The Search For Immortality, Through The Humanities.
Lauren Kwiatkowski FAS 201 Final Paper
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a monomythic 12 step hero's journey and the oldest known literary text in human history. The Sumero-Akkadian cuneiform language is housed on clay tablets and tells the tale of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The tablets were discovered in Sumeria, modern day Iraq in 1853, by archeologists, Austen Henry Layard, Hormuzd Rassam, and W. K. Loftus and date back to 2100 BCE. Both Sumerian and Akkadian names for the gods have been found in the text, which shows how the story may have passed orally through the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia. Some suggest it could also be considered a form of syncretism, when two ancient religions combine over time.
The story of Gilgamesh is a medium through which we begin to understand the human condition and death aspect of life. Gilgamesh's reputation precedes him to be a bad guy, bad King, and rapist. Like many heroes, Gilgamesh holds divine parentage, his Mother is a goddess and his Father, the former King is a human. He's mortal, and it's hard for him to accept. Gilgamesh decides to go on an epic quest to better understand his true nature. On his quest for immortality he meets his best friend Ekidu. Armed with supernatural powers, the pair heads into the forest to face a father figure demon named, Humbaba. They leap into battle, and Gilgamesh slays Humbaba. After the battle, they sail home and Gilgamesh awaits his meeting with the goddess Ishtar. Ishtar begins to flirts with Gilgamesh, he refuses the temptresses advances. This upsets Ishtar and she sends the bull of heaven to kill him. Ekidu and Gilgamesh slay the bull and this sets off Ishtar. Ekidu slaps Ishtar with a chunk of the bull, his fate is sealed and he dies. With the loss of his best friend, he leaves his home yet again, asking himself, "Shall I die too? Am I not like Enkidu? Grief has entered my innermost being. I am afraid of death and so I roam open country". Gilgamesh leaves on another quest, where he comes to terms with his own mortality. In turn, he develops an understanding of human condition and the death aspect of life. Life is what the Gods gave to themselves, death is what they gave to man kind (A. George, 2017).
The votive statues were discovered in a buried temple dedicated to Abu, the early Dynastic Sumerian, votive statues were used as an offering to give favor or thanks to gods. The eerie inlaid shelled eyes Mesopotamian statues are comprised of alabaster, gypsum, shell, black limestone, and bitumen. They stand 1-3 feet tall with a cylindrical bottom and praying hands. The votive figures currently reside in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and served as stand-in for when the owner couldn't attend prayer.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and the votive statues serve as windows into the
ancient world of Mesopotamia, both representing the vehicle humanity rides