Literature: The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered the one of the oldest written poems on Earth.

The poem originated in Mesopotamia and was originally written on 12 clay tablets. No one really knows who wrote the epic but its believed to be written somewhere between 2750 and 2500 BCE. The epic was discovered by Hormuzd Rassam in the city of Nineveh in 1853. The Epic wasnt written all at once but instead throughout a time span of nearly a thousand years. The Epic is about Gilgamesh, who is King of Uruk. Gilgamesh is two-thirds god and one-third man. He was physically attractive and very strong and built great temples and towers around his city. Gilgamesh began ruling with an iron fist. The gods heard of the wrong Gilgamesh was doing and created a man equally a powerful as Gilgamesh named Enkidu. The two became friends. After Enkidu was killed by the gods Gilgamesh became afraid of death. He traveled to two twin peaks which led to the place where mortals cannot venture. He asked the gods for immortality and was told he could find a plant at the bottom of the sea that would make him immortal. After getting the plant he traveled back to his kingdom but along the way a serpent stole his plant. When Gilgamesh returned to his kingdom he realizes that the important things in life are to have lived and to have loved.

Stone image of Gilgamesh http://www.gradesaver.com/the-epic-of-gilgamesh/study-guide/short-summary/ http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/ http://www.qacps.k12.md.us/mms/george/gilgamesh.htm