Throughout time, people of all cultures have told stories of heroes and kings. The most ancient story we have on record is the tale of King Gilgamesh. This story is an account of the King's journeys and accomplishments. Although it was written over four thousand years ago, many comparisons can be made between the society in which the story was written and our own modern society. In this essay, differences and similarities between the two societies will be examined. The story itself reflects an image of the cultural situation in which it was conceived. One major difference between this ancient society and our own is the way in which we sustain our leaders. Gilgamesh's character, whether based on an actual person or not, is portrayed as a very powerful and proud person. He was created to be better and stronger than common man and he is favored by the gods. This portrayal of a super-human king indicates a deep respect for leadership by those who told this story. Likely, these people lived under the rule of a monarchy in which the King was the all powerful leader and lawmaker. In today's society though, it is not common for one person to have unlimited power. Our governments are designed to divide ruling power between numerous parties; in order to keep any one person from becoming all powerful. Today's society would not tolerate a king who could do as he pleases, even if he were a noble and just man. In the story, Gilgamesh's super-human strength and power are not always convenient to his subjects. "His arrogance has no bounds", and "his lust leaves no virgin to her lover," yet the people respect his authority. The supremacy of Gilgamesh in the story reflects the feelings toward leadership held by that society which created the story. The respect they had for an all powerful monarch is hard for us to understand today. Our society looks down on those who rule as dictators and labels them tyrants and enemies. It is odd to imagine living in a society where a king is to be respected. Although there are differences between this ancient culture and ours, one similar idea found in the story is that of the worship of deity. There are many gods represented in the story of Gilgamesh. This reflects the tendency of the people of that time to cling to religious ideals to explain the unknown.
FAQs
How does Gilgamesh relate to society today? ›
The characters from The Epic of Gilgamesh help to realize a true essence of heroism as a concept and accept heroes as ordinary people, who are able to develop good relations, set goals, and be obedient to the norms set by society; in comparison to such image of a hero, the ideas discussed in modern culture and the ...
What is The Epic of Gilgamesh answer? ›The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Sumerian and Akkadian epic poem about the eponymous hero, Gilgamesh. In this epic, Gilgamesh, the king of the city of Uruk, goes on a quest to find immortality after he and Enkidu, his companion, perform deeds that anger the gods, resulting in Enkidu's death.
What is the biggest lesson of Gilgamesh and how does it apply to us today? ›But, of course, the major teaching from the Epic of Gilgamesh is that death is inevitable. Gilgamesh wastes so much time and energy in a futile effort to find eternal life. He turns his back on family and friends to wander the wilderness in search of something he can never have.
How is The Epic of Gilgamesh similar to modern stories today? ›In the modern world, people all over the globe are searching for meaning and purpose in life. People in their quest for meaning take chances and take all forms of journeys to lead them to their purpose in life (Brisch). Similarly, in the tale, Enkidu and Gilgamesh leave the comfort of their homes in pursuit of meaning.
What impact does the writing of Gilgamesh have on our society today? ›Influence on Literary Tradition: The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered one of the earliest works of literature, and its themes, motifs, and narrative elements have influenced subsequent literary traditions. Its exploration of existential themes, such as mortality and the search for meaning, resonates with later works.
Why is Gilgamesh important today? ›The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem dating from about 2100 BCE. It is thought to be the world's earliest great work of literature: it is certainly the oldest surviving such work. Scholars have worked out that it is derived from five Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh, king of Uruk.
What is the main message of Gilgamesh? ›The Inevitability of Death
Death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life, which is the greatest lesson Gilgamesh learns. Gilgamesh is bitter that only the gods can live forever and says as much when Enkidu warns him away from their fight with Humbaba.
In The Book of Giants, Gilgamesh is named as one of the Giants killed by the biblical Flood, an event which is detailed in another apocryphal work, The Book of Watchers. The Book of Giants contains a narrative involving the exploits of the giants and describes visions they receive and their reactions to them.
Was Gilgamesh a real King in history? ›Most historians generally agree that Gilgamesh was a historical king of the Sumerian city-state of Uruk, who probably ruled sometime during the early part of the Early Dynastic Period ( c. 2900 – 2350 BC).
How did The Epic of Gilgamesh impact society? ›The epic is regarded as a foundational work in religion and the tradition of heroic sagas, with Gilgamesh forming the prototype for later heroes like Heracles (Hercules), and the epic itself serving as an influence for Homeric epics.
What does The Epic of Gilgamesh teach us about civilization? ›
The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays the idea of civilization in an ambiguous way—as something that provides protection and knowledge, but that can also be a corrupting force.
What does The Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about civilization? ›Epic of Gilgamesh reveals that Mesopotamian civilization was based on values of fair and non-oppressive rulership and hom*osocial bonding. Gilgamesh begins his kingship by abusing both men and women in his realm, causing his people to despise him.
What are some themes from The Epic of Gilgamesh that you can find in modern movies plays books TV shows today? ›According to historian Wolfgang Röllig, the Epic of Gilgamesh addressed many basic concerns and important themes of human culture such as creation, death, friendship, enmity, pride, arrogance, humility, and failure.
What is the modern day home country of The Epic of Gilgamesh? ›The epic tells the story of a king, Gilgamesh, whose mother is a goddess. He rules the city of Uruk (now Warka in southern Iraq).
Who is Gilgamesh similar to? ›As shown by the many similarities between Achilles and Gilgamesh, Greek literary traditions were heavily influenced by Mesopotamian traditions. Reading through the Epic of Gilgamesh, similarities with the Iliad spring to mind, especially regarding their main characters: Achilles and Gilgamesh.
What society does Gilgamesh represent? ›Gilgamesh himself rules over the ancient Sumerian city Uruk, which is the main social and cultural setting of the story. However, society is not represented as perfect. Gilgamesh is initially a corrupt figure who bullies his subjects into doing whatever he wants them to, whether it's fighting him or sleeping with him.
Is The Epic of Gilgamesh still true and relevant today? ›While much has changed since, the epic's themes are still remarkably relevant to modern readers. Depending upon your point of view, Gilgamesh may be considered a myth-making biography of a legendary king, a love story, a comedy, a tragedy, a cracking adventure, or perhaps an anthology of origin stories.
What does The Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about society? ›One thing that The Epic of Gilgamesh tells us about ancient Mesopotamian society is the god-like status it accorded to kings. Gilgamesh isn't just the ruler of Uruk; he is two-thirds god and one-third man. This divine nature gives him the right to rule over his people however he pleases.