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I remember reading an excerpt of this in a big chunky English Lit book for high school homework.

#Schoolspirit
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

3.5 Stars • The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest great works of literature, originating from ancient Mesopotamia, likely around the 18th century BCE. Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, is initially tyrannical until the gods create Enkidu to challenge him. They become friends and embark on adventures, including defeating Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. ⬇️

The Epic of Gilgamesh has parts dated from 2100 BCE, other elements up to 1200 BCE. It's a fantastic insight into the minds of the earliest settled, literate people. My edition is a Penguin Classic I bought in the 1980s, so I do need to get a more modern edition that incorporates newer archeological findings and historical perspectives.
#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

Starting this today! 😊

I looked up more words while reading this version over the Mitchell one I just finished. I think slightly less enjoyable due to pacing and tone. The Ferry version includes Tablet 12 which deals with Enkidu's spirit returning to speak to Gilgamesh about the underworld. Still a day's read and worth the different explanations of what was happening. I found the latter half {post Cedar Forrest} more interesting/descriptive/clear in Ferry.

From tablet 12--not included in Mitchell version:

'...... my body that once made Gilgamesh the companion rejoice to touch...'

Bromancing my way through the classics.

I had noticed that there was a distinction made between friend and companion a couple of times i.e. 'your friend and your companion'. Also used differently than brother. Brother seems to be used ala brother in arms for quests.

'the companion, whom I loved'

Then Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced, and kissed, and took each other by the hand.

The husband believes the Mitchell version took liberties in the bromance department but here is Ferry doing the same...

A story thousands of years old yet, even in translation, still manages to touch us. Freeing to read in a way, being written down when artistic ideals were only beginning to be a part of any oral or cultural heritage. Later works owe it a debt, including the Bible. An elemental tale.

Lots of parallels to the Bible, which it arguably predates. An ancient tale, a myth, yet I still feel a little sting at the death of Enkidu. What does that signify, considering the earliest discovered passages date to around 2000 B.C.E.? A blood friend and companion dies. Not a novel part of mythology, but this story still endures.

"...for whoever is tallest along men cannot reach the heavens, and the greatest cannot encompass the earth." - Gilgamesh

A tough read, really. Much more scholarly approach needed than an expectation of entertainment. The first third is all explanations of its discovery and place in history so it almost felt like nonfiction. #CC50 #ClassicsClub

#BookSpin November! Read for #DoubleSpin, actually
@TheAromaofBooks

In all the millennia since this 2270 BC text was written, so little has changed. Men still fight and kill, and lay waste to the environment, for no good reason. They continue to value women solely for sex. It‘s depressing.

But all this is what makes The Tale of Gilgamesh so amazing —it‘s an exquisite portrayal of human nature, which will never change. Very illuminating, as well, is the flood scene that predates Noah‘s Ark and prefigures it.

I‘m excited to read this book as part of an online world literature course I‘m auditing through Harvard U. Written 3,700 years ago!

“The epic of Gilgamesh, the renowned king of Urik in Mesopotamia, comes from an age which had been wholly forgotten, until in the last century archaeologists began uncovering the buried cities of the Middle East.”
#FirstLineFridays (The first 60 pages are intro! Am counting this for #NonfictionNovember!)

So this is where it all started; the oldest story in the world. It was repetitive as hell, wildly contradictory at times, had a very loose continuity, and plot holes galore. And yet, somehow it was actually kind of fun to read, though perhaps more so in an anthropological kind of way than a literary one. (And btw, this Penguin Epics edition, which was a whopping 63 pages, cost 12 f*cking dollars!!! Just another reason why I hate Penguin Books. 🤬)

I‘m trying to read more classics and great books! This one is requiring a bit of research to understand it.

Can't not give Gilgamesh a pick.

Weird story but it covers the “book I was supposed to read in school but didn‘t” part of my reading challenge.

"‘He who comes is no man of mine, but on the right ……X 190 I am looking, but he is no [man of] mine …‘" (from "The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Classics)" by Penguin Classics, Andrew George)

My thoughts

This is an excellent book. It will help us know more about the beliefs and hero-worship customs of earlier people.
Rating
5/5

#bookspin

Here are my April #bookspin selections. The unfortunately cut off #20 is the tagged book.

Last month crossed off 1 of 2 non-fiction selections, so now only #19 remains. Otherwise, we've got:
-9 fiction (contemporary)
-7 fiction (classic)
-2 poetry collections
-1 essay collection

@TheAromaofBooks

Historically important . Read January 2020

Wow. I wasn't really expecting The Epic of Gilgamesh to be so beautiful. Honestly, I wasn't sure I would understand it. But the author of this version has pieced the story together in a way that even the non-reader will understand and fall in love with. The narrators are more like performers, emotional and passionate. The author also includes an essay that goes deeper into the story, looking for deeper meaning. Loved this so much.

I am loving this much more than I expected. The narrator is fantastic. Such a great story.

It‘s gorgeous this morning! I decided since I didn‘t get outside to walk yesterday (got my 10,000 in though) I would do my long walk. It feels good. But ... my headphones died about a third of the way into my walk 😭 #bookfitnesschallenge

1. Black Leopard Red Wolf and Crazy Brave
2. Probably Black Leopard Red Wolf - came out less than a week ago! I don‘t do ARCs so that‘s the most recently published one!
3. Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest story we currently know about im pretty sure so I might struggle to find anything older!

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

A fool on a fool‘s errand? Oh Gilgamesh.

Paired with pink lemonade margarita in the last gasp of summer heat here in the northland.

So glad I read this!! Very accessible translation considering it‘s the oldest work of literature in the world

Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. One of these is not quite like the others 🤔😂

"What is this sleep which holds you now?
You are lost in the dark and cannot hear me."

The oldest known work of literature is the captivating story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, which can be read as a tale of adventure or a spiritual journey, dealing with love, loss, grief, the realization that we are mortal beings. I thought that something created in 3000 BC would be too remote from my life. How wrong!

Well, it‘s official. I‘ve now opened a folk art meets ancient history Etsy shop. Currently only one item up, but I plan on making more each week.
If anyone‘s interested you can check it out at https://etsy.me/2Hiyysz

Teaching a one-week mini-session of World Lit. Today‘s reading: The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis.

One of my favorite college courses at University of Iowa was Quest for Human Destiny my freshman year... partly because of the dynamic professor, and partly because I loved almost all of the required texts. So much so that I still have these, 20 years later.

#fallintoreading #quest

I used to teach a survey called "World Literature Up to the 16th Century" ?. It met a requirement so most of the students were not exactly lovers of literature (from any country or century)
But many of them did enjoy Gilgamesh. It's short. It's seamy. There's violence. (I can't say the same for the Bhagavad Gita .) ?
Image from a children's version by Bernarda Bryan.
#classicsforclassicshaters #fallintobooks @RealLifeReading

"Enkidu was resolved to lead his friend
Who was determined but did not know the way.
Now Gilgamesh was certain with his friend
Beside him"

One of the most moving tales of loyal and everlasting friendship and one my all time favorite epic poems ??
#inthemoodforlove
#seasonsreadings2016

Enkidu, the lap cat, is my most constant reading companion! #readingcompanions #photoadaynov16 @RealLifeReading

Finishing up this gem today.

Can't get much more classic than the main character in the first-ever (supposedly) novel of the world. Had a good time with these support texts in my myth & literature class. #classiccharacter #octoberphotochallenge

Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things; day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice.

Attempting to read more literature from varying times and places. Ancient text, possibly oldest to survive. Lebanon existed. Mt Hermon, which is also mentioned in the bible existed. Similarities to the bible and Ancient Greek texts, parts sound like Samson, part God/part human characters like Greek mythology, reference to a great flood. Also line about a three ply rope cannot be cut exactly same as a Proverb. Search for meaning focus towards end.

At least 4000 years old and still such wise advice