Anastasia Feschuk Professor Frances Pownall Classics 110 December 4th, 2013 Echo Through All the Country

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Sumerian Civilization

Literature and other forms of art are often used in order to discover more detailed accounts of the past, because art has proven to withstand the test of time. When we study the ancient period of Mesopotamia, and the Sumerian culture that thrived in this region, we frequently attribute The Epic of Gilgamesh as being one of the most monumental and influential pieces of historical evidence and literary art from this time period. We do not have a lot of anecdotal validation when it comes to the ancient world of Mesopotamia, so we must rely on poems and stories to relay some significant information woven through their paragraphs. It provides us with fresh insight to their societys belief system and moral values, and even though it is technically a fictional piece of literature, it is exceptionally resourceful. The story offers a window into the past one through which we must read and critically analyze to fully appreciate. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a famous Mesopotamian work of verse (credited as the first known documented story in written history), originally carried on orally and later scribed into thick stone tablets in two separate parts. The plot was told in many distinctive ways throughout its history, but the tablets preserve what we have come to recognize as the most widely accepted version. The main character is the semilegendary guardian and protector of the city, Gilgamesh supposed historical King of Uruk and his wild companion Enkidu set off on a quest to demolish the monstrous

guardian of the nearby foreboding, mysterious cedar forest. Once returned from their courageous expedition, Enkidu suffers terminal illness and falls to his imminent demise. This gloomy event inspires Gilgamesh to decide that he must not suffer from the same fatal humanity, for he has become afraid of death (Gilgamesh, 134), and commences an unwavering pursuit of personal immortality. He attempts many brave and hopeful missions during his search, all of which he fails in the end. This idea of immortality ultimately proves to be fallible and Gilgamesh does eventually miss his grasp for lifelong youth, but his adventure still deeply survives in thematic thought. It is apparent from this brief plot description that a fundamental premise of the story is the gain-loss relationship of seeking immortality. In the case of Gilgamesh, he becomes enthralled and obsessed with the notion of everlasting youth. There seems to be an important underlying cause for stressing and emphasizing the impossibility of immortality. It is demonstrated through the appearance of symbols such as the serpent and world-ending flood symbols that have real-world meaning to the Sumerians. In the Sumerian society, life was a constant battle of strife and peril, with unexpected events unfolding at each bend in time, resulting in risks and hardship. Living under a hierarchical society is certainly not what we would qualify as a long, enjoyable life. The majority of the population was struck with disagreeable peasantry. Though their lives were swarming with misfortune, war, and poverty, they began to realize that they must make of their lives what they could with the time they had on earth. Placing the emphasis on unfeasible immortality in their major works of literature creates a sense of importance for the life we get to live. In the Sumerian tradition, this tale was used to

enforce the belief and motif that life shouldnt be taken for granted. This idea is reinforced by Gilgameshs trial-and-error tactic his first mission involves travelling to visit Utnapishtim to inquire about obtaining immorality, and his second task is retrieving a magic plant from the depths of the sea that will grant him his wish. In either scenario, he loses his chance, and he returns to being the mortal he always was. The work of analyzing The Epic of Gilgamesh is important when investigating culture and society during the period of the early world, because major works of literature allow us to do this comprehensively and completely. They provide us a context for their philosophy an example of how the Sumerians might have implemented their structure of life during their time. Anthropologists are able to use this gathered information to aid their research of the birthplace of civilization, and the societies thereafter. It enables a new level of discovery when researching Mesopotamian lore and daily life, and leads us to a better understanding of their world. They were enthralled, influenced, and inspired by tales of floods, serpents, and unachievable immortality. Things like this would not have surfaced without the help of critical comparative literary analysis continuing to prove to be an important tool for historians and other related fields. Literature has helped piece together a history that otherwise would have gone unnoticed or generally unknown. The Epic of Gilgamesh may seem widely fantastical to our modern-day minds, but literature evolves from the lives people experience on a daily basis. Its legends and lore act as a foundation on which we can build a reliable history of Sumerian culture in Mesopotamia. We can deduce from their prominent idea of unattainable immortality

that this became an important theme with regards to their everyday lives. During this period of time, as it was the birth of civilization, life was difficult they needed to appreciate the trifling amount of time they were given. Most of our current presumptions about Mesopotamia are sourced from literary evidence such as The Epic of Gilgamesh, making it our most reliable source for Sumerian history. Without using literature as a basis of information, we would be fairly lost in terms of the ancient people of Sumer. Not only does it help to expand history, but it also enriches our impression of Mesopotamia. Literature breathes fresh new life into culture.