The Literature of The Literature of Ancient Ancient

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Mesopotamia - “The land Mesopotamia - “The land between the rivers”between the rivers”

• Mesopotamia is the name given by the Mesopotamia is the name given by the Greeks to an ancient area of the Middle Greeks to an ancient area of the Middle East now known as modern-day Iraq, Iran, East now known as modern-day Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria.Turkey, and Syria.

• This region is also known as the Fertile This region is also known as the Fertile Crescent, an agriculturally rich land Crescent, an agriculturally rich land watered by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.watered by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

The Sumerians were the first The Sumerians were the first people to dominate this people to dominate this

region, settling here region, settling here sometime between 5000 and sometime between 5000 and

4000 BC.4000 BC.

The Sumerians :The Sumerians :

• Grew crops and raised cattle for a livingGrew crops and raised cattle for a living

• Were successful merchants and tradersWere successful merchants and traders

• Were known for their stonework, metalwork, Were known for their stonework, metalwork, and sculptureand sculpture

The Sumerians lived in city-The Sumerians lived in city-states, much like the states, much like the

Greeks:Greeks:• City-states were walled for protection City-states were walled for protection

against invadersagainst invaders

• Pyramid-like temples, called Ziggurats, Pyramid-like temples, called Ziggurats, were the center of the citieswere the center of the cities

• The priests of the ziggurats were The priests of the ziggurats were considered the earthly representatives of considered the earthly representatives of the godsthe gods

Sumerian society was Sumerian society was based upon a strict Class based upon a strict Class

systemsystem• Upper Class = Upper Class = priests, government officialspriests, government officials

• Middle Class = merchants, artisans, doctorsMiddle Class = merchants, artisans, doctors

• Lower Class = peasants, farmers, slaves Lower Class = peasants, farmers, slaves

The Sumerians achieved a The Sumerians achieved a high level of culture and high level of culture and

learninglearning• Knowledge of architectureKnowledge of architecture

• Developments in science, math, astrologyDevelopments in science, math, astrology

• Created one of the world’s first systems of Created one of the world’s first systems of writing, known as cuneiform, consisting of writing, known as cuneiform, consisting of a wedge-shaped marking made with a stick a wedge-shaped marking made with a stick on clay tabletson clay tablets

The largest city-states, such as Ur, The largest city-states, such as Ur, Uruk, and Lagash, had populations Uruk, and Lagash, had populations

in tens of thousands.in tens of thousands.• Many city-states were in sight of each otherMany city-states were in sight of each other

• But the Sumerians never organized a strong But the Sumerians never organized a strong central governmentcentral government

• They often competed against each other for land They often competed against each other for land and resourcesand resources

• This made it easy for stronger enemies to This made it easy for stronger enemies to capture and control them latercapture and control them later

Because the Sumerians failed to Because the Sumerians failed to form a unified government, they form a unified government, they were vulnerable to the attacks of were vulnerable to the attacks of

different nations:different nations:• Akkadians (~2500 BC)Akkadians (~2500 BC)

• Babylonians (~2000 BC)Babylonians (~2000 BC)

• Hittites (~1600 BC)Hittites (~1600 BC)

• Assyrians (~900 BC)Assyrians (~900 BC)

• Chaldeans (~612 BC)Chaldeans (~612 BC)

• Persians (~539 BC)Persians (~539 BC)

It was during the reign of the Babylonians It was during the reign of the Babylonians that the story of a great king called that the story of a great king called “Gilgamesh” became translated and “Gilgamesh” became translated and

preservedpreserved

• The story was written ~ 4000 years The story was written ~ 4000 years agoago

• It takes the form of an epic poemIt takes the form of an epic poem

• Tells of a king who actually reigned Tells of a king who actually reigned over the city-state of Uruk sometime over the city-state of Uruk sometime between 2700 and 2500 BCbetween 2700 and 2500 BC

• The story was originally found on The story was originally found on broken Sumerian tablets and broken Sumerian tablets and restored / translated by the restored / translated by the BabyloniansBabylonians

The epic tells of the The epic tells of the superhuman adventures of the superhuman adventures of the

legendary kinglegendary king• Legend has it that Gilgamesh is two parts god Legend has it that Gilgamesh is two parts god

and one part human, thus possessing both and one part human, thus possessing both supernatural powers and human weaknessessupernatural powers and human weaknesses

• Though he was a great leader of a mighty city, Though he was a great leader of a mighty city, he suffered from excessive pride (hubris).he suffered from excessive pride (hubris).

• His anger at the gods over the death of a friend His anger at the gods over the death of a friend leads him to seek eternal lifeleads him to seek eternal life

• Though he confronts obstacles along the way, Though he confronts obstacles along the way, he must ultimately accept his human limitationshe must ultimately accept his human limitations

The selections of Gilgamesh we will The selections of Gilgamesh we will read are based upon 12 clay tablets read are based upon 12 clay tablets

of cuneiform script.of cuneiform script.

• These tablets were among 25,000 discovered in These tablets were among 25,000 discovered in modern Iraq at Ninevah in the buried ruins of the modern Iraq at Ninevah in the buried ruins of the library of King Assurbanipal of Assyrialibrary of King Assurbanipal of Assyria

• The original tablets were damaged in a fire The original tablets were damaged in a fire during a Persian raid around 612 BC, but recent during a Persian raid around 612 BC, but recent discoveries of older versions of the epic helped discoveries of older versions of the epic helped to reclaim the parts of the story that were to reclaim the parts of the story that were missing.missing.

The epic was so widely known that The epic was so widely known that scholars believe it served as an scholars believe it served as an

archetype, or model, for hero myths archetype, or model, for hero myths around the worldaround the world

• Greece, India, and Persia would later model Greece, India, and Persia would later model characters and adventures after those portrayed in characters and adventures after those portrayed in GilgameshGilgamesh

• The epic reveals a great deal about the ancient The epic reveals a great deal about the ancient Mesopotamians’ sometimes pessimistic (negative) Mesopotamians’ sometimes pessimistic (negative) views of existenceviews of existence

• But it also shows us the sensitivity and humanity of But it also shows us the sensitivity and humanity of these ancient peoples, who are not unlike us in their these ancient peoples, who are not unlike us in their joys, sorrows, and strivingsjoys, sorrows, and strivings

Background of the Sumerian Beliefs Background of the Sumerian Beliefs reflected in the Epic of Gilgameshreflected in the Epic of Gilgamesh

• Though they were advanced for their time, the Sumerian Though they were advanced for their time, the Sumerian and Babylonian civilizations were powerless against and Babylonian civilizations were powerless against ever-present threats of floods, droughts, and invaders.ever-present threats of floods, droughts, and invaders.

• They worshipped a pantheon, or “family,” of They worshipped a pantheon, or “family,” of unpredictable gods and goddesses who could bring unpredictable gods and goddesses who could bring misfortune as well as favor.misfortune as well as favor.

• Regardless of social status or level of goodness, there Regardless of social status or level of goodness, there was no joyful afterlife to look forward to.was no joyful afterlife to look forward to.

• No wonder these people had a negative outlook on life!No wonder these people had a negative outlook on life!

These pessimistic (negative) beliefs These pessimistic (negative) beliefs are evident in the Epic of are evident in the Epic of

GilgameshGilgamesh

• Gilgamesh, in spite of his great powers, suffers a Gilgamesh, in spite of his great powers, suffers a life-changing loss. When the person who means life-changing loss. When the person who means the most to him dies, the proud Gilgamesh must the most to him dies, the proud Gilgamesh must come to terms with the reality that he himself come to terms with the reality that he himself will not live forever.will not live forever.

• Because, in the Sumerian view, death offers only Because, in the Sumerian view, death offers only emptiness, Gilgamesh rebels against it, and sets emptiness, Gilgamesh rebels against it, and sets off on a quest to attain immortality (eternal life).off on a quest to attain immortality (eternal life).

Gilgamesh is the earliest known Gilgamesh is the earliest known of the Epic Heroesof the Epic Heroes

• All epic heroes are human beingsAll epic heroes are human beings

• All have supernatural strength and spiritual powersAll have supernatural strength and spiritual powers

• All are mighty leaders of their peopleAll are mighty leaders of their people

• Most of them are of mixed divine and human birthMost of them are of mixed divine and human birth

• Most of them possess human weakness, which forces Most of them possess human weakness, which forces them to accept human limitations in spite of their them to accept human limitations in spite of their powerpower

Why are Epic Heroes so Why are Epic Heroes so important to us?important to us?

• We admire them for their divine, We admire them for their divine, supernatural powers, and often wish supernatural powers, and often wish to be like themto be like them

• We sympathize with them because We sympathize with them because their human weaknesses and their human weaknesses and difficulties remind us of our owndifficulties remind us of our own