The Epic of Gilgamesh

Presentation by Rebecca Edwards

The Hero’s Journey

• The Hero’s Journey is a perilous adventure a hero takes.

• In the Epic of Gilgamesh, king Gilgamesh goes on an adventure seeking immortality.

Steps of the Hero’s Journey

• Call to adventure• Refusal of the call• Supernatural aid• Crossing the first threshold• The belly of the whale• Road of trials• The meeting with the goddess• Temptation away from the true

path

Steps of the Hero’s Journey

• Atonement with the father• Apotheosis (becoming god-like)• The ultimate boon• Refusal of the return• The magic flight• Rescue from without• Crossing the return threshold• Master of two worlds• Freedom to live

Map of Ancient Mesopotamia

Facts About Ancient Mesopotamia

• Mesopotamia means “land between the rivers”.

• Mesopotamians wrote on clay.• The first system of writing was called

cuneiform.• A ziggurat was a holy temple that only

priests were allowed into.• The earliest settlers of ancient

Mesopotamia were called Sumerians.

Gilgamesh’s Character

• Overconfident• Rash• Charismatic• Demi-god• Mortal

Enkidu

• Enkidu was created by the goddess Aruru to battle Gilgamesh and to occupy him.

• He is the voice of reason and logic.

Background of the Epic of Gilgamesh

• The Epic of Gilgamesh takes place between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers

• The Mesopotamians had to defend themselves from invaders

• The hero goes on a heroic quest to change things for his people

• Gilgamesh is searching for immortality

Humbaba’s Character

• Humbaba is the guardian of the cedar forest

• He is compared to a lion• Humbaba pleads to Gilgamesh

that he has no mother or father• His teeth are like dragon’s fangs• His house is made of cedar trees

The Battle with Humbaba

• Gilgamesh sees Humbaba; he calls Shamash for aid

• Shamash sends winds to paralyze Humbaba

• Gilgamesh and Enkidu continue putting out the seven splendors

• Humbaba pleads for freedom and offers his service

• Gilgamesh strikes the first blow, Enkidu strikes the second and final blow

• They bring Humbaba’s head to Enlil

The Death of Enkidu

• The gods send The great bull of heaven to cause chaos in Uruk

• Gilgamesh and Enkidu are cursed after killing the bull and Humbaba

• Enkidu has recurring dreams where he is taken to the underworld

• He tells Gilgamesh about his dreams• Enkidu dies of a fever