The story of The Epic of Gilgamesh is a western civilization historical poem that is mix of mythology and literature. It is to be believed was written around the first centuries of the second millennium B. C. considering one of the oldest, if not the oldest, ancient poem. It is about a hero who is desperate to become a god and goes an on quest for immortality. Within the pages of the old tale it reveals many hints of history, human nature, and myths of an ancient culture. Though the Sumerian Empire, the Mesopotamian culture, is long forgotten it has been told and retold by many for a reason.
Is it because it’s similar views and culture? Is it because of its great story telling, its rich words? Or maybe because it enlighten the people historically? Though the tablets were founded by archaeologists in Middle East, it is a tale written by people of Mesopotamia about adventure, of morality and of tragedy. Historians have historical belief that this tale has been told in Babylonia, Assyria and other ancient cultures for a reason. One reason could be the shared views despite the different culture, and different era. Most to all believed in male dominance, one strong male leader, and polytheistic, as many believed in many gods.
Views of Morality, friendship, fame and death are familiar themes within many ancient works could be a reason why it was preserved and repetitive. In many ancient art and poems show they were concern of death, thirty for knowledge, and to be remembered. These desires are all part of human nature, wanting to find fulfillment, so it makes sense why this story would be told in different culture. To have a dark story with a hero who has “human ambitions and in the end “is swallowed up and finds its fulfilment in ancient ritual” (Sandars 22).
That one should be happy with their life and not fear death is a lesson that a culture tries to bestow to their people. Doesn’t matter if Epic of Gilgmesh is a myth, the people of Mesopotamia and in other cultures were pleased with the rich words the poem spoke. Divided by different episodes, it tells a trilling tale of adventure of “meeting of friends, a forest journey, the flouting of a fickle goddess, the death of the companion and the search for ancestral wisdom and immortality” (Sandars 22). It’s similar to other ancient tales, like Odyssey, it very different all the same.
In tales such as Odyssey the main character is always the hero and could do no wrong. In The Epic of Gilgamesh is instead portrays the main character in a different light, making Gilgamesh a dark character and doing that teaches the most important lesson, human nature. Though gifted, being half god and half man, the leader of his people who “knew the countries of the world” (Sandars 61) was very cruel and arrogant. Upon meeting Enkidu, who is “innocent of mankind: he knew nothing of the cultivated land” becomes Gilgamesh’s equal and it’s his death that shows him how to value life.
That it’s never too late to change, or impossible and anybody can be humanized. The tale is a great source for historians to learn what Mesopotamia’s culture, way of life and traditions was like through their themes and rich details. By looking at ancient work, learning through symbolism, patterns and materials we can piece together evidence that proves what was important to the people. The poem named close to a dozen gods giving evidence that Mesopotamian culture was polytheistic, the belief of many gods, and they are to please them.
Just like the Greek mythology and Ancient Egyptian culture each one represented an aspect of Mesopotamian life. Anu is consider as the father of Gods, Aruru is the goddess of creation, Ninurta is the god of war, and etc. , and like the other cultures, believe they are capable of “exterminate mankind” (Sandars 108) if displeased. Historians can also make a conclusion that floods were a very common thing in the ancient era, a source of destruction that has been said in many other ancient works. As well as Mesopotamians government was made of a strong male leader and a council of elders.
Themes such as; morality and fame, it also helps historian readers understand how Mesopotamian way of thinking and behaviors were like. No matter the time period people are still concern about death and morality, which for many afterlife is a wanted belief, that they will go somewhere afterwards. It was the reason why many Romans were attracted to Christianity because it believed in afterlife. Whatever the reason may be why the poem The Epic of Gilgamesh was preserved and repetitive they are all valid answers.
Without the ancient work of art, as it is our only source of records of ancient life, we wouldn’t be able to understand how it was like back then. It also shows how we grew, advanced and adapted throughout time. The story is refreshing and it’s like no other, most tales are by the hero’s point of view, but Gilgamesh’s adventure is the opposite almost like the villains point of view instead. In many ancient cultures they are very similar but very different as well, the tale may concentrate Mesopotamian culture but the undertone of the works is still the same for all cultures.