Name: The Epic of Gilgamesh
ISBN: 9780140449198

Andrew George

Translated with an Introduction by Andrew George.

The Babylonian Epic Poem and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Scott Wilson

A wonderfully well written edition of the classic ancient story of Gilgamesh.

The introduction is interesting and informative to provide context around the time of the writing and the locations where the tablets have been found and a modern overview of the Epic.

I found the book longer than necessary with additional versions from different civilizations that had minor tweaks or difference - those details I found more academic in nature and so less interesting.

The story is wonderful and enjoyable. Interesting parallels can be drawn to alternative historical epics and religious texts.

Safiya 

Gilgamesh the king of Uruk... I have heard a few tales about him but only now did I read the epic as it was restored from tablets dating back to some four thousand years!

Not sure but this might be the oldest book I have read so far... (if not the Tao Te Ching)
I liked the foreword more than the corpus of the book. Because some parts of the poem were missing, and my perception of a poem is to at least save its musicality which was not the case for all the translations inside... As for the simile there was one version of piece that had some fine art in it...

Probably because they might be lost in translation...

In any case, the king who saw the deep was looking for the eternal life... And this was the tale of his glory and his journey to infinity!
Actually he came back with one piece of advice from his périple :


  "Let your clothes be clean, 
Let your head be washed, may you bathe in water, 
Gaze on the child who holds your hand, 
Let your wife enjoy your repeated embrace!" 


In today's jargon it could have sounded more like : Life is short y'all, enjoy it and have fun! 

There were interesting symbols : Ninsun, the Netherworld passage (Dante, rings a bell?), Ishtar, 7, Deluge, and visions... 


  "The darkest day of mortal man has caught up with you, 
The solitary place of mortal man has caught up with you,
The flood-wave that cannot be fled has caught up with you, 
The combat that cannot be matched has caught up with you,
The fight that shows no pity has caught up with you! "


Glad to going back to learning about my first history lesson ever : حضارة بلاد الرافدين

للي عقل على الدرس الأول فالسلك الإعدادي يقدر يستمتع مزيان بالكتاب لحقاش سبحان الله الكتابة المسمارية للي كانت جاتنا غريبة فديك السن هي باش مكتوبة هاد الملحمة للي كتابتها وروايتها خلاتنا نفرقو مابين Akkadian و Babylonian literature... 
العجيب انه لم يكن من الممكن جمعها لولا الطلبة الخطاطين كانو كايتعلمو الكتابة وكاينقلوها كل مرة للحفاظ على اللغة Akkadian القديمة.. وللي كانت محفوظة فأرشيفات المعابد... الدرس الأخير : ماتستهنش باي جهد تبذل ولو صغير و بالنسبة لك عبيط... تقدر تحافظ على حضارة بحال والو... 😂

The Epic of Gilgamesh The Babylonian Epic Poem and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian

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