SPOILER ALERT!
To celebrate the First 100 Books Read, I will occasionally select those masterpieces I have discovered earlier that have made a lasting impact. The Epic of Gilgamesh is ranked #6 on my All-Time Top Books list.
Have you heard of the magnificent Epic of Gilgamesh? I have read
the Penguins Classics version from 1960s and the recent modern Stephen Mitchell
translation. Both clearly capture the majesty of this 2000 BC poem that
was discovered in 19th century
in clay tablets with cuneiform characters in the ancient Akkadian language.
The earliest surviving work of literature, predating Homer and the
Hebrew Bible, this poem is unlike anything ever written. The story is
centered on this historical king who reigned in Mesopotamian in the great city
of Uruk
The narrative is sparse but evocative describing Gilgamesh as
arrogant and insensitive leader. Enkidu is created as a rival by the
gods, but they instantly become friends and venture in search of fame by
slaying a forest monster. Gilgamesh humiliates goddess Ishtar who punishes Enkidu
with death. Gilgamesh voices his grief at losing his best friend and his
profound fear of death. This leads him on a spiritual quest to search the
one exception to the rule of mortality –Utnapishtim, whom Gilgamesh learns
achieved immortality by building the Ark during the Great Flood at the request
of the gods who decided to wipe out the race because humans had become too
numerous and too noisy!!!
In the end Gilgamesh achieves wisdom, reluctantly realizing that
there is no way to overcome death and decides to focus his energy on restoring
his great city (which ultimately becomes his enduring legacy, as ironically,
its vast achievement is beautifully described in this remarkable poem).
For me personally, what most resonated was the astonishing description
of Gilgamesh’s grief at losing his dear friend (soul mate) Enkidu and the
disbelief / unwillingness to accept that the same fate (death) should apply to
him: “Must I die too? Must I be as lifeless as
Enkidu? How can I bear this sorrow that gnaws at my belly, this fear of death
that relentlessly drives me onward? This leads him on a personal quest /
odyssey in search of eternal life on
earth.
Most human beings ponder this existential question of what is the
purpose of life, and what happens when one dies. For some, it seems
inconceivable that death represents the end, but they lack the complete faith
in God to comfort and guide them in this earthly life. Ironically,
Gilgamesh twice is given the opportunity by Utnapishtim for immortality and eternal
youth (the test of staying awake seven days and capturing the Magic Plant), but
Gilgamesh lets them both slip away. Why this happens is a mystery –
perhaps it was simply not meant to be! After the quest comes to an end,
Gilgamesh is left with only the conventional advice on how to live;
“love the child who holds you by the hand, and give your wife
pleasure in your embrace” and that “man’s life is short, at any moment it can
be snapped”
There are so many other thought provoking passages in this short
epic that hint at deeper truths/mysteries:
- Gilgamesh introduced as a ruthless tyrant, with
each virgin bride required to be first mated by Gilgamesh because “every
girls’ hymen belonged to him”
- ‘wild man’ Enkidu being civilized/tamed by the
temple love priestess Shamhat by opening offering him sex through seven
days of non stop lovemaking!
- the fascinating role of the temple priestess (not
a prostitute!) whose life is dedicated to initiating men to the sacred
mystery of sexual union– a refreshing healthy view that is very different
to the Judeo-Christian view of Adam and Eve after the Fall
- the flimsy rationale (fame!) to pursue the
monster Humbaba of the Cedar Forest (they are not attacked directly by a monster like
in Beowulf) and Enkidu’s insistence, despite pleas of mercy from Humbaba,
that Gilgamesh kill the monster
- Goddess Ishtar being scorned by Gilgamesh, and
her human-like response - fury by sending the Bull of Heaven to destroy
his palace
- Enkidu’s ill-advised taunts and hubris
(outrageous arrogance) at the Goddess Ishtar after killing the Bull of
Heaven –“if only I could catch you, I would rip you apart” - who suffers
the expected consequence; a slow agonizing death!
- Gilgamesh’s first challenge on his quest is
through a dark tunnel, situated between twin mountains, as the suns sets
and he must reach the end before the sun rises (running nonstop for twelve
hours)!!?
- The elaborate Noah story with details of the
Flood that are eerily similar to and pre-date the Bible – building the
boat, selection of animals, the six days of the flood, and the loosing of
birds on the seventh day.
- A snake (the same as in the
In summary, the Epic of Gilgamesh has power to move and
astonish. It is incredible that ‘the
oldest story in the world’ is
so relevant today and can speak directly to one on a deep, personal
basis. This is a remarkable feat of Great literature.
This is a true Masterpiece that I will revisit often and savor
each line similar to how the British discoverers must have experienced it,
with the story slowly unfolding with each of the original thousands of
clay tablets.
Rating - 10/10
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