Cultural Values in Gilgamesh
The ancient epic of Gilgamesh was one of the oldest recorded stories in the world. The epic is about the King of Uruk and his quest for immortality. This quest eventually leads to his death. By reading this novel many things can be extracted about the culture and their values threw themes and motifs. The hero characteristics of Gilgamesh can be seen in many works of world literature today. Gilgamesh much like other old epics was spread through oral tradition. Stories told through oral tradition can be told to various cultures for thousands of years. With these many years the story may be altered from person to person. The story may often times be changed to suit a person or places needs. Gilgamesh first started out as an oral story. Over many years it eventually was written down by Sumerians; supposed inventors of writing. The story was lost for many years but eventually found by an amateur archaeologist in 1839. In the Epic of Gilgamesh Enkidu becomes mortally ill because Gilgamesh refuses the goddess Ishtar who makes romantic overturns on him so the gods in turn punish Enkidu by making him eventually die. Enkidu says "My friend, the great goddess cursed me and I must die in shame. I shall not die like a man fallen
Siduri says "fill your belly, day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice. What this says about the culture is that when times are hard or rough, they believe that the gods are there to help them overcome their misfortunes, or to not. Gilgamesh prays to the gods for protection in the mountain passes. If you cannot achieve eternal life you must live the life the best that you can everyday, not thinking about when the death will arrive upon the doorstep. " What this reveals about the culture is that if a soldier dies in battle, it is a great honor for he had served his city-state well. What this reveals about the culture is that they must believe in the gods otherwise heaven may be overtaken by the underworld gods one day. The people can turn to the gods for help when they need it as long as they realize they aren't impervious to nature's forces. Eternal life is set for the gods, and death for the humans. The world became overpopulated, both man and nature were exceeding its limits. There is no certain time limit on their death but rather the completion. in battle; I feared to fall, but happy is the man who falls in the battle, for I must die in shame. Heaven was thought of as safe but not as being exempt from that which can kill. The old man Utnapishtim says "When the Annunnaki, the judges, come together, and Mammetun the mother of destinies, together they decree the fates of man. Sumerian people believed that they have certain fates and destinies planed out for them.
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