing from

• modern day Iraq.

• The Akkadian king, Ashurbanipal had it written down sometime during the eighth century B.C.E.

• The story came to us from 22,000 clay tablets of cuneiform writing from

• modern day Iraq.

• The Akkadian king, Ashurbanipal had it written down sometime during the eighth century B.C.E.

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Cuneiform WritingCuneiform Writing

• Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh in the land of Shinar (Sumer) .....

• Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh in the land of Shinar (Sumer) .....

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Language Language

• Sumerian is a linguistically isolated and extinct language. All attempts to connect Sumerian with any other tongue have so far failed. Sumerian is preserved only on clay tablets in a corpus of texts written in cuneiform. After 2000 B.C.E. the Semitic language Akkadian became dominant.

• Sumerian is a linguistically isolated and extinct language. All attempts to connect Sumerian with any other tongue have so far failed. Sumerian is preserved only on clay tablets in a corpus of texts written in cuneiform. After 2000 B.C.E. the Semitic language Akkadian became dominant.

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Cuneiform ScriptCuneiform Script

• The Sumerian civilization is thought to be the earliest culture to use written language, in about 3200 B.C.E.

• The Sumerian civilization is thought to be the earliest culture to use written language, in about 3200 B.C.E.

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Gilgamesh ContinuedGilgamesh Continued

• The story of Gilgamesh was lost until 1839 when A.H. Layard found the tablets in Nineveh.

• In 1872 George Smith translated them into English.

• The story of Gilgamesh was lost until 1839 when A.H. Layard found the tablets in Nineveh.

• In 1872 George Smith translated them into English.

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Present Day UrukPresent Day Uruk

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Gilgamesh SummaryGilgamesh Summary

• The epic begins with a list of Gilgamesh’s accomplishments.

• We learn that he is self-indulgent and that he sleeps with all the virgins before they sleep with their lovers.

• The epic begins with a list of Gilgamesh’s accomplishments.

• We learn that he is self-indulgent and that he sleeps with all the virgins before they sleep with their lovers.

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The Coming of EnkiduThe Coming of Enkidu

• Enkidu is created to be a challenger to Gilgamesh.

• He is first civilized by a ritual orgy of six days and seven with a temple priestess.

• This symbolizes the loss of his animal nature.

• Enkidu is created to be a challenger to Gilgamesh.

• He is first civilized by a ritual orgy of six days and seven with a temple priestess.

• This symbolizes the loss of his animal nature.

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Seduction of EnkiduSeduction of Enkidu

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• Enkidu challenges Gilgamesh to a physical battle, stopping him from claiming “first night.”

• Gilgamesh wins, though not easily, and he and Enkidu become friends.

• Enkidu can be seen as a type of double or foil for Gilgamesh.

• Enkidu challenges Gilgamesh to a physical battle, stopping him from claiming “first night.”

• Gilgamesh wins, though not easily, and he and Enkidu become friends.

• Enkidu can be seen as a type of double or foil for Gilgamesh.

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HumbabaHumbabaGilgamesh

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• Gilgamesh wants some of the lumber of Enlil’s forest, up the Euphrates River.

• He and Enkidu travel to the forest that is guarded by a giant, Humbaba.

• When Gilgamesh begins to cut down trees, Humbaba is enraged.

• Humbaba offers the entire forest if he can live, but Enkidu persuades Gilgamesh to kill him.

• Gilgamesh wants some of the lumber of Enlil’s forest, up the Euphrates River.

• He and Enkidu travel to the forest that is guarded by a giant, Humbaba.

• When Gilgamesh begins to cut down trees, Humbaba is enraged.

• Humbaba offers the entire forest if he can live, but Enkidu persuades Gilgamesh to kill him.

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Confronting HumbabaConfronting Humbaba

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IshtarIshtar

• The fertility goddess, Ishtar, proposes to Gilgamesh and wants to make love to him.

• He refuses and insults her about her poor record as a lover.

• Whining, Ishtar goes to her father and asks for the Bull of Heaven so that Gilgamesh will be destroyed.

• The fertility goddess, Ishtar, proposes to Gilgamesh and wants to make love to him.

• He refuses and insults her about her poor record as a lover.

• Whining, Ishtar goes to her father and asks for the Bull of Heaven so that Gilgamesh will be destroyed.

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The Goddess IshtarThe Goddess Ishtar

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Phoenician Ivory Plaque of IshtarPhoenician Ivory Plaque of Ishtar

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Bull of HeavenBull of Heaven

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• Anu grants the bull, but Enkidu and Gilgamesh kill it, dedicating its heart to Shamash.

• Ishtar is even more upset.

• Enkidu then dreams that either he or Gilgamesh must die for having killed the Bull and Humbaba.

• Anu grants the bull, but Enkidu and Gilgamesh kill it, dedicating its heart to Shamash.

• Ishtar is even more upset.

• Enkidu then dreams that either he or Gilgamesh must die for having killed the Bull and Humbaba.

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• Enkidu curses the gate made of the cedar he stole and the woman who brought him to civilization.

• Anu reminds Enkidu of how good the woman was and he retracts the curse.

• Enkidu can then only speak his terrifying dreams to Gilgamesh who watches him die.

• Enkidu curses the gate made of the cedar he stole and the woman who brought him to civilization.

• Anu reminds Enkidu of how good the woman was and he retracts the curse.

• Enkidu can then only speak his terrifying dreams to Gilgamesh who watches him die.

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Gilgamesh Mourns the Death of Enkidu

Gilgamesh Mourns the Death of Enkidu

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Gilgamesh Wanders the EarthGilgamesh Wanders the Earth

• Alone and terrified of death, Gilgamesh travels eastward toward the mountain of Mashu (perhaps in Iran or Kashmir?).

• He kills lions and wears their hides until he meets dangerous scorpion men who inquire about his quest.

• Alone and terrified of death, Gilgamesh travels eastward toward the mountain of Mashu (perhaps in Iran or Kashmir?).

• He kills lions and wears their hides until he meets dangerous scorpion men who inquire about his quest.

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Persian impression of a cornelian cylinder seal

Persian impression of a cornelian cylinder seal

Scorpion men

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• Gilgamesh responds to the Scorpion men by telling them that he is looking

• For Utnapishtim, a mortal who became a god, so that he too, can discover the secret of eternal life.

• They let him pass and he goes into a tunnel beneath the mountain to emerge on the other side in the land of the gods.

• Gilgamesh responds to the Scorpion men by telling them that he is looking

• For Utnapishtim, a mortal who became a god, so that he too, can discover the secret of eternal life.

• They let him pass and he goes into a tunnel beneath the mountain to emerge on the other side in the land of the gods.

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• There he meets Siduri, a veiled bar maid for the gods.

• She does not recognize Gilgamesh, for his long journey and mourning for Enkidu have made him haggard and emaciated.

• There he meets Siduri, a veiled bar maid for the gods.

• She does not recognize Gilgamesh, for his long journey and mourning for Enkidu have made him haggard and emaciated.

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SiduriSiduri

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• Siduri reveals to Gilgamesh the paradox of divinity: because men are mortal they can at least enjoy life,

• For it is rare and a mysterious gift.

• The gods, however, being immortal have no need to fear death; life is nothing to them.

• Life is all the same, one enjoyment after the other, none spectacular.

• Siduri reveals to Gilgamesh the paradox of divinity: because men are mortal they can at least enjoy life,

• For it is rare and a mysterious gift.

• The gods, however, being immortal have no need to fear death; life is nothing to them.

• Life is all the same, one enjoyment after the other, none spectacular.

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• Gilgamesh asks her for the way to Utnapishtim.

• She directs him to a forest, and beyond the forest is a mooring where

• The mysterious boatman, Urshnabi, stands waiting.

• Gilgamesh asks her for the way to Utnapishtim.

• She directs him to a forest, and beyond the forest is a mooring where

• The mysterious boatman, Urshnabi, stands waiting.

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UrshnabiUrshnabi

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• Gilgamesh smashes a box on the boat because he is angry and afraid of death.

• He must supply the ship with poles painted with tar in order to cross the sea of death.

• He does so and is taken to meet Utnapishtim, the Faraway.

• Gilgamesh smashes a box on the boat because he is angry and afraid of death.

• He must supply the ship with poles painted with tar in order to cross the sea of death.

• He does so and is taken to meet Utnapishtim, the Faraway.

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UtnapishtimUtnapishtim

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• The conversation they have is similar to the one that Gilgamesh had with Siduri and Urshnabi.

• Utnapishtim tells him that there is no such thing as “permanence,” that nothing lasts forever.

• However, Gilgamesh wants to know how Utnapishtim, who once was a mortal, came to be among the gods.

• The conversation they have is similar to the one that Gilgamesh had with Siduri and Urshnabi.

• Utnapishtim tells him that there is no such thing as “permanence,” that nothing lasts forever.

• However, Gilgamesh wants to know how Utnapishtim, who once was a mortal, came to be among the gods.

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• Utnapishtim then tell Gilgamesh the story of the gods being upset and

• Destroying the world by sending a great flood.

• All humans were destroyed except Utnap and his family.

• The story is almost identical to the one in Genesis.

• Utnapishtim then tell Gilgamesh the story of the gods being upset and

• Destroying the world by sending a great flood.

• All humans were destroyed except Utnap and his family.

• The story is almost identical to the one in Genesis.

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• It is time for Gilgamesh to return to the land of the living.

• Utnapishtim offers him a test: Stay awake for six days and seven nights,

• And he might just become immortal.

• Gilgamesh fails before he even begins.

• It is time for Gilgamesh to return to the land of the living.

• Utnapishtim offers him a test: Stay awake for six days and seven nights,

• And he might just become immortal.

• Gilgamesh fails before he even begins.

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• He falls asleep and when he wakes up the baked loaves of bread beside

• His bed tell him that he has slept for seven days.

• Utnapishtim’s wife wants a going away present for Gilgamesh.

• He falls asleep and when he wakes up the baked loaves of bread beside

• His bed tell him that he has slept for seven days.

• Utnapishtim’s wife wants a going away present for Gilgamesh.

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• The old man tells Gilgamesh about a plant growing at the bottom of the sea that grants immortal life.

• However, a snake steals the plant away from him and he loses the gift of immortal life.

• The old man tells Gilgamesh about a plant growing at the bottom of the sea that grants immortal life.

• However, a snake steals the plant away from him and he loses the gift of immortal life.

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Snake Stealing Plant of LifeSnake Stealing Plant of Life

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• Gilgamesh arrives as a hero in Uruk. He then engraves his life’s story on stones.

• Gilgamesh dies, granted immortality only through the monuments he has built and the poem that we read.

• The people praise his deeds and the greatness of their king.

• Gilgamesh arrives as a hero in Uruk. He then engraves his life’s story on stones.

• Gilgamesh dies, granted immortality only through the monuments he has built and the poem that we read.

• The people praise his deeds and the greatness of their king.

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Gilgamesh, Immortality Through ArtGilgamesh, Immortality Through Art