People believed in Gilgamesh in ancient Mesopotamia, around the 18th century BCE. He was a legendary king of Uruk, celebrated in the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known works of literature.
Gilgamesh was a ruler of the city of Uruk back in 2700 BCE, however his adventures in the EPIC OF GILGAMESH are most likely exaggerated.
The serpent snatched the flower of youth from Gilgamesh while he was bathing in the waters of a pool. This incident led to Gilgamesh's realization of his mortality.
Just an opinion, but I believe it signifies that the Sumerians were as much preoccupied with mortality as any people from any time, ancient or modern. Different people deal with it in different ways. Gilgamesh was afraid to die, and he was determined to overcome death.
Enkidu is a significant character in the ancient Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh. He is created by the gods to challenge and eventually befriend Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk. Enkidu is known for his strength, wildness, and loyalty to Gilgamesh, ultimately meeting a tragic fate in the story.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, bad deeds include Gilgamesh's arrogance and mistreatment of his people, as well as his disrespect towards the gods. Another bad deed is Gilgamesh's abuse of his power and authority, leading to conflict and suffering in his kingdom.
The story of the flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh is both older than and remarkably similar to the story of Noah's Ark. It is very possible that the story of Noah's Ark came out of Gilgameshand many scholars believe that to be the case. Others believe that Gilgamesh is not actually the predecessor to the story of Noah's Ark, but that they both evolved from a common, even earlier legend.
Yes, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the character Gilgamesh does die at the end of the story.
Gilgamesh decided to kill Humbaba in the Epic of Gilgamesh because he believed that by defeating the monster, he would gain fame and glory, as well as prove his strength and bravery to the people of Uruk. Additionally, Humbaba was seen as a threat to Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu, so they sought to eliminate him to ensure their own safety.
The people of Uruk were angry at Gilgamesh because of his tyrannical rule, where he abused his power, oppressed his people, and was said to have forced young men into labor and taken advantage of women on their wedding nights.
According to the epic, Gilgamesh is driven initially by a need to "make a name for [himself]". The killing of the bull of heaven, on the other hand, is more a matter of self preservation. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is motivated by grief and fear of his own mortality.
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 elders of Uruk urge Gilgamesh to treat his people with fairness and compassion, rather than with arrogance and cruelty. They advise him to uphold justice and protect the people of Uruk from harm.