An introduction to the epic of Gilgamesh

Standup Historian - Kourosh

In this solo edition of Standup Historian, I have talked about the epic of Gilgamesh. This episode is an introduction to the epic Gilgamesh and in fact a prelude to a future edition where I tell you the story in one episode.

The Epic of Gilgamesh was rediscovered in the Library of Ashurbanipal in 1849. After being translated in the early 1870s, it caused widespread controversy due to similarities between portions of it and the Hebrew Bible. Gilgamesh remained mostly obscure until the mid-20th century, but, since the late 20th century, he has become an increasingly prominent figure in modern culture.

When the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body. Shamash the glorious sun endowed him with beauty, Adad the god of the storm endowed him with courage, the great gods made his beauty perfect, surpassing all others, terrifying like a great wild bull. Two-thirds they made him god and one-third man.

Standup Historian