The Epic of Gilgamesh

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh *Author unknown (multiple authors) *Circa 1900 BCE – 4,000 years ago *Akkadian cuneiform (proto-writing) *Babylonia (Sumerian and Akkadian) *The oldest work of literature in the history of humankind!

2. The cradle of civilization • Babylon was one of the first, great civilized nation states in the Indo-European region. • It developed social system of storing and distributing food. • It was also the first major civilization to implement taxation. • The first system of graphic representation of language developed in Babylon. • These graphics evolved into the first form of writing: cuneiform.

3. The cradle of civilization • Babylon was one of the first, great civilized nation states in the Indo-European region. • It developed social system of storing and distributing food. • It was also the first major civilization to implement taxation. • The first system of graphic representation of language developed in Babylon. • These graphics evolved into the first form of writing: cuneiform. Cunei = “wedge” Form = “shape”

4. The cradle of civilization • Today, the nation of Iraq occupies the center of what was once the heart of Babylon. • You can visit Babylon’s ancient cities, like “Uruk” where Gilgamesh was king.

5. The first book-keeping • Food storage, taxation, complex temple organization made it necessary to … • Keep track of inventory, rites and rituals, and money! • Babylonians began using graphic illustrations: • Simple • Uniform • Sketches http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/story

6. Writing evolves into “cuneiforms” • Eventually these illustrations became lined, wedge-shapedsymbols, called “cuneiforms” • At first they were randomly ordered • After time, they were ordered in a line … like a sentence from left to right http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/story

7. Writing evolves into “cuneiforms” • The shape of many words evolved over time: http://www.virtualmuseumiraq.cnr.it/homeENG.htm http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/story

8. Cuneiform writing • For thousands of years, the ability to read or write cuneiform disappeared from the face of the Earth. • Works like Gilgamesh, which were written in cuneiform on clay tablets, were lost or destroyed by invading armies. • The Epic of Gilgamesh disappeared, and was unknown by humankind from 100 CE to the late 19th century—1,800 years! • Eventually, scholars discovered cuneiform tablets and began to decipher them. (Assyriologists)

9. Cuneiform writing • Cuneiform symbols can be deciphered alphabetically:

10. Cuneiform writing • Cuneiform symbols can be deciphered alphabetically. • But they also have characters for word part sounds, creating whole word sounds: http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/story

11. The Epic of Gilgamesh • Written on clay tablets by hundreds of scribes over many centuries. • No single “manuscript” exists. • Sections—both large and small—are still missing, yet to be discovered.

12. The Epic of Gilgamesh

13. Implications. In small groups, discuss: • Based on what you’ve learned about the following, what questions do you have. • What are some characteristics of Gilgamesh you expect? • How would the process of writing cuneiform effect the text itself? • What does it say about the text that it was written for thousands of years? • Why is this text important from an historical standpoint?