Mythology & Folklore Stack Exchange
Mythology & Folklore Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [gilgamesh]

For questions about the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Mesopotamian epic poem, as well as its eponymous hero.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Mesopotamian epic poem about Gilgamesh, a king who, after the death of his friend Enkidu, sets out to achieve immortality. This tag can also be used to refer to Gilgamesh himself.

The Project Gutenberg text is available here in a variety of formats.

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What was the plant that Gilgamesh found after Utnapishtim's story?

I'm assuming that the Gilgamesh myth is fairly distinct from the Mesoamerican Fountain of Youth and the Hindu Soma, but are there any corroborating myths or other research into the details of the plant in Gilgamesh? The myth itself has the plant…
luser droog
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Who were the Seven Sages who laid the foundations of Uruk?

In Tablet I of the The Epic of Gilgamesh, Seven Sages are said to have laid the foundations of Uruk: Climb Uruk's wall and walk back and forth! Survey its foundations, examine the brickwork! Were its bricks not fired in an oven? Did the Seven Sages…
yannis
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What does Gilgamesh's title "He Who Saw the Deep" mean?

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is given the title "He Who Saw the Deep" (Gilgamesh). What is the meaning behind that title?
user62
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How do we know that Gilgamesh was a demigod?

The Wikipedia page suggest that in the epic, Gilgamesh is a demigod of superhuman strength. How do we know he was a demigod? What makes someone a demigod? Did he possess some special powers that make him a superhuman?
kenorb
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Why does Gilgamesh kill Urshanabi's stone men?

In Tablet X of The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh smashes the stone men that crew Ur-shanabi's boat. They took fright, the Stone [Ones, who crewed] the boat, who were not [harmed by the Waters] of Death . . . . . . . . . . the wide…
user62
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What is the context behind Gilgamesh's rejection of Ishtar?

In Tablet VI of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh rejects Ishtar's advances after describing the harm she has caused to her previous lovers (e.g. she turned a shepard into a wolf). I have a few questions about that part of the story: Why does…
user62
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Why is Gilgamesh considered to be one-third human and two-third god?

Most of the time, the term "demigod" is used to describe people who are the offspring of a god and a human. As far as I know, Gilgamesh is the child of a goddess and a king. Why then is Gilgamesh considered to be one-third human and two-third god…
user1385
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Forests and The Epic of Gilgamesh

This might be a stupid question, but I was hoping that someone could explain the role forests played in Mesopotamia at the time The Epic of Gilgamesh was written. I'm asking because one of the major quests that Gilgamesh attempts is to go to a Cedar…
user62
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Why does Shamash help the trapper rather than Enkidu?

In episode I of The Epic of Gilgamesh, why does Shamash help the trapper rather than Enkidu, a creation of his peers who was created to help the people oppressed by Gilgamesh?
Anonymous
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Why did Humbaba have to die?

In Tablet V of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh and Enkidu fight the monstrous Humbaba. After the fight is over the defeated Humbada pleads for his life, unsuccessfully: 'Now, Enkidu, [my] release lies with you: tell Gilgamesh to spare me my…
yannis
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How does Shamhat know about Gilgamesh's dreams?

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Shamhat has intimate knowledge about Gilgamesh's dreams: "Before you even came from the uplands, Gilgamesh in Uruk was seeing you in dreams..." (The Epic of Gilgamesh; dialogue spoken by Shamhat.) How does she know…
user62
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How did Gilgamesh die?

Do we know how and in which circumstances Gilgamesh died? According to these answers seems that The Epic of Gilgamesh doesn't mention that, however Wikipedia page mention something about Sumerian poem - The Death of Gilgamesh.
kenorb
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What caused the Deluge?

In Tablet XI of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Uta-napishti relays the story of the Deluge: Said Uta-napishti to him, to Gilgamesh: 'Let me disclose, Gilgamesh, a matter most secret, to you will tell a mystery of gods. 'The town of Shuruppak, a city well…
yannis
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Why did Ishullanu refuse to make love to Ishtar?

When Ishtar proposes to Gilgamesh, he articulates the stories of her previous lovers who suffered badly as a consequence of being with her. However, there is one of them who is named Ishullanu that when Ishtar asks to be with her he strongly…
Elruz Rahimli
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Why did the gods spare Gilgamesh?

In Tablet VII of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the gods Anu, Enlil, Ea and Shamash decide that Enkidu should pay with his life for the deaths of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven: Enkidu began to speak to Gilgamesh: 'My brother, this night what a dream [I…
yannis
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