Gilgamesh


While in the library last week in search of a soccer coaching book, I tripped across this book: Gligamesh: A New English Version, by Stephen Mitchell. Decided to take it home with me. It was a quick and delightful read.

Several years ago I read the Gilgamesh epic, in connection with several other readings of early Middle-Eastern stories, especially Sumarian and Babylonian histories. Very fascinating stuff. Now, Mitchell has refreshed Gilgamesh with a new (2004) translation. Gilgamesh, considered the oldest book in the world, is a fascinating story. Reading it, like reading much ancient Greek philosophy, reminds me how "modern" early people were, in the complexity of their thoughts and actions. I mean, these are like 3 to 4 thousand year old stories. Makes one think how little man has progressed in all these years.

Gilgamesh in particular is a deep story, of how a man loses his best friend and grieves deeply. In his grief, he ends up searching for the only known immortal man, a Noah-like person who built a large boat to survive the great flood with a cargo of animals (the source, perhaps, of the Genesis episode).

I also found it humorous in parts, when sexuality is used to tame Enkidu, the wild man that later becomes the best friend. These early story writers were rather straight-forward and explicit in their descriptions!

Ultimately, Gilgamesh is about the meaning of life -- what's worth living, and the illusiveness of immortality. That of course early man would have thought these thoughts and pondered is perhaps not surprising, but I remain amazed nevertheless.

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Posted: Sun - February 26, 2006 at 11:16 PM

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