The Story of Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh was a ruler of Uruk (in Mesopotamia). He was 1/3 human and 2/3 god. Although he was strong and mighty, he was cruel to his people.
The people cried to their god, Anu, and he decides to create another strong person named Enkidu.Enkidu lives in the forest until he is taken to meet Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, meanwhile, has some dreams, and wonders what they mean, and so he asks his mother. His mother tells him that it means a strong person like Gilgamesh will come to Uruk and Gilgamesh will befriend him.
And so it happens. At first when they meet they have a big fight, but it turns to friendship. Gilgamesh asks Enkidu to come and have a great adventure, to chop down all the trees in the forest, and kill the demon guarding the forest. At first the others say no but then give in.
He prays to Shamash (another Sumerian god) during his trip and gets dreams that Enkidu interprets for him. Then they come and they are lucky, because the demon is only wearing one coat of armour at this time, instead of his usual 7.
They fight with Humbaba, the demon, and Shamash comes and helps the two. Then they proceed, and chop down tall trees to make a gate for Uruk. They use a wood raft to sail down the Euphrates River and go back to his city.
There are more challenges that await him, such as the bull of heaven that a goddess had released on Uruk. Enkidu and Gilgamesh manage to defeat it.
Then the gods decide that someone should pay for the death of the bull of the heaven and Humbaba’s death. They choose Enkidu, and after being sick for a while, he dies.
Gilgamesh is very sad because of Enkidu’s death, and after that he realizes he will die, too. So he goes on a quest for eternal life.
Utnapishtim says to Gilgamesh that he will give Gilgamesh eternal life if he can stay awake for six days and seven nights.
Gilgamesh tries but cannot, but Utnapishtim offers to let him have eternal life if he can get the plant from the bottom of the ocean. Gilgamesh gets it, and he stops to rest for a while, but when he sleeps, a snake comes and eats the plant (this is how snakes became to shed their skin).
Gilgamesh ends up not gaining anything. The tablet on which this account is written ends here.
The people cried to their god, Anu, and he decides to create another strong person named Enkidu.Enkidu lives in the forest until he is taken to meet Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, meanwhile, has some dreams, and wonders what they mean, and so he asks his mother. His mother tells him that it means a strong person like Gilgamesh will come to Uruk and Gilgamesh will befriend him.
And so it happens. At first when they meet they have a big fight, but it turns to friendship. Gilgamesh asks Enkidu to come and have a great adventure, to chop down all the trees in the forest, and kill the demon guarding the forest. At first the others say no but then give in.
He prays to Shamash (another Sumerian god) during his trip and gets dreams that Enkidu interprets for him. Then they come and they are lucky, because the demon is only wearing one coat of armour at this time, instead of his usual 7.
They fight with Humbaba, the demon, and Shamash comes and helps the two. Then they proceed, and chop down tall trees to make a gate for Uruk. They use a wood raft to sail down the Euphrates River and go back to his city.
There are more challenges that await him, such as the bull of heaven that a goddess had released on Uruk. Enkidu and Gilgamesh manage to defeat it.
Then the gods decide that someone should pay for the death of the bull of the heaven and Humbaba’s death. They choose Enkidu, and after being sick for a while, he dies.
Gilgamesh is very sad because of Enkidu’s death, and after that he realizes he will die, too. So he goes on a quest for eternal life.
Utnapishtim says to Gilgamesh that he will give Gilgamesh eternal life if he can stay awake for six days and seven nights.
Gilgamesh tries but cannot, but Utnapishtim offers to let him have eternal life if he can get the plant from the bottom of the ocean. Gilgamesh gets it, and he stops to rest for a while, but when he sleeps, a snake comes and eats the plant (this is how snakes became to shed their skin).
Gilgamesh ends up not gaining anything. The tablet on which this account is written ends here.
posted by Kate | 4:04 PM
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