Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh was an ancient king of Uruk (modern day Iraq) in the year 2500 BCE, and reigned for probably hundred and twenty six years (according to the Sumerian king list). The name Gilgamesh is mentioned in the Qumran Scrolls. The epic of Gilgamesh is oldest recorded stories in near eastern world. It was well known in the third century BCE but was told orally for many years before that. The story is written on twelve tablets made out of clay using sets of symbols called Cuneiform. The story uses two different languages (Sumerian and Akkadian). The story of Gilgamesh is about a bad king who was born to a Mortal dad and a goddess mother and because he is partially mortal he must die. The story tells the creation of Enkidu who will be Gilgamesh’s equal. In the reading for this week Gilgamesh is mention twice: Once in Brettler’s article, discussing the biblical period and the influence of Ancient near eastern culture on Israel, using this story as an example for cultural influences. In the second article the story of Gilgamesh is brought because of the parallel story of the creation of Enkidu from clay as compared to the creation story in Genesis where god created the man from dust (clay). DD