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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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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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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
10
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1 answer

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 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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Why is Gilgamesh 1/3 a man, 2/3 a god?

The hero of Iliad, Achilles is half man and half god because his mother is a goddess and his father is a man. Then how come is Gilgamesh 2/3 god?
Elruz Rahimli
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What are the names of the seven sages in the Epic of Gilgamesh

The Dictionary of Deities and Demons states that: Based on a tradition that goes back to the 3rd millennium, the term apkallu is used for legendary creatures endowed with wisdom, seven in number, who existed before the flood. Can anyone tell me the…
Robert Misst
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