Causes: The Epic of Gilgamesh was likely written to glorify the achievements of King Gilgamesh and to explore themes of mortality and the quest for immortality.
Effects: The epic has had a significant impact on later literature and influenced the development of epic poetry and storytelling traditions in various cultures. It also offers insights into ancient Mesopotamian culture and beliefs.
The Epic of Gilgamesh
There were some parallel themes in both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Torah. It's possible that the Akkadians and the Hebrews were related peoples. See related links.
Some lessons the Sumerians might have learned from the Epic of Gilgamesh include the importance of friendship and companionship, the inevitability of death, the balance between power and humility, and the significance of seeking knowledge and wisdom.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, there is no specific devil figure as in some other religious texts. However, the character Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest, could be seen as a menacing and evil force in the story.
He carved the story of his journey on a stone tablet. In some translations, the Epic of Gilgamesh is carved on a stone of Lapis Lazuli.
The Iliad and the Epic of Gilgamesh are all origin stories from some of humanity's most established civilizations.
Gilgamesh is the Sumerian hero-king about whom epic poems were written, which are considered some of the earliest surviving works of literature. He is the main character in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a tale that explores themes of friendship, mortality, and the search for meaning in life.
The IliadThe Odyssey of UlyssesThe Song of RolandBeowulfSir Gwain and the Green KnightThe Epic of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh explains that the people on earth were becoming too noisy. One of the gods, Ea, went against the decision of the rest of the gods, and told a human, Ut-Napishtim, to build an ark to save a few humans, and some animals.
One archetype is the serpent sheds its skin, in which in Gilgamesh the serpent sheds its skin because of youth. The other is the serpent is sneaky and sly just like they are today. The last one is that the plant contains special features, in which today, herbs (plant) contain healing powers.
The Chronicles Of Gilgamesh and Beowulf in English, Illiad and Odessey in Greek and The Raamaayana and The Mahaa Bhaaratha in Sanscrit are the greatest examples of epic poetry. All of these are also considered oral epics.
An epic that defines or supports some nationalistic theme. For example the stories of King Arthur define and support Breton/Christian nationality. The Tales of Charlemagne do the same for France. The Epic of Gilgamesh was for the City State of Kish.