Epic of Gilgamesh: A Timeless Tale \"The

Epic of Gilgamesh: A Timeless Tale

"The Epic of Gilgamesh" is fascinating and worthwhile because it allows us to see how ancient civilizations lived. We often think of the earliest societies in a detached way, never stopping to think of how they thought about certain things or why they did what they did. Gilgamesh's story revolves around gods, goddesses, and worldly leaders but it also shares with humanity the notion of friendship, loss, and love. We like to think we are more advanced than civilizations from thousands of centuries ago but the truth remains that we are more like them than we like to admit. From how we think to haw we feel, we are linked to all humanity, ancient or not.

Friendship is a popular theme in the story. Enkidu and Gilgamesh are the best of friends and it is Enkidu that changes Gilgamesh from being an oppressor to a beloved hero. The two share the ability to be honest with one another. Enkidu must tell Gilgamesh his dreams for everlasting life will never come true. Gilgamesh would never have listened to these words from anyone but a true friend. Friends are painfully honest with each other but they can also be supportive. When Enkidu becomes weary of fighting, Gilgamesh tells him, "I will go first." (Gilgamesh 18). He is willing to go first to give his friend strength. We also know that Gilgamesh, though he might have been Part god, still grieves like the rest of humanity. Enkidu's death breaks Gilgamesh's heart and as he grieves for him, he places his hand on his chest one last time. He lays a veil "as one veils a bride" (31) over his body and "rages like a lion" (31). This scene is important because it demonstrates the power of love and human grief as well as establishing the fact that humanity must die, reinforcing what Enkidu told Gilgamesh earlier. Friendship is important in the story because it shapes Gilgamesh to become a man his people could love.

The tale is also interesting because it mentions a flood, which is similar to the Biblical flood. This flood shows us how the gods behaved toward one another. While we may not know why the gods allowed the flood, we do know that Ea rescues mankind from it as he rescues Utnapishtim. We know Enlil wanted to destroy the earth but Ea prevented this by ordering Utnapishtim to "build a boat, abandon possessions and look for life, despise worldly goods and save your soul alive" (38). Here we see how the gods act independently. They do not always seek support from other gods and they do not always act in the best interests of the gods realm as a whole. Ea had compassion, which Ea did not seem to have and, as a result, he did not want to se the earth destroyed. This conflict with the gods saved mankind.