An Evaluation of the Modern Relevance of the Epic of Gilgamesh
...s. 2700 B.C.E. Mesopotamia was a place of volatility. Vulnerability to foreign attacks due to geography and unpredictably extreme weather patterns gave the inhabitants a constant feeling that they were not in control of their lives. For this reason, their beliefs included various gods who manipulated their lives according to their whims. It is no wonder then why a common theme of their stories is “divine intervention”. The stories people tell are a primary avenue to the core concepts of their culture (Bodine, 1994). Much of what a person believes cannot be proven. For this reason, people are constantly attempting to prove or disprove the validity of written manifestations of a belief system, such as the Hebrew Bible. It is common to take parts of the bible and connect them to events that have been documented elsewhere. One event that is featured prominently in the epic of Gilgamesh is the great flood. Since there is also an account of a flood in the bible, there is a parallel to Noah’s Ark. There are also parallels in the manner in which both flood heroes begin to build. Likewise, the ark inhabitants are similar, the means of the flood, and the signs that the flood is over. Included here are a few of the similarities and differences between the biblical account and epical account of the flood: Sender God Assembly of “gods” Hero Noah Ut-napishtim Hero’s character Righteous Righteous Means of announcement Direct from God In a dream Height of boat 3 stories 7 stories Shape of boat Rectangular Square Non-human passengers All species of animals All species of animals Means and duration Heavy rain, 40 days and nights Heavy rain, 6 days and nights Test to find land Release of birds (raven, 3 doves) Release of birds (dove, swallow, raven) Blessings afterward Yes Yes (gift of immortality) Three main possibilities have been suggested for the relationship between the two accounts: first, the Babylonians borrowed from the Hebrew account; second, the Hebrew account is dependent on the Babylonian; third, both are descended from a common original (Heidel, p. 260). The most widely accepted explanation is that the biblical account is based on the Babylonian account. There is yet another element that reminded me of a scene in the Bible, but I have yet to find commentaries dealing with it. When Gilgamesh is returning with the flower of immortality and loses it to a snake, this reminds me of when Jonah loses his shade tree when a worm devours it (Jonah 4: 6-7, New International Version). The relation between the two events might seem vague, however it is interesting to note that the epic of Gilgamesh was translated from clay tablets found at Nineveh, the same city that Jonah was sent to preach to when he experienced the great fish and this shade tree. Many times, people may feel that their way is the only way. When it comes to what we believe, many may find it difficult to accept that there are other “truths” besides our own. As a Christian, studying this epic reminds me to be more open-minded in my interpretation of the bible and my evaluation of other religions. It has been easy to become fascinated with this epic. I chose Dalley’s book as my primary source because of my interest in mythology and the bible. A work such...