Before Homer, before the Bible, there was Gilgamesh. Carved into clay over 4,000 years ago, The Epic of Gilgamesh is more than the world’s oldest known literary work—it’s a mirror reflecting humanity’s earliest questions about mortality, friendship, and the divine. This ancient Mesopotamian tale follows a tyrant-king turned seeker, whose grief and longing lead him on a mythic journey through cedar forests, divine realms, and the shadow of death itself. In this post, I explore why Gilgamesh still matters—not just as a historical artifact, but as a living story that shaped the DNA of literature as we know it.
The Epic of Gilgamesh Summary and It’s Importance to Literature
The story opens with a description of Gilgamesh, showcasing his arrogance and unmatched strength. The people of Uruk lament to the gods, prompting them to create his equal – Enkidu.
When the community introduced Enkidu to the world, wild animals raised him, and he ran with them. Then, the community deceived Enkidu into sleeping with a harlot. This act caused the wild animals to reject Enkidu, leading him to join the people of civilization.
Upon Enkidu’s arrival in Uruk, he has relayed a tradition of the bridal ceremony. Both he and the people did not agree with it. Enkidu thought he would challenge Gilgamesh, but Gilgamesh won. The two become more than friends, they become brothers essentially.
In the next chapter, the two grow restless in their kingdom and decide to venture into the forest. They aim to conquer the land of Humbaba, the protector of the forest. Before their journey, they make offerings to the Gods and then set out together. Throughout the journey, they are haunted by their dreams, but they eventually confront Humbaba and defeat him together.
The Epic of Gilgamesh Summary continued
The next section begins with Gilgamesh rejecting the God Ishtar. Ishtar is enraged and asks the Gods to release the bull of Heaven upon Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The brothers defeat the bull and cut its heart out to offer to the God Shamash. Enkidu is then angry with the Gods but is then taught to respect and appreciate all he has been offered despite his current condition of being sick. Enkidu lay sick in his bed until he passed. Gilgamesh wept and wept; he had his people build a statue in honor of his lost friend and brother.
In response to his friend’s death, Gilgamesh embarks on a journey to find everlasting life. He travels a great distance in a very short amount of time. On this journey, he encounters gods and protectors of areas such as the sea. He traverses long periods of darkness and Urshanabi escorts him across the ocean. Gilgamesh finally learns of a plant that lives under the ocean.
Gilgamesh attains this plant and is on his journey back when he Is attacked by a sea monster. The monster engulfs this plant in one gulp. Gilgamesh laments over his loss but then learns about permanence from Utnapishtim; “there is no permanence. Do we not build a house to stand forever” (106).
Flooding in The Epic of Gilgamesh
In between Gilgamesh’s search for eternal life, a man relays the story of the flood in the first person. One of the Gods sends him a message instructing him to build a boat out of his house because of an impending flood.
The flood results from God’s disappointment in humanity. The narrator and his wife survive the flood and the Gods appoint them to live between the rivers (Mesopotamia).
In the last chapter, Gilgamesh dies. A poem is written for him and the people of Uruk lament over his death. He built a tomb and the people make offerings to the Gods.
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Importance of Literature to It’s Society
The flood story interwoven in this narrative plays an important role in Mesopotamia. This story influences many other religions today due to the attributed significance of the Gods. Many religions continue to embrace this story, adapting it to fit their own cultures and spiritual beliefs.
The search for eternal life is important to this early civilization because it helped explain why people pass away. These early people needed a way to cope with the loss of family and loved ones; I believe this story helped in this matter.
Another important element to note is the transition of Enkidu to become a member of society. At first, he ran with the wild animals up until he lay with a harlot. Enkidu once indulged in human traits, he had to adjust to the ways of man. Being that Mesopotamia was one of the first civilizations, the story of Enkidu serves as a metaphor for how their civilization may have grown into what it became.
These people also believed in Gods’ and feared and respected them. They used the Gods to tell stories or control the actions of civility in society. Power was thus appointed by the Gods. Sexual acts and the physical body is not spoken of in shame. The physical is embraced as long as there are offerings or respects to the Gods.
The death of Gilgamesh also shows that the people might also believe in the afterlife. The people have built him a tomb and asked the Gods to care for him in his next adventure.
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