Gilgamesh

Q: When was The Epic of Gilgamesh written?

The Epic of Gilgamesh dates from c. 2150-1400 BCE. It is considered the oldest heroic epic in the world.

Q: Was Gilgamesh a real king?

Gilgamesh is thought to have been the historical king of the city of Uruk in the 26th century BCE.

Q: What is The Epic of Gilgamesh about?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is about a man (Gilgamesh) whose best friend dies and, unable to deal with this loss and the certainty of his own death, embarks on a quest for meaning in life.

Q: Why is The Epic of Gilgamesh important?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is important as a work of ancient literature dealing with the most important questions of human existence: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Where am I going after death? These questions are still asked today as they were over 2000 years ago.

Joshua J. Mark

Gilgamesh

Definition

Gilgamesh is the semi-mythic King of Uruk best known as the hero of The Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2150-1400 BCE) the great Babylonian poem that predates Homer's Iliad and Odyssey by 1500 years and, therefore, stands as the oldest piece of epic world literature. Gilgamesh features in several Sumerian poems but is world-famous from the Mesopotamian epic.

More about: Gilgamesh

Timeline

c. 2600 BCE
Uruk ruled by Gilgamesh for 126 years according to the Sumerian King List.
c. 2150 BCE - c. 1400 BCE
The tales of Gilgamesh written which inform the Epic of Gilgamesh.

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