MYTH
EAST ANCIENT & WEST
WEEK FOUR:
Epic of Gilgamesh: A
Heros Journey
73 manuscripts of Standard Version of
Epic of Gilgamesh
8 manuscripts
and fragments
from Huzarina,
Kalah and
Ashur
35 manuscripts
30 manuscripts
Tablet XI
Epic of Gilgamesh
Epic of Gilgamesh [Standard Version]
Tablet I: The Coming of Enkidu
Tablet II: The Taming of Enkidu
Tablet III: Preparations for the Expedition to the Forest of
Cedar
Tablet IV: The Journey to the Forest of Cedar
Tablet V: The Combat with Humbaba/Huwawa
Tablet VI: Ishtar and the Bowl of Heaven
Tablet VII: The Death of Enkidu
Tablet VIII: The Funeral of Enkidu
Tablet IX: The Wanderings of Gilgamesh
Tablet X: At the Edge of the World
Tablet XI: Immortality Denied
Tablet XII: Appendix
Gilgamesh
Semi-historical, mortal,
tyrannical king of Uruk
2/3 god and 1/3 human
son of goddess Ninsun and
semi-divine hero
Lugalbanda
Two Journeys:
Physical- adventure:
Forest of Cedar
Underworld
Mental -self-discovery:
Learning how be a good
Creation of Enkidu (EN-kee-doo)
City life cannot go on with G. oppressing his
people
Anu orders the creation of E.
When they first meet, G. and E. fight
immediately
G. is probably the winner (unclear)
E. acknowledges G.s legitimacy in this way:
Who is Enkidu?
Primordial man; man in a state of nature; not quite
animal, not quite man
Undergoes initiation into civilized humanity
primitive, naked, hairy, eats only grass and drinks only milk
and water
sexual knowledge with prostitute ; introduction to cooked
food, strong drink, grooming, clothing, weapons and hunting.
Preparation for journey to Uruk
After failed challenge of Gilgamesh, the two
become friends
E. is the helper
charged with protecting and guiding G. in his journeys of
Setting Out on the Journey
Elders of Uruk make E. guide on
journey
Ninsun adopts E. (G. and E. are now
brothers)
Journey to the Cedar Forest [Tablets III-V]
Who: Gilgamesh and
Enkidu
Purpose: to kill Huwawa
(Humbaba)
Cause: desire for fame
Ninsun entreats Shamash
(sun god) to protect
Gilgamesh on his journey
Cylinder seal impression
depicts slaying; symbol of
Tests: Ishtar, the Bull of Heaven and the
Death of Enkidu [Tablets VI-VIII]
Ishtar pursues G. -rejects
her
Ishtar sends sacred Bull of
Heaven to Uruk to
devastate the city
G. and E. kill sacred bull
for this sacrilege, E. must
die.
Cylinder seal impression depicting
scene: who is E and who is G?
Dream of Enkidu about the Thunderbird
and the House of Dust
Thunderbird
Journey to the Underworld [Tablets IX-XI]
Who: Gilgamesh
Purpose: to visit Uta-napishti (HOOT -ah-nah-pshtee) to learn the secret to immortality (U. and his wife were
mortals granted immortality by the gods)
Cause: fear of death and uncertainty about the afterlife
Tablet IX. 1-4
Tablet IX
To the Edge of the
World
G. sails through difficult seas to Mt
Mashu gate to the Netherworld
Guarded by the Scorpion Men
Shiduri Urshanabi
Shiduri and (SHEE-dour- ee) divine tavern keeper
S. tells G. the way to ferryman, Urshanabi (HOOR
shah-nah-bee)
Ushanabis boat is crewed by the Stone Ones who are
unharmed by the Waters of Death
Uta-napishti tells him to go without sleep for 6 days and
7 nights impossible
Counsel of Uta-napishti
Uta-napishti chastises Gilgamesh for
acting like a primitive fool, and not a
king
Describes the world prior to Deluge
Return of Gilgamesh
Acceptance of the mortality of
Mankind
Acquisition of exceptional knowledge
To the benefit of mankind
Reminder of the importance of Enkidu
In order for G. to complete his two journeys
(adventure and self-discovery) he needs E.
E. needs to be born in the wild because Gs journey
took place in the wild
E. needs to die to initiate Gs second journey which
ultimately leads to acceptance of his own mortality
UNDERWORLD
12 double hours of darkness
The Babylonian day was divided into
twelve double hours = 24 hours of
darkness
Garden
Forested wilderness
Ocean in the middle are the
Waters of Death
Beliefs about the Afterlife
Judgment: mankind will be judged in
death for their actions in life
Mortals do live on after death as
spirits/shades in the Netherworld
(Enkidus dream)
Netherworld: Realm of the Dead a place
guarded by Scorpion Men where dead
cannot leave once they enter
House of Dust: a type of hell where tyrants and evil
Class Exercise
Epic of Atra-Hasis Tablets II and III
Tablet II
Reason for the flood : overpopulation
Before Enlil had sent famine and drought to reduce the
population.
Tablet II ends with Enlil's decision to destroy humankind
with a flood and Ea bound by an oath to keep the plan
secret.
Tablet III
Ea warns the hero Atrahasis (King of Shuruppak)speaking through a reed wall to build a boat to escape the
flood
Ea and Enlil agree on other means for controlling the
GENESIS
EPIC OF
GILGAMESH
DEUCALION AND
PYRRHA
Extent of flood
Cause
Intended for
whom?
Global
Man's wickedness
Global
Overpopulation
All mankind
All mankind
Global
Mans impiety
All mankind
Sender
Yahweh
Name of hero
Means of
announcement
Ordered to build
boat?
Human
passengers
Noah
Assembly of
"gods"
Uta-napishti
Direct from God
Ea
Yes
Yes
Family members
only
All species of
animals
Heavy rain
Long (40 days &
nights plus)
Family & few
others
All species of
animal
Heavy rain
Short (6 days &
nights)
Other passengers
Means of flood
Duration of flood
Zeus
Deucalion (and Pyrrha)
Warning by
Prometheus
Yes (= chest/
ark)*
Wife
No animals but
provisions
Heavy rain
Short (9 days &
nights)*
Lesson to kings (intended audience)
Dire consequences for those kings who do not rule in a manner
prescribed by the gods.
Tyrants go to Hell
Accept immortality and live a pleasant, good life
Kings live on through their good deeds and works (walls of
Uruk)
Advice of Siduri