As the first known story ever to be written down, The Epic of Gilgamesh brings forth some fascinating evidence and factual clarity that people of today’s modern society would not otherwise know about the ancient dwellers of ancient Mesopotamia. The book recounts the story of King Gilgamesh, ruler of Uruk and how he alongside his confidant Enkidu face many challenges similar to those of today’s modern life.
Before Gilgamesh meets Enkidu, our main character is living on a plateau. The king of a great city, Gilgamesh can take what he pleases from whomever he wishes. Tired of his selfish ways, the people of Uruk plead to the Gods to help them deal with their ruler. An equal, someone whom can compete with him and have half a chance of succeeding, then challenges Gilgamesh. Enkidu meanwhile is dealing with a new way of life, learning to live as a civilized man and once the two realize they are equals, they soon become friends. This perhaps could be compared with any clique just about anywhere in the world. School and work are just a few examples. People of today’s modern society are faced everyday with overbearing supervisors and those who appear to be untouchable. The stereotypical popular cheerleader and jock crowd in high school and those who learn new things and amend their ways to fit into the group along with those who converse with only those of similar interests and are to narrow minded to see outside of their caged box.
After Gilgamesh’s mother forever bonds their newfound friendship, the two men grow weak and lazy with the subdued city life, and therefore Gilgamesh proposes a great adventure for the two. He propositions a journey for himself and Enkidu to go to the Great Cedar Forest to cut down the cedar trees. However, to accomplish their task they must first defeat the Guardian of the Cedar Forest, the great demon, Humbaba the Terrible. These actions could be interpreted in many such as since the two strongest, most powerful men in Uruk have subdued their fighting; they have nothing to strive towards. Just as a C.E.O. of a major company can have anything he or she desires set before him on a platter, it does not automatically constitute that he will be happy and content with his environment. Just as Gilgamesh and Enkidu become restless and lazy with their surroundings as they can have anything they wish.
After Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s journey, and the defeat of the Guardian of the Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh attracts the romantic attention of the Goddess Ishtar. However, with the knowledge of the fate of Ishtar’s other lovers Gilgamesh turned down her offers of marriage. Just as famous starlets and music sensations in the twenty-first century are faced with the daily distraction of throngs of devoted fans and idealistic followers who curse current girlfriends and praise simple actions of the heaven-sent star who are revered for what they have done and things they have accomplished not for who they are as a person.
An enraged Ishtar returns to her father, Anu, asking him to unleash the Bull of Heaven, in order to wreak havoc on Gilgamesh, his city, and his people. In return, Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the bull. While Ishtar is furious that the two managed to kill the Bull of Heaven, Enkidu begins to insult her, and the two friends tell Isthar, that she will have the same fate as the Bull. A spoiled child who demands the latest toy, and when she does not get as she desires, she rains her parents with tantrums and threats of ill-mannered behavior parallel to more demands. In this story, Ishtar depicts the greed every person carries inside of them, the pure lust for material objects and people.
The Gods in Heaven then decide that Enkidu and Gilgamesh have become too pompous and that they need to be set back in their place and so the Gods decide that Enkidu must die. Enkidu then falls ill after having a set of ominous dreams and after twelve days of suffering, Enkidu finally passes on. Alike are we in this day and age, the world has become so wrapped up in its own daily routine, we forget that other influences outside of daily life can change the Earth with one swift blow. The “Attack on America” this past September violently shook the world’s entire populous back into its place, showing the billions of people worldwide that nothing is for certain, and with one ill-fated action, everyone’s lives can be forever altered.
After the trauma of losing someone so close to him, Gilgamesh becomes consumed with thoughts of himself perishing, and begins another journey, this time seeking out eternal life. While the faith that Gods predetermine our fate and our destiny is pre-chosen has slightly differed, though the belief has not totally been abolished from today’s society. People of today are more in tune with death, however the quest for “eternal youth” is always present. While we have not yet found the fruit, which will guarantee us immortality, we have become accustomed to a short trip to the drug store. The familiar toil of which anti-wrinkle cream to purchase, and exactly how much Vitamin B5 a person needs to maintain healthy, tight, younger looking skin. Fashionable clothes, designer haircuts are all altered attempts to look better, more hip, and ultimately younger. People of today’s society have become obsessed with youth, though their attempt to prolong death differs from those of long ago.
There are many fairy tales, which have been written down over the years. Many stories, tall tales and novels which record thoughts and journeys of various characters of both fiction and nonfiction origin. But what thoughts were running through the Mesopotamian minds of those who recorded this story? How could they have possibly thought it was important enough for us to keep recorded for all posterity? In addition, could they have predicted just how similar their story would be to our society? Could Gilgamesh have represented an everyday Joe-Mesopotamia-Average? Did Gilgamesh represent what they went through on a daily basis? The possibilities are endless.
Throughout this story, thoughts of homosexuality play through the readers’ mind. Many times Gilgamesh is said to have the same feelings as “the love for a woman” and when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu’s death as if he were Enkidu’s wife. During the course The Epic of Gilgamesh idea’s of homosexuality, along with many other idea lead one to wonder exactly how greatly we differ today from Ancient Mesopotamian society. While there are many technological advances that humble the Mesopotamia’s, those of the Twenty First century still seem to be struggling with many of the same questions and troubles that humans in the beginning of civilization must have dealt with. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are perhaps the embodiment of every person who ever lived. They will survive throughout all time because they have been forever preserved by the Ancient Mesopotamia’s, though we may never fully know why.