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Summary: The greatest story ever told?
Review: The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient story-- perhaps 4 thousand to 5 thousand years old. Originating in ancient Sumeria, it spread throughout the Near East and the version we have has been reconstructed from Akkadian, Babylonian, Hittite, and Hurrian translations inscribed on clay tablets. Its themes and motifs (including a divinely ordained Great Flood) influenced the development of other great poetic works and mythological traditions, including those of ancient Egypt, Israel, and Greece.The story here is mythic and powerful. I won't try to summarize it other than to say that it raises truly timeless questions about what it means to be human-- questions about love sex and friendship, about nature and civilization, of the simple joys in life and about our desire to do great deeds, about our fear of death and the impossiblity of escaping it. There is much about this story that may seem archaic, naive, and odd to first-time readers, ranging from the description of Gilgamesh as 2/3 god, 1/3 mortal (which may perplex folks who try to work out how that can happen hereditarily speaking), to the repetivite narrative voice that stem from the conventions of orally performed poetry (which does seem a bit odd when being *read* silently in a book). However, once one learns to see beyond these curious features, it is apparent that _The Epic of Gilgamesh_, as it has come down to us, is a brilliant and clever piece of poetic craftsmanship and storytelling. The use of recurrent images and motifs, the narrative symmetries and ironies (e.g. how, after Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh leaves the city, puts on animal furs, and goes off into the wilderness... becoming much like Enkidu was at the beginning of the story). In truth, I would not hesitate to say that the _Epic of Gilgamesh_ is, from a poetic point of view, as complex and sophisticated as any of Shakespeare's plays. The Penguin edition of the poem, I should add, offers a loose prose translation that is quite satisfactory and extremely readable. Those who are more interested in the stylistic qualities of the original may prefer a more literal translation, while those more interested in the history of the poem and its sources, may prefer a more scholarly edition-- but for the general or first time reader, Sandars' edition should be more than suitable.
Rating:
Summary: Straightforward Morality-Play Epic
Review: The Epic Of Gilgamesh, which pre-dates Homer by some 1,500 years, somehow survived on clay tablets and was translated in the 1800's. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, 2/3 god and 1/3 man, king of Uruk. In the beginning of the story, Gilgamesh is a strong king, building an amazing and beautiful city. However, the people are unhappy with him because he takes all sons from their fathers and leaves no virgin to her lover. There being no man alive who can contend with Gilgamesh, Aruru (a goddess of creation) made Enkidu, a man-beast strong enough for Gilgamesh to respect. After a harlot sleeps with Enkidu, he leaves the forest and comes to town to find Gilgamesh. The two wrestle, and after some time, Gilgamesh is finally able to throw down Enkidu. But Enkidu's strength is admired by Gilgamesh and the two become as brothers. Wanting to forever keep his name the mightiest, Gilgamesh goes with Enkidu and slays the guardian of the cedar forest, Humbaba. This act greatly angered the god Enlil - and this act would ultimately bring great heartache to Gilgamesh. The goddess Ishtar was impressed with Gilgamesh's actions, and she asked him to be her lover. But Gilgamesh then rattled off a list of all the men she had hurt and her wicked actions, and gave her a "thanks, but no thanks." Angered, she had Anu create the Bull of Heaven, which attacked Gilgamesh and Enkidu. They eventually slay the bull, but victory is fleeting. In the aftermath, Enlil gets revenge by sickening Enkidu with a deathly illness. Gilgamesh now goes on a long journey, seeking everlasting life. He visits Utnapishtim, man of everlasting life. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh about the great flood that wiped out most all of the world - save for what was on his ark. For preserving life on earth, Utnapishtim was given eternal life. But for Gilgamesh to be young again, he must recover a flower at the bottom of the sea. he gets it, but it's quickly taken away by a serpent. Everlasting life is not to be Gilgamesh's lot. He returns home, and is exalted as the greatest king ever. Gilgamesh lears important lessons about justice and mortality. His journeys and experiences have truly made him a great king. While redundant at points, this is an amazing tale, told in a straightforward manner that makes it a swift and compelling read. A truly amazing work.
Rating: 
Summary: I'd prefer "The Odyssey"...
Review: This "book" was a bit hard to read. The introduction was longer than the actual story. It provided some good background information, but also gave away much of what was to come. Perhaps some of it could have been saved for the end of the book? The story itself is very confusing. Gilgamesh, a god-king, is hated by his people so they pray to the gods to make an equal for him. His equal and him basically fight, go on "adventures" that seem to have no meaning, and visit people/gods with similar hard to pronounce names. If you are studying Mesopotamia, you should probably check out this epic. Otherwise, try something else...
Rating:
Summary: I'd prefer "The Odyssey"...
Review: This "book" was a bit hard to read. The introduction was longer than the actual story. It provided some good background information, but also gave away much of what was to come. Perhaps some of it could have been saved for the end of the book? The story itself is very confusing. Gilgamesh, a god-king, is hated by his people so they pray to the gods to make an equal for him. His equal and him basically fight, go on "adventures" that seem to have no meaning, and visit people/gods with similar hard to pronounce names. If you are studying Mesopotamia, you should probably check out this epic. Otherwise, try something else...
Rating:
Summary: The epic of Gilgamesh
Review: This book was boring and it made no sense
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Summary: The earliest quest for immortality.
Review: This epic from the Assyro-Babylonian culture (parts of which were probably written as early as 3000 B.C.) contains perhaps the earliest known example of man's quest for immortality (the version I read was the translation by N. K. Sanders). According to Samuel Kramer, the prologue has the oldest known reference to Lilith, who is an important female demon in Jewish legend. Apparently, a historical Gilgamesh actually existed and ruled Uruk in Mesopotamia in the first half of the third millennium B. C. (probably in the first dynasty of Uruk). In the epic, the god Anu attempts to curb the harsh rule of Gilgamesh, the son of the goddess Ninsun and a mortal priest of Uruk, by the creation of a strong and wild man named Enkidu (or, Eabani) (many scholars regard Enkidu as a symbol of primitive man). After a fight between the two, they become friends and have a number of adventures. In one tale, Gilgamesh is wooed by Irnina (or, Ishtar). But she is rejected by Gilgamesh and the bull sent by her father Anu to destroy him is killed by Gilgamesh and Enkidu (some regard this story as a nature myth in which Gilgamesh represents the solar god of the spring season and the goddess is the goddess of love and fertility). Later in the epic Enkidu is stricken with disease and dies. Gilgamesh is devastated and wishes to avoid a similar fate. He goes in search of eternal youth and immortality (perhaps the earliest example of such a quest in literature). After more adventures, which includes him learning the Babylonian story of the great flood, he finds the answer to his quest; but, it is quickly lost. Even though this is probably the earliest epic, it has considerable allegorical significance. It is perhaps the earliest known description of man's quest for the meaning of life and the struggle to avoid death. What is learned is that death is inevitable and man should enjoy the life he has.
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