Classical Studies 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Lugalbanda, Floodplain, Cretan Bull
24 Aug 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Flood plain between the rivers" tigris and euphrates. Mesopotamia was peopled by sumerians around 2800-2500 bce: later by akkadians and others. Gilgamesh is listed as king of uruk (5th after the flood") around 2800-2500 bce. Gilgamesh and other stories were written as early as 2150 bce. Our surviving text comes from 12 akkadian tablets ca. 700 bce: recently discovered tablet v adds new details to the story, tablets are inscribed in cuneiform ( wedge shaped") Immortality divine helpers/enemies transformation through suffering, going beyond". Gilgamesh the hero son of lugalbanda (mortal king of uruk) and ninsun (a goddess) he is said to be 2/3 divine, 1/3 immortal: he suffers from this. Gilgamesh as king a problem for his people. Gods provide enkidu, a wild hairy man, who must be tamed by contact with a woman before coming to the city of uruk. First rivals, then companions, the two slay the monster humbaba, who guards the cedar forest.
