The Epic of Gilgamesh:

The First Poem and

Influence to Many

Others
By: Jake Clabaugh
History 210-01
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The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest pieces of literature in the world, possibly the

oldest.1 The Epic of Gilgamesh is about the king of Uruk, a ruthless leader until he meets his

match- Enkidu, a man created by the god Aruru to defeat Gilgamesh. After a spectacle of a fight,

the two become friends. Gilgamesh and Enkidu depart the city of Uruk, and embark on a quest to

kill Humbaba. During this quest, they also chop down the largest tree in the Cedar Forest. After

the death of Humbaba, the two friends kill the Bull of Heaven that is sent to wreak havoc on the

farmland around Uruk. After the Bull of Heaven is slain, the gods become angry, and decide that

whoever finished cutting down the largest tree in the Cedar Forest should die. Enkidu was the

one who laid the final blow on the tree, so he fell incurably ill and died. Gilgamesh was

distraught, and decided to find a way to defeat death itself. Gilgamesh embarks on a journey,

alone, to find the secret of the gods for eternal life- something that is forbidden for human use.

Gilgamesh is able to obtain a plant that will grant him immortality; but, as he is going home, a

snake steals and eats the plant. Defeated, Gilgamesh returns to Uruk empty handed. After some

time, Gilgamesh accepts his mortality. When he dies, he is exalted as brave, wise and unequaled;

living forever in the hearts and minds of those who read about his life and works.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a tale referring to much of the mythology and religion of the

time. Mesopotamians worshipped a pantheon of gods, and their mythology consisted of stories

about heroes, gods, goddesses and creation myths.2 The Epic of Gilgamesh is a work of

mythology. Heavily influenced by the religion of Mesopotamian culture, The Epic of Gilgamesh

was likely written as a way to honor a king who was beloved by his people at the end of his life..

1
Mark, Joshua J. "Gilgamesh." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Accessed April 20, 2018. https://www.ancient.eu/gilgamesh/.

2
Salem Press. "Mesopotamian mythology." Research Starters. Accessed April 20, 2018.
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=13&sid=acfbfee9-d331-441c-8267-
dc92f274fa1f%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=87996370&db=ers.
 2

As with many, more contemporary, cultures, it is not unlikely that the ancient Mesopotamians

used literature to honor and immortalize their heroes and role models.

The Epic of Gilgamesh has its roots in the mythology of the Mesopotamian mythology of

the time; it also, however, has many themes that still show relevance in later, and even

contemporary societies. A desire for long-lived renown, fear of death, and the desire to live

forever are all expressed in the poem; and these themes still hold a place for modern readers.3

Gilgamesh embarked on journeys and conquests to build his fame; he wanted to be

remembered and known throughout the civilization He was also, however, also known as a

ruthless king who would have his way with the women of the city. Gilgamesh was also famous

for having no equal in combat. When Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh- when Gilgamesh was

making his way into the bedroom of a bride-to-be- Gilgamesh was prideful and angry that

anyone would dare confront him. When Gilgamesh defeated Enkidu, Gilgamesh was surprised

that an equal for him existed. The two became friends, and Gilgamesh was humbled to a degree.

His desire to have worldwide fame still persisted, however; and Enkidu accompanied Gilgamesh

on a journey to kill Humbaba. Coming back successful, the two were honored for their bravery

and heroic deeds. This fame is exactly what Gilgamesh wanted.

After the Bull of Heaven is slain, Enkidu is struck ill and dies. Gilgamesh is grief stricken

by this development. As a coping mechanism of sorts, Gilgamesh commences a journey to find

a means to obtaining immortality and unending youth. The gods are the only beings who are

allowed access to such an element; but Gilgamesh decides to attempt to find it regardless. At the

shore of the sea of death, Gilgamesh receives advice from a barmaid: to enjoy life, and

3
Kline, Jim. "The Oldest Story, the Oldest Fear, the Oldest Fool: The Religious Dimension of The Epic of
Gilgamesh." Jung Journal 10, no. 2 (May 16, 2016).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19342039.2016.1157411?scroll=top&needAccess=true.
 3

experience it fully; not worrying about what happens afterward. Gilgamesh ignores the barmaid

and continues his search for immortality. Gilgamesh crosses the sea of death by ferry and meets

Utnapishtim, the man given immortal life by the gods after surviving the flood. Utnapishtim

ridicules Gilgamesh and attempts to make him give up on his search for the substance that has

been banned from human consumption by the gods. Strangely, however, Utnapishtim tells

Gilgamesh to change his clothes, and gives him the location of the imortailty plant. Gilgamesh

dives deep into the sea, and finds the plant. On his way home, a snake steals and eats the plant as

Gilgamesh bathed. Everything Gilgamesh had worked for, the entire reason for his journey into

the underworld, is taken away from him. This part of the poem seems to be a reminder, by the

author(s), that mortality is simply a part of life. Death is inevitable, and trying to cheat it will

only lead to disappointment and wasted time.

After returning to Uruk, empty handed, Gilgamesh starts to come to terms with the fact

that he will eventually die someday. Gilgamesh starts to realize what he has done, and what he

will be remembered for. The great wall that was built around Uruk is the most prominent display

of his efforts. After he had come to an acceptance that he will die, Gilgamesh dies and praises are

sung about him, and he is put in a large tomb.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest pieces of literature in the world, and has

impacted the literary world greatly. The meanings and translations of the different versions of

The Epic of Gilgamesh are debated, and disagreed upon to a great extent. The use of subtleties

and irony seems strange to many contemporary readers, because it is used at times of

seriousness.4

4
Ibid
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The Epic of Gilgamesh is said to have influenced literature throughout the history

of the western world. The flood story in The Epic of Gilgamesh, is also portrayed by the

Hebrews in the Torah/Bible; and the scene in Homer’s Iliad in which Achilles grieves over the

death of Patroclus is similar to the way Gilgamesh grieves Enkidu.5 Surely these similarities are

not by accident or coincidence. The Epic of Gilgamesh was written before Homer’s Iliad and

Odyssey by 1,500 years.6 If, indeed, The Epic of Gilgamesh was an influence for Biblical and

Ancient Greek works, then The Epic of Gilgamesh is arguably, by extension, the most influential

piece of literature in the western world. In the Middle Ages, monks copied and translated ancient

Greek texts and the originals were preserved by the Roman and Byzantine empires, and the

Catholic Church. In the mid to late 14th century, the original texts were acquired by intellectuals,

and the Renaissance was started. In a roundabout way, The Epic of Gilgamesh influenced the

Renaissance- in that it influenced the ancient Greek works that did, in fact, influence the

movement toward free thought and learning.

In 612 BCE, Nineveh was razed and abandoned, including the great library, in

which The Epic of Gilgamesh, among many other ancient texts, was kept. Almost two and a half

millennia passed by before it was rediscovered by Henry Layard and Hormuzd Rassam in 1853.7

The discovery of the library was a massive archaeological find, and a huge deal for those who

study the ancient world, specifically Mesopotamia and Persia. Uncovering major texts, such as

5
Ziolkowski, Theodore. 2011. Gilgamesh Among Us : Modern Encounters with the Ancient Epic. Ithaca:
Cornell University Press, 2011. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed April
20, 2018).
6
Mark, Joshua J. "Gilgamesh." Reed Magazine. Accessed April 20, 2018.
http://www.reed.edu/reed_magazine/june2013/articles/eliot_circular/gilgamesh.html.

7
Ziolkowski, Theodore. 2011. Gilgamesh Among Us : Modern Encounters with the Ancient Epic. Ithaca:
Cornell University Press, 2011. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed April
20, 2018).
 5

The Epic of Gilgamesh, gives researchers more depth in which they can study the ancient

civilizations. These ancient texts give information about the religion of the society, how the

women were treated in the society, what the society valued, and who they saw as the ideal

human. Much like modern literature, these ancient texts give us a glimpse into how life was

portrayed by that civilization.

The Epic of Gilgamesh, unlike some ancient texts, does not require an extensive

knowledge about Mesopotamian culture to read, and even enjoy.8 The story is pretty clear cut as

to what happens, when it happens, and why. The story itself has many parts to it, with action,

romance, betrayal, revenge, and a seemingly impossible feat being attempted (embarking on a

journey to obtain the key to immortality). The poem has many aspects to it that stories written

today have in them.

References

Kline, Jim. "The Oldest Story, the Oldest Fear, the Oldest Fool: The Religious Dimension of The

Epic of Gilgamesh." Jung Journal 10, no. 2 (May 16, 2016).

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19342039.2016.1157411?scroll=top

&needAccess=true

Mark, Joshua J. "Gilgamesh." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Accessed April 20, 2018.

https://www.ancient.eu/gilgamesh/.

Mark, Joshua J. "Gilgamesh." Reed Magazine. Accessed April 20, 2018.

http://www.reed.edu/reed_magazine/june2013/articles/eliot_circular/gilgamesh.html.

8
Kline, Jim. "The Oldest Story, the Oldest Fear, the Oldest Fool: The Religious Dimension of The Epic of
Gilgamesh." Jung Journal 10, no. 2 (May 16, 2016).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19342039.2016.1157411?scroll=top&needAccess=true.
 6

Salem Press. "Mesopotamian mythology." Research Starters. Accessed April 20, 2018.
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=13&sid=acfbfee9-d331-441c-8267-
dc92f274fa1f%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=879963
70&db=ers.

Ziolkowski, Theodore. 2011. Gilgamesh Among Us : Modern Encounters with the Ancient Epic.
Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2011. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost),
EBSCOhost (accessed April 20, 2018).