The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Bad Boy of Ancient Mesopotamia

0:06 Welcome to the Strange History Podcast. Today, we're going to be talking about something I've mentioned before in my podcast. I've been wanting to cover this topic for a very long time. It is about the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known works of literature in human history. It originated in ancient Mesopotamia, which is in modern day Iraq. This epic poem tells the story of Gilgamesh, a historical figure who likely ruled the city state of Uric around twenty seven hundred BC, though the epic itself was written much later.

0:38 It was written during the Acadian Empire. The original epic was crafted by the Sumerians, but reworked and edited by the later cultures of the Sumerians, Acadians, Babylonians, and the Assyrians. The earliest recorded version of the epic was edited and found in the library in Nineveh. It was written originally in the Sumerian language with cuneiform characters on twelve tablets. The interesting thing about this is that the epoch was not found in just one place. They found copies of it in many different places, so apparently it was very popular and Frankly, I thought I was going to be learning about another creation story that has to do with floods and gods.

1:17 But my dear listeners, this is anything but. The Epoch of Gilgamesh is a bad boys story full of sex, hot, wild bad boys and harlots, throwing a little fighting and adventures. And you have the themed any action romance romance film that's out there. So when you think of our ancient ancestors and you think they had no entertainment that involved any of that, they surely did. They had the Epoch of Gilgamesh. So, like I said, it was discovered in ancient Mesopotamia in several different locations, primarily modern day Iraq.

1:46 The most significant fine was made in the mid nineteenth century and the ruins of an ancient Assyrian city of Ninevah, located near present day Massoul. It was located during the excavations led by the British archaeologist Austin Henry Layer. This discovery included a collection of cuneiform tablets containing portions of the epoch. Another important discovery occurred in the late nineteenth century when the British Museum acquired a more complete version of the epoch in the library of the king Asherbonopal of Assyria, also found in NINEVAH.

2:16 Later archaeological excavations in Mesopotamia and the broader region yielded additional fragments and versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh. These were scattered across various museums and collections worldwide, probably from being pillaged prior in tomb rating, etc. These discoveries, included those in Nipur and Er, have contributed to our understanding of this epoch and its various versions. In total, there are several different versions and variations of the Epic of Gilgamesh, and again its written in Cuneiform script on clay tablets.

2:52 These tablets date back to a very different time period, reflecting the enduring popularity and cultural significance of the story over many centuries. The epic is a complex narrative and it can be broken down into several key parts, and you can actually read the whole entire thing. I'll post a link in the bio, but I'll be giving you bits and pieces of it here. The story begins by introducing Gilgamesh, the King of Uuck. He's described as a powerful, arrogant and oppressive ruler who is two thirds divine and one third human, with incredible strength and intellect.

3:21 However, the people of Erics suffer under this guy's harsh rule, and they pray to the gods for relief. In response to the people's prayers, the gods create enkid, a wild man who lives in the step with the animals. En Kado is innocent and pure, but also strong and wild. He's meant to be Gilglemesh's equal and to challenge his arrogance, Gilgamesh learns about inka Do from a local trapper. The trapper is very upset because Kado keeps filling in his trapping pits and removing all of his traps. So right away, in Kado is an animal lover ladies.

3:56 But the story goes on that the trapper has a real need to rid those lands of anka Do, and he advises Gilgamesh to send a temple prostitute Shamhat to civilize him. The story reads on, my son there lives in rik a certain Gilgamesh, there is no one stronger than he. He is as strong as the meteorite of Anu. What is the meteorite of Anu? You ask? Well? Ana was a god while not to sady god. He was the big Papa of the gods. He was primarily associated with the heavens or the skies. He was considered the ruler of the divine realm and is often depicted as residing in the highest heavenly regions.

4:35 His association with the sky led him to being regarded as the father of the gods. The trapper is told, go set off to Eruk. Tell Gilglamesh of this man of might. He will give you the harlot shamhat to take with you. The woman will overcome the fellow as if she were strong. When the animals are drinking at the watering place, have her take off her robe and expose her sex. When he sees her, he will draw near to her, and his animals, who grew up in his wilderness, will be alien to him. The interpreted verses are the trapper went, bringing the harlot Shamat with him.

5:09 They set off on the journey. On the third day they arrived at the appointed place, and the trapper and the harlot sat down at their posts. A first day and a second day they sat opposite the watering hole. The animals arrived and drank at the watering hole. The wild beasts arrived and slaked their thirst with water. Then he and Kadoo, offspring of the mountains who eats grasses with the gazelles, came to drink at the watering hole with the animals. With the wild beast, he slaked his thirst with water.

5:36 Then Shamha saw him a primitive and savage fellow from the depths of the wilderness. That is he Shamha, release your clenched arms, expose your sex so he can take in your voluptuousness. Do not be restrained. Take his energy. When he sees you, he will draw near to you. Spread out your robes so he can lie upon you and perform for his primitive the task of woman. His animals, who grew up in his wilderness will become alien to him, and his lust will grown over you. Shamha unclutched her bosom, exposed her sex, and he took in her voluptuousness.

6:10 She was not restrained, but took his energy. She spread out her robe and he lay upon her. She performed for the primitive the task of womankind. His lust groaned over her for six days and seven nights. Nkado stayed aroused and had intercourse with the Harlot until he was sated with her charms. But when he turned his attention to his animals, the gazelle saw Ka Doo and darted off. The wild animals distanced themselves from his body. Nka Do his utterly depleted body, his knees that wanted to go off with his animals went rigid.

6:43 Enka Do was diminished. His running was not as before, But then he drew himself up, for his understanding had broadened, and turning around, he sat down at the Harlot's feet, gazing into her face, his ears attentive. As the harlot spoke, The Harlot said to Enka do you're a beautiful Enka? Do you are becoming like a god? Why do you gallop around the wilderness with the wild beasts? Come? Let me bring you into uk Haven, to the Holy Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar, the place where Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection, but who struts his power over the people like a wild bull.

7:18 What she kept saying found favor with him. Becoming aware of himself, he sought a friend. Kadoo spoke to the Harlot. Come Shamat take me away with you to the sacred holy Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar, the place of Gilgamesh, who was wise to perfection, but who struts his power over the people like a wild bull. I will challenge him. Let me shout out in Eric, I am the mighty one. Lead me in, and I will change the order of things. He whose strength is mightiest is the one born in the wilderness.

7:49 The Harlot then knows she has been successful in wooing the mighty ka Do. She goes on to saying, come, come, let us go, so he may see your face. I will lead you to Gilgamesh. I know where he will be. Look about, ka Do, inside Uruk Haven, where the people show off, in skirted finery, where every day is a day for some festival, where the leer and the drum play continually, where Harlot's stand about prettily exuding voluptuousness, full of laughter, and on the couch of the night the sheets are spread.

8:22 But then she drops the bombshell. She loves Gilgamesh. So you have to credit the hussy for being honest. And Ga, do you do not know how to live? I will show you Gilgamesh a man of extreme feelings. Look at him, Gaze at his face. He is a handsome youth with freshness. His entire body exudes voluptuousness. He has mightier strength than you without sleeping a day or night. And ga do it is your wrong thoughts you must change. It is Gilglamesh whose Shamat loves and Anu and in leil in law haveing enlarged his mind.

8:55 Even before you came from the mountain, Gilgamesh in Europe had dreams about you. So basically they use this woman to tame the wild beast of a man. Sounds like a real bad boy story. Honestly, like if the BCS had their bad boy romance novel, this Harlott would have her own book, maybe calling at the Taming of the Meteor Man. You have to wonder what happened to her after all this. I'll look into it and see if there's anything in the historical records. But onto the Broman's portion of our story. After spending time with Shama Nka Doo loses his wildness and becomes more human.

9:30 He then goes on to Eric, where he confronts Gilgamesh. The two warriors initially clash, soon become close friends and embark on an adventure together. Of course they do. I honestly love this for them. Gilglamsh and ka Do decide to prove their bravery by journeying to the Cedar Forest, a forbidden realm guarded by the monstrous Humbaba. They received blessings from the sun god Shamash, and they kill the Bull of Heaven. This victory angers the gods and they decide an eye for an eye, and they take and D's life as payment for the loss of the Bull of Heaven.

10:03 Oh no Enkidoo has bad dreams of the destiny of tyrants and how they suffer in the afterlife of the House of Death. Enkadoo tries to guide Gilgamesh, trying to convince him to change his ways, but eventually he dies of an illness imposed on him by the gods. Scared of death, Gilgamesh sets off on a quest to find the immortal flood survival Utnapishta, often identified with the biblical Noah, hoping to learn a secret of eternal life. He faces various challenges and adventures during his journey, including a perilous journey through the waters of death Noah tells Gilgamesh about a great flood that wiped out humanity but spared him and his family.

10:41 He reveals that the gods granted him immortality as a reward for surviving the deluge. However, Noah explains that true immortality is reserved for the gods and humans must accept their mortality. Gilgamesh eventually returns to Eric, having realized that immortality is unattainable. He now appreciates the city's beauty and its role in human life. He records this story on tablets and shares it with the people of Eric. The epic of Gilglemesh is a profound exploration of themes such as friendship, mortality, the search for the meaning of life, and the relationship between humans and the divine.

11:18 Gilgamesh character undergoes significant development, transforming from a proud and tyrannical king into a wiser and more humble leader by the end of this epoch. So there you have at people, the very first bad boy written in history, Gilglemesh. I do hope you enjoyed this episode. The epic is very long, and I did condense it down to the main points here, but if you want to learn more, again click on the link in the notes. The long read, but it's totally worth it. This episode is brought to you by eleven fifty nine Media and hosted on spreaker, the the best podcast hosting place in the world.

11:51 It's free and you can make mucho Buck's peace Out.