The Epic of Gilgamesh Flashcards
▪︎Oldest civilization known
▪︎The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
▪︎ “Between Rivers” in Greek
▪︎Roughly modern Iraq
▪︎Part of the “Fertile Crescent”
Mesopotamia
independent cities that ruled themselves
City State
The land which Gilgamesh ruled over
Uruk
The first language of Mesopotamia that was mostly spoken in the south. Not like any other language.
Sumerian
Another language spoken mostly in the north but would later become the main language.
Akkadian
Written language in Mesopotamia. Very complicated and very few people knew how to do it. Originally made for Sumerian but was adapted for Akkadian
Cuneiform
Missing parts of the story
Fragmentary
Epic Poetry
long poems about heroes or gods
Themes of Gilgamesh
Mortality
Kingship
Relationship between mortals and gods
The supposed king of Uruk.
Lived around 2800BCE
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh’s mother
Ninsun
Created to become Gilgamesh’s friend and make him better.
Enkidu
A dangerous ogre of the Cedar Forest, killed by Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
Humbaba
Goddess of love and death. Asks Gilgamesh to marry her. After being humiliated, she gets revenge by getting Enkidu killed
Ishtar
God of storms who drowned mankind
Enlil
