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Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia. The Key to Epic of Gilgamesh. Mesopotamia. Location: modern day Iraq Formation: fertile crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers Civilizations: Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonia. Sumerian cities: Ur and Uruk-- surrounded by walls

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Mesopotamia

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  1. Mesopotamia The Key to Epic of Gilgamesh

  2. Mesopotamia • Location: modern day Iraq • Formation: fertile crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers • Civilizations: Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonia

  3. Sumerian cities: Ur and Uruk-- surrounded by walls Sumerian writing: pictographic--improved into cuneiform Hammurabi-- first legal code Assyrian/Akkadian-overthrew Sumerians Greatest King: Ashurbanipal His library at Nineveh contained the tablets with the Epic Deciphered by George Smith Discovery of the Epic

  4. George Smith’s Discovery • An account of a great flood • Known as “The Deluge Tablets” • Funded a return trip-- • Found all 12 tablets of the Epic- but died

  5. The Epic of Gilgamesh A Protest Against Death

  6. Gilgamesh • 2/3 god; 1/3 man • Built walls of Uruk • Perfect body • Courageous • Went on a journey-- wrote down his story • HE is the one telling the story

  7. Enkidu • Gilgamesh’s loyal sidekick • Ashamed to have been cursed by a goddess

  8. Gilgamesh’s Reaction • Long speech to people and things of Uruk • Rages like a lion • Tears out his hair and throws off his clothes • Acts like this for 7 days and 7 nights • Buries Enkidu when “worm fastened to him” • Afraid of his own death • Goes in search of Utnapishtim

  9. The Gods were angry because of all of the BABEL Enlil encouraged the gods to exterminate mankind Ea warned Utnapishtim about the flood thru a dream Utnapishtim “ironically” told everyone that Enlil was mad at him and would “rain abundance upon everyone else” Utnapishtim built a barque The Story of the Flood

  10. Utnapishtim’s Barque • 120 cubits • 7 decks • Family (kin), gold, wild and tame beasts • Prepared just in time for the storm

  11. The Storm • Gods were even terrified of the storm • Ishtar regrets exterminating mankind • 7th day storm stops • 7 days the boat rests • Dove, swallow, raven

  12. Utnapishtim’s actions • Build a sacrifice: 7 cauldrons • Ea to Enlil-- punishment too harsh • Enlil grants Utnapishtim immortal life

  13. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh of a plant “the Old Men are young again” grants eternal youth Gilgamesh ties stones to his feet and retrieves the plant Gilgamesh plans to give plant to old men first While bathing, a serpent steals the plant The serpent loses his skin Gilgamesh returns home disappointed Gilgamesh looks at his accomplishments and writes the story down The Return

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