The Epic of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk - 2127 Words

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, women step out of their gender-specific roles where they are not only portrayed as the maternal figure but also the transmitter of civilization, the agent of knowledge and the intercessor. At the same time, they are depicted as the agent of destruction too. As such, although the females get a smaller portion of the narrative as compared to the men, they are indeed significant as they through their roles, they are able to guide and help the male figures in their heroic quest. During the Mesopotamian time, prostitutes were seen as a threat to the family unit and the community as they are the destroyers of peace and stability in the society. However, this notion is reversed in the epic where the prostitute, Shamhat, is depicted as a wise woman who civilises Enkidu. In the epic, Shamhat act as the transmitter of civilisation. In order to civilise him, Shamhat has to tame his animalistic side. Hence, she has sexual intercourse with Enkidu. After the intercourse, when Enkidu saw the animals, â€Å"the wild beasts of the steppe shunned† (9) him since he has transformed into a human. As such, the sexual intercourse is not just for erotic pleasure. It allows Enkidu to transcend from a barbaric individual to a masculine man where he â€Å"gained reason and expanded his understanding† (9). His ability to reason can be seen when a man came to complain to him about the tyranny of Gilgamesh, Enkidu immediately set off to fight Gilgamesh since he has th e knowledge thatShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh, By King Of Uruk1813 Words   |  8 PagesEpics are long poems, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation. There are numerous epics known to us today, and the epic of Gilgamesh is one of them. This epic is one of the oldest epic ever written in the world. This epic was written on eleven different clay tablets. It used to be told only orally many years before it was written down. So many versions and languages of this epic has been disseminatedRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : King Of Uruk1332 Words   |  6 PagesIn the verse narrative The Epic of Gilgamesh the principal character Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, is described as an entity that is two-thirds god and one-third man. Gilgamesh is a hero/protagonist who exhibits many more human features than divine features. This makes him a flawed hero because all humans are flawed. He is even described in human terms. â€Å"A perfect physical specimen, gifted athlete and sex machine† [Davis p.154]. His primary flaws are pride and arrogance with his pursuit for immortalityRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 932 Words   |  4 Pages Repetition serves several different narrative functions in the Epic of Gilagmesh. It connects three parts of the epic together using the city of Uruk and, most importantly, the rampart that encircles the city. Repetition also gives subtle hints of shifting perspectives. At the beginning of the epic the reader is invited to marvel at the city of Uruk from the height of the wall. The walls of the city act as a framing device, enclosing various aspects of civilization: social, politics and religionRead MoreGilgamesh The Epic Of Gilgamesh877 Words   |  4 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh the lines that are repeated at the beginning and end of the epic show that only immortality a human can gain lies in creating things that last beyond a person’s lifetime. While at the beginning of the epic Gilgamesh is seeking eternal life, when he concludes his journey he realizes that he has created an enduring legend through the foundation of his city, Uruk. Through this legend, Gilgamesh can li ve on in the memory of his people, long after he has passed away. The epic is ableRead MoreGilgameshs True Identity Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesIdentity Gilgamesh, who was made perfect physically, with all of the wisdom and secrets of the gods, shows he is not perfectly made on the inside as he struggles to find his true purpose and identity in the Epic of Gilgamesh. He, who proves good at heart in the conclusion of the epic, does not know why he was created and is frustrated at his mortal third in his early life. Made to bring strength and prosperity to the mortals of Uruk as an honorable king, Gilgamesh must firstRead MoreThe Hero s Journey From The Epic Of Gilgamesh942 Words   |  4 Pages Gilgamesh was a powerful king of Uruk an ancient city in Sumer now known as Iraq. Created by the gods, Gilgamesh was 2/3 god and 1/3 man he thought of himself as undefeatable, and carried himself immorally, taking advantage of his people. Being tired of this the people of Uruk began sobbing, and the goddess Aruru heard their cries and created Gilgamesh s equal Enkidu. Together they would go on to venture into battles, one of which leads to the death of Enkidu that brings Gilgamesh to his veryRead MoreLeadership And The Tao Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh1665 Words   |  7 PagesÚta-napà ­shti is the greatest example of Leadership and the Tao in the Epic of Gilgà ¡mesh. This essay will demonstrate what good leadership is versus bad. This essay will compare the leadership styles of Úta-napà ­shti who saved humanity from the great flood, Gi lgà ¡mesh, king of the city of Úruk. This essay will also define leadership, the way of the Tao. Lastly this Essay will show how Úta-napà ­shti s leadership compared to other leaders in the epic and summarize all the key points of the Essay. â€Å"The Immortal†Read MoreEpic of Gilgamesh1581 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The epic poem dubbed the Epic of Gilgamesh is perhaps the earliest surviving literature on the face of the planet. The poem came from Mesopotamia in its original cuneiform script comprising 12 tablets. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a chronicle detailing the classic adventures of Gilgamesh, a historic king of Uruk. Over the years, historians have eliminated the 12th tablet for alleged inconsistencies. The poem depicts a wide range of themes such as the inevitability of death, whichRead MoreReview Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1097 Words   |  5 PagesN.K. Sandars, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is one of the most well-known stories in literature. Gilgamesh ruled the city of Uruk and one of the most advanced cities during the third millennium B.C. He orders his people to build the strongest walls by protecting them from dangerous attacks. In the Epic, he is described as physically strong, beautiful, and wise ruler of Mesopotamia. Yet, in the beginning, Gilgamesh was uncontrollable of his powers . His people can’t take it anymore and so they prayed to theRead More The Epic of Gilgamesh and Sumerian Culture Essay792 Words   |  4 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and Sumerian Culture The Epic of Gilgamesh is generally regarded as the greatest literature about tales of a great king. The Epic of Gilgamesh served to show us a lot of things. The time period of BCE is very blurry, and this story attempts to describe many different things in not only Sumerian beliefs, but also Sumerians culture as a whole. Like many stories from BCE the truth itself is questionable, even though a lot of the information is fact. The factual information