Question

anybody interested in the epic of gilgamash?

Answer 1

somewhat

Answer 2

It's great. A foundation story often overlooked for the cross-cultural religious elements in the text. Reading a translation for a class without being familiar with other religious texts, ancient creation myths, or temple worship is limiting. Most professors do not have the background or the interest to support that kind of inquiry. It's easier to stick with the mythic hero and the countless parallels in modern culture.

The rituals and social rites in the text, and in many other texts, are considered secondary. It was been same with Egypt for years. Their religion was secondary to academics. Now that has begun to shift.

The washing anointing, journey in search of immortality, the struggle of the ascent, the realization that man does not hold the powers of eternal life, and the retention of mystery all combine for a very familiar tale across the near east.

Some use the text to dismiss the biblical account of a flood while others use it to support the universality of a massive world-wide flood.

In these examples, I think some fail to recognize that some portions of the story need no encouragement. The author isn't trying to sell the reality of these elements any more than the New Testament authors are trying to convince readers that people ate bread in Judea. It's part of the backdrop.

Why does this matter? Because it reveals how common and understood these concepts where to the original audience. Some elements of the story are explained in detail to establish their credibility. We tend to focus on these elements and as a result, we can lose an opportunity for insight on what was probably common knowledge of the day.

Comparing the minor items that are mentioned, almost in passing, with similar elements in other cultures is revealing. Did myth and religion develop primarily from one ancient culture? Was information belonging to a single whole filtered through generations and across continents among early travelers 10,000 years ago? Or, did similarities develop in a vacuum independent of other cultures and are similar because we as humans are alike in our needs? It's impossible to defend the latter statement and it is guess work to accept the former.

Answer 3

i am, a lot and btw it's Gilgamesh, with an 'e' not an 'a'

Answer 4

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