Analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh The epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest primary document discovered in human history dating back to approximately 2,000 B.C.E. This document tells a story of an ancient King Gilgamesh, ruler of Sumer in 2,700 B.C.E. who is created gloriously by gods as one third man and two third god. In this epic, Gilgamesh begins his kingship as an audacious and immature ruler. Exhausted from complaints, the gods send a wild man named Enkidu to become civilized and assist Gilgamesh to mature into a righteous leader. However, Enkidus death causes Gilgamesh to realize his fear of immortality and search for an escape from death. On his journey, Gilgamesh learns that the gods will not grant his wish and that he must
We can further deduce the perspective Mesopotamians had to living properly. For instance, the tavern keeper advices Gilgamesh that because his destiny does not include immortality he should be merry, embracing his wife and cherishing his child (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 2). This portrays that Mesopotamians believed the life of a joyous man should involve respectful, trust worthy bonds including love and commitment to a single wife. The tavern woman’s advice displays the ancient Mesopotamian society agreed that one should not live sleeping with multiple women, as Gilgamesh once did, but promoted a commitment toward one woman, a life sharing partner. Therefore, ancient mesopatamian society felt that life should be a harmonious experience filled with pleasant emotions and genuine relationships. Cultural artifacts, such as the primary document The Epic of Gilgamesh serve to entertain, educate, and enlighten. This epic can suggest a variety of insight to ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Primarily, in ancient times this story could have undoubtedly served as a form on entertainment as an epic tale but also as a form of male fantasy. For instance, the wild man Enkidu lays with a harlot for seven days in order to become a more civilized man (Rielley, 52). This scene is the product of a male fantasy which allows any male to escape from reality and into the epic. In an educative sense, however, this scene can also serves to teach civilians in