Written in Akkadian cuneiform,

is a narrative of the historical king Gilgamesh, who lived and reigned over the domain of Uruk (located in present day Iraq on the southwestern bank of the river Euphrates) during the third millennium BCE (approximately 2700 BCE). The epic, the earliest extant myth in poetic form, is best known for the episode in which Utnapishtim, an ancient figure of Sumerian lore, recounts the flood created by the gods to destroy humanity. However, the narrative comprises several interlocked episodes, including the meeting and companionship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu; the battle of Gilgamesh and Enkidu with Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven; the death of Enkidu; and Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality.

At the beginning of the Epic, Gilgamesh is subject to

2028 words

Citation: Breen, Nathan. "Gilgamesh". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 24 November 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16601, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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