The Epic of Gilgamesh is usually an epic poem from Mesopotamia written within 2000 BCE. This poetry is one of the ancient literature works in the history of human. According to the scholars, epic of Gilgamesh originated from Sumerian poetry collected in the Akkadian epic in 18th century BCE. The poems were translated by George Smith and then first published in 1870. George Smith was a British Assyriology. Epic of Gilgamesh consists of eleven sections or tablets which are made up the main body. Later, a 12th tablet was added but it is not that recognized although it is not sequential.
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The tenth tablet (X) of this poetry tells a story of Saduri who was a barmaid. As she keeps a tavern facing towards the sea, she sees Gilgamesh walking towards her. Saduri gets frightened as Gilgamesh looks frightening wearing animal skin and with weathered. This makes Saduri to barricade in the tavern. This happens as Gilgamesh threatens to enter through the door by force. This is followed by Gilgamesh explanations that he is grieving due to the loss of Enkidu, his friend. He goes on to explain that Enkidu overtook the fate that covers all the human kind and turned to clay.
Aduri opened the tavern for him while telling him that people are not immortal and that only gods live forever. She then invites Gilgamesh I and asks him to clean up drink and eat. Instead, Gilgamesh looks like he wants to meet Utnapishtim and want to know where he lives. Aduri went ahead and explains that Shamash, the sun god cross the sea daily but he has never been followed by any mortal. Saduri points out that he survived the crossing miraculously and he would face poisonous waters of death. These waters of death could only be crossed by Urshanabi, boatman who belong to Utnapishtim. Urshanabi, guards the Urnu-snakes as well as Stone Things and he lives in an island within the island. Saduri argues him to stop the quest still explaining to him that immortality belong to the gods. Gilgamesh would never be convinced differently. Later Saduri shows him where to find Urshanabi and decides to take him across the waters to meet Utnapishtim. Gilgamesh starts his journey to Urshanabi. When he arrived at the site where the Urnu-snakes as well as Stone Things stay, he attacks them using his axe and dagger and destroying them. He goes ahead assaulting a winged creature as he goes ahead defeating it. The battle alerts Urshanabi’s attention making him to follow them to the source.
Therefore, they the two meet which lead to a conversation. Urshanabi questions the look on Gilgamesh where he responds by explaining to him his grieves after losing a friend Enkidu in fear of death. Urshanabi agrees to take Gilgamesh to Utnapishtism but remind Gilgamesh that he did a mistake destroying Stone Thing and Urnu-snakes since they were the ones protecting his boat. Urshanabi tells Gilgamesh to fashion hundreds of poles in the forest. The poles should be exactly sixty cubits length. Again, the poles should be fit with rings and covered with pitch then they would attempt the journey or the voyage. He does as instruct and in three days they start their journey as the structure seems to be better as compared o the original boat. Upon arrival at the waters of death, Gilgamesh is advice to use the punting poles but to be conscious no to touch the waters. He later ruins the punting pole forcing him to use the animal skin to which he is dressed up in to hold the waters from capsizing the boat. They can now see the shore from where they are and at the shore is an old man. Upon arrival the old man asks s Gilgamesh his identity. Gilgamesh explains to the old man his problems and what he has been through. The old man then advices his not to grieve since death is unavoidable and that only gods are immortal. He advises him that gods give life and that they are the ones who decides o when to take it.
Looking at the culture of this tablet or section, Siduri, the barmaid who is veiled represents a traditional figure in Mesopotamian poetry and myths. In Hurrian, her name means young woman. Also the goddess of beer brewing and winemaking usually recognized as manifestation of Ishtar. Her kind welcome to Gilgamesh is said to be remarkable, when considering how she treated him prior to Enkidu’s death. Analysis or expert never came clear on what was referred to as Urnu’s-snakes or the Stone Things as mentioned in the section. It never was know exactly why Gilgamesh had to destroy them. However, it is believed it might have been bridge that he destroyed. Again the winged creature could be Utnapishtim in some version. There is seen to be confusion as Urshanabi and Siduri have no idea who Gilgamesh as his appearance happens to be repulsive. This is seen as the both explain to him the reason for not turning back their quests. Later, the old man explains to him the reason that death is inescapable. The old man is usually Utnapishtim and as though he is immortal, he advice Gilgamesh not to seek immoralist since it belongs to the gods. This implied that Utnapishtim’s experience as immortal has never been absolutely positive. It was a negative thing that is the reason he advises Gilgamesh not to like the idea of being Immortal. He seems concerned while he explains the problem to the Gilgamesh. Immortality robs life of urgency and meaning by itself. Utnapishtim would live forever, but it limits his individual ambition in a great manner. Utnapishtim has no end in his life to fear, however he also lacks motivations. This could be due to lack of deadline.
Therefore, death provides meaning to life. Thus, without it, people have little reason to put in consideration on how lives are lived as well as how we would be remembered. Therefore, Utnapishtim might also consider the fact that immortality would not make Gilgamesh to be the king he is supposed to become. Although Utnapishtim escaped death, he would not support Gilgamesh to avoid death as well. Utnapishtim explains that Gilgamesh who inherited his father’s mortality sense and therefore, just like everything else within the mortal world, he could be a subject to death. Gilgamesh should continue to stay as a mortal as well as learn accept death as a part and parcel of life. The section explains the reality behind life and death explaining it is not now but it is something from the past.
This section configures vital elements meant to understand the culture of Mesopotamia. The themes set here are like the theme of tradition with transition towards civilization. The most important part of all is the understanding of life and death. People in the ancient culture of Mesopotamia were deceived by tradition of after performance of certain traditions one can become mortal. It is here where it’s seen in some explanation to define both parts to know and take life positively. It is clearly seen as Utnapishtim explains to Gilgamesh that life has to come to an end and that the only immortal are the gods. Here, one can clearly see the nerviness of Gilgamesh who does not know the meaning of life. Another form of civilization is where we have a city that’s said to be having thick walls that gleam like copper, lovely kiln-fired brickwork with sacred temples, palm gardens, as well as having lapis lazuli tablets. The lapis lazuli tablets were used for writing. This implicated that the city was civilized or civilization had its way in the city. Therefore it can be said Mesopotamia had writing skills and city with copper decorations. Leader of the city and the head of civilization was king Gilgamesh, who showed the worst and the best in humanity. And, he stood in stark as opposed to Enkidu. Here, Enkidu appears as the defender of animals as well as, nature. Gilgamesh needs to go and kill Humbaba for reasons related to human glory. The reason was in the expense of nature’s Cedar Forest finery.
Finally, it is significant while in Shmoop's eyes that the epic story ends with Gilgamesh praising through songs the City of Uruk. King Gilgamesh explains ferryman to look at the foundation, as well as examining the brickwork completely, again the presence of the brick structure, the kiln-fired brick. This can be said to be a sign of civilization also in the city within Mesopotamia. There is also the presence of League City, league palm gardens, league lowlands, an area which is open of the Temple of Ishtar, three leagues as well as the open space where the wall of Uruk encloses.
Works Cited
Dyr, Peter. The Epic of Gilgamesh, the Teachings of Siduri and How Siduri's Ancient Advice
Can Help Guide Us to a Happier Life, Third Edition. London : Peter Dyr, 2013.
Jastrow, Morris and Albert T. Clay. The Epic of Gilgamesh: An Old Babylonian Version.
London: Flame Tree Publishing, 2003.
