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Summary: The BEST Gilgamesh out there
Review: "The Epic of Gilgamesh" dates from the third millennium B.C., making it the oldest epic poem in world literature. It is a relatively short work, which explains why over half of this little volume introduces the ancient text of the first ancient hero. The fullest extant text of the Gilgamesh was found in the Akkadian-language on 12 incomplete clay tablets found at Nineveh in the library of the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal. The narrative gaps have been filled in, somewhat, by fragments found elsewhere. Historians think that Gilgamesh might have been a ruler in southern Mesopotamia, although there is no historical evidence for any of the exploits covered in this narrative or the five poems written about the hero. Cultural anthropologists believe that Gilgamesh was a great king whose name became associated with pretty much every major legend or mythical tale in that culture. The epic breaks down into six main narratives, the two most famous of which would be "The Story of the Flood," with its obvious parallels to the stories of a great flood in the Bible and Ovid's "Metamorphoses," and "The Coming of Enkidu"/"Ishtar and Gilgamesh, and the Death of Enkidu." "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is the fundamental mythic tale in Western Civilization, but tends to be relegated to the shelf in most classes unless in happens to be included in an anthology. His quests for the Spring of Youth and immortality have been echoed in so many other tales. I have always thought that Gilgamesh is a more important figure than Beowulf, but that would be a decidedly minority opinion. I just wish this little volume was not so expensive because I think that hurts its utility in classes dealing with mythology, legend and/or folklore.
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Summary: Expert commentary and informative insights
Review: Compiled, organized, and enhanced with occasional black and white maps and illustrations, Rome Alive: A Source-guide To The Ancient City, Volume 1 by Peter J. Aicher (Associate Professor of Classics, University of Southern Maine) is a superbly presented tourist and "user friendly" travel guide for anyone aspiring to experience Rome's rich historical past, as well as the enshrined legacy of its contributions to art, culture, science, politics, and so much more. Expert commentary and informative insights on the diverse landmark locations (complete with their historical backgrounds), combine in a travel guide that is as enjoyable for the armchair traveler as it is usefully practical for those who seek to experience Rome's majesty on-site and at firsthand.
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Summary: Very readable
Review: I am always suspicious of books with introductory material nearly as long as the text (61 pages vs. 96 pages). Unfortunately, this book confirms my prejudice. The front material provides an easy and useful summary of the material, history of the translation, the 19th century shock at the flood myth etc. The material is superficial - appropriate for late high school students looking for the "good stuff" without any interest in the depth of the story. The translation itself is very readable - almost too much so as the missing portions of the text are nearly invisible. The illustrations are very appropriate to the text as translated. I would recommend this volume for use as a very early introduction to epic literature or as a light summer read.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I feel guilty only giving this story three stars, given its immense historical significance. The problem I had with "Gilgamesh" is that I never felt moved by the story (reportedly the oldest story ever told). The Biblical flood is there (with minor significant differences) and the Potiphar's wife theme is interesting (if ultimately only marginally convincing), but I was never even remotely drawn into the tale. My difficulty is not with the translator (Danny P. Jackson) but is instead with the original story and stone tablets themselves. Quite simply, as described by Robert D. Biggs, the discovered tablets are too fragmented to allow for a story with a satisfying logical flow. This makes the story no less important, but it makes it an unsatisfying read. The temporal aspects are a problem as well. I'm aware of the differences between values as shared between different cultures, and these differences can only be magnified across time. Nevertheless, even with a reasonable Bibical background from which to draw, I found Gilgamesh's motivations to be beyond my ken. Both Biggs and James G. Keenan do an excellent job of introducing and describing "Gilgamesh," but I still found myself unsatisfied upon completion. Maybe I'd be more sympathetic were I reading it for study, but as a work read for my own enjoyment and fulfillment, it didn't quite do the trick.
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Summary: The Epic of Gilgamesh by Danny P. Jackson
Review: I just wanted to take the time and give proper acknowldgement for this wonderful rendition. This past year I have had the opportunity to study mythology under the direction of Mr. Jackson, and he furthermore discussed this literary work into a living, breathing organism. The easily comprehensibile text paired with the beautiful artistry and reproductions of ancient Sumer have created a delightful reading environment. It is throught the interventions of art and mythology that people can begin to see a distinction of time and place. Mr. Jackson has accomplished this in his beautifully translated literary epic! Thanks for a great read!!
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Summary: seminal work of western literatureI
Review: I would draw the attention of readers to the story of the flood, as related by the Book of Gilgamesh.In particular, "for six days and nights the wind blew, torrent and tempest and flood raged together like warring hosts. When the seventh day dawned the storm from the south subsided, the sea grew calm, the flood was stilled: I looked at the face of the world and there was silence; all mankind was turned to clay. The surface of the sea stretched flat as a rooftop." This is not a river flood. This is the breach of the Black Sea basin - then inhabited - by the ocean waters of the Mediterranean Sea - as is attested by recent geological documentation. Fresh water mussels are succeeded by salt water mussels at precisely 5500 BC: also, the remains of fresh water mussels occur only at great depths where fresh water lakes previously existed. Only fishermen with boats could have survived the flood when the Bosporus was breached. The historical implications of this geological cataclism have not yet been absorbed into the thoughts of philologists in search of the origins of the Indo-European languages nor by historians of the pre-history of the Middle East. I believe this information adds to an appreciation of the significance of this early epic, insomuch as it incorporated an oral legend of an actual geological event two thousand years after the fact. Lest the survival of such remembrances in the oral tradition be doubted, the Oregon Indians preserved the oral tradition of the eruption of Mount Mazuma (Crater Lake) eight thousand years afterward.
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Summary: Great
Review: Jackson, a former seminarian, in his preface wonders why he had never been given any information on Gilgamesh written long before Judeo-Christian literature. Such a relief to read this because I've been wondering the same thing. I have just recently discovered Gilgamesh, and it is hard to understand why, after a lifetime of being bombarded with bible literature, I have to accidentally encounter a book that contains many similar concepts as the Bible, but predates it by more than 2000 years. Reading the epic by Jackson has added an important dimension in my enlightening travels through the different Gilgamesh epics by Maureen Kovacs, N.K. Sanders, John Gardner & John Maier and the first epic I read on the Internet by "Robert's Stuff". Jackson's Gilgamesh is engaging for its use of adjectives that are reminiscent of my Catholic background. Some examples: "sacred places ...sacrilege" (p 3), "miraculous plant" (p 88), "My god ...My god ... My god (p 94). Hopefully more people will become aware of this early literature. I've encountered so few who have even heard of Gilgamesh.
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Summary: An amazing novel
Review: The Epic of Gilgamesh is an amazing piece of literature. The tablets repeat themselves, and the flow is often hard to follow, but the story is awesome. I like the time period it is from. The Assyrian myth gives a glimpse of what life was like in 2500 BC. I also found the similarities between the Bible and the Epic engaging. In the Bible, Adam and Eve were downcast at leaving their nakedness and the garden of Eden, while in the Epic, Enkidu was civilized and gratefully left behind his nakedness and lack of knowledge. I think there also might be parallels with the snake in Genesis and the snake in the Epic. And the similarities between the two flood stories is unmistakeable. A great read, a quick read. I recommend it to all fans of mythology.
What happens. Gilgamesh needs to be restrained, so the gods send Enkidu. Enkidu and Gilgamesh become like brothers and go off to fight the god Humbaba. With the help of their god Shamash, the defeat the god. But Ishtar is enraged at Gilgamesh's refusal of her, and looses the bull. Enkidu and Gilgamesh slay the bull, but one of them must die. The ending is a dirge for the one who is slain.
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Summary: Mythological parallel to some Biblical stories
Review: This book is an important text as far as the parallels to the Bible concerning the great flood, the use of similar imagery ,and symbolism. However, don't expect this book to prove or disprove any Biblical text. The majority of this text is mythological in nature and hosts a managerie of gods. If one digs enough they may be able to relate some of the figures in this book to Biblical antediluvian characters. This book is as good as one can expect as far as a translation to the English language. A religous scholar will want to read this book and probably be required to read it for degree requirements.
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