Historical Context
This region, located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, is often called the “Cradle of Civilization.”
Ancient Mesopotamia
In the beginning of the story, how do the people of Uruk view Gilgamesh?
Arrogant, prideful, hubris, do not like him
What is the reason Gilgamesh wants to kill Humbaba?
To make a name for himself before he dies
What does Gilgamesh decide to do following the death of Enkidu?
Travel to Utnapishtim to achieve immortality
What does mythopoeic mean?
It describes the creation of myths that help shape cultural memory and moral reflection.
List three features of a Sumerian city
Wall/Ramparts
Ziggurat
Houses
Fields of Crops
Canal systems for water
Who is the one that civilizes Enkidu and who was she a priestess for?
Shamhat - a priestess for Ishtar
Finish the quote: When Enkidu is expressing his concern that he doesn't want to die yet (in context of fighting Humbaba), he says "I am not ready to make that journey upon the ____________
Euphrates River
This is the boatsman that takes people to the faraway over the large body of water.
Urshanabi
How did Enkidu become "Enlightened?"
Shamash shows him all that he should be grateful for in his life when Enkidu is about to die
Explain the process of Cuneiform
Using a triangular stylus to press characters onto wet clay tablets.
Arrogant
Takes peoples brides
Abuses the men/soldiers
Refuses to face the reality that he will die one day
Immature
Does not care for his people well
What was the third reason Enkidu was told by the gods he will lose his life? Killing Humbaba, Killing the bull of heaven and.......
Removing the trees from the cedar forest
What does Siduri instruct Gilgamesh he should do before traveling to Utnapishtim?
Stop trying to seek immortality, which is impossible, and enjoy the life he has now.
What is Cosmology? Provide one example as to how the EOG is influenced by cosmology
A culture’s understanding of the universe’s origin, structure, and order;
- Giglamesh is a "divine ruler"
- His quest to achieve everlasting life
- His battle with divine creatures
- His battle with the fate of the gods
Why was the development from pictographs to linguistic representation significant?
It allowed spoken language to be represented more abstractly and transmitted across time and space.
What historical event is represented in the struggle of Enkidu not wanting to leave behind living in nature?
The fact that humans were hunter/gatherers before becoming civilized. Not all humans wanted to become civilized
List all the details Enkidu describes about people in the afterlife that he would soon be going too (there are three).
- live in eternal Darkness
- They eat clay and dust
- Clothed with wings like birds
Explain three difference between the flood accounts of Utnapishtim and Genesis
-Different Mountains
- Vessels made different sizes
- Multiple gods versus a singular God
- Warned in a dream vs warned directly
- One granted immortality vs one given a covenant
- Length of the flood was different
- gods regretted one while the other did not regret
What is the difference between a pictograph symbol and a linguistic symbol? Provide an example for each one.
A pictograph is a picture, such as a cave painting of an animal
A linguistic symbol is like a letter of the alphabet, used to describe abstract concepts
This was the British Archeologist who "rediscovered" the city of Uruk in the 18th Century?
William Lofts
List five of the gods/goddess and their positions within the mythology of the Epic of Gilgamesh
Enlil - supreme god
Anu - god of the firmament
Shamash - god of the sun
Ishtar - goddess of love and fertility
Ninsun - goddess of wisdom (Gilgamesh's mother)
Aruru - goddess of creation
What did Ishtar do to her ex boyfriend - the herdsman - when she was tired of being with him?
Turned him into a wolf
200 feet by 200 feet by 200 feet
Seven levels
This is the Greek god of death that has been adapted into many cultures.
Thanatos