Last week I read Prometheus Bound. This week I traveled over 1,000 years further in the past to read the Epic of Gilgamesh. The exact date that it was written is unknown but I have seen it anywhere from the range of 2150 BC to 1400 BC. Whatever the actual date is it was a very long time ago.
As with Prometheus Bound this is a short read and can easily be finished in one sitting. The epic is divided into 11 parts. One for each of the tablets that it was engraved on.
Gilgamesh was a great king with no rivals. Enkidu grew up in the wilderness as wild as an animal and was of equal size to Gilgamesh. First they are rivals before becoming best of friends. They go to battle together and are victorious. Then Enkidu dies and Gilgamesh is forced to confront his own mortality.
There were a couple of things that I found interesting about this story including the reference to the flood. First at the beginning of the epic and then in greater detail towards the end. The author notes “He brought information of (the time) before the flood.”
The second thing that stood out to me was that when confronted with his own mortality Gilgamesh went in search for a way to prevent his own death. When confronted with the possibility of his own death he sought ways to prevent it.
The Epic of Gilgamesh provides some important questions to ponder about. First, how do rivals become friends? Second, what is the importance of true friendship? Third, how do you confront death?
As with Prometheus Bound I believe the epic of Gilgamesh was able to survive for so long because it touches on questions of importance no matter when or where you live.
As they barreled along in the subway Alexander turned to Sammy and asked “who are your heroes?”
“Like me personally?”
“Societal. In my age there were Achilles, Odysseus, Ajax and so many more. I want to know who the new heroes are.”
“Those are Greek dudes right?”
“Yes.” Alexander said disdainfully.
“Hey, don’t get mad at me cus I ain’t super booky?”
“I assume that means you don’t read much.”
“The last time I picked up a book was like third grade man. I live in the streets.”
“You have no place of domicile?”
“Dom a what?”
“A dwelling. A place where you sleep.”
“You take things too literally. I’m just sayin I was always roaming the streets. I had an apartment. It was small, so I spent as much time as possible outside in the city.”
“Who are the heroes of your age?” Alexander asked trying to get the conversation back on track.”
“I don’t know man. Everyone is so divided these days.” Sammy hedged as he looked around the subway to see who might be listening.
“Do you know of the Trojan War?”
“That’s the one with the horse. Right?”
“I have much to ...
