The great man who did not want to die
What is The Epic of Gilgamesh?
It is a legendary tale from ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq). As one of the oldest literary works known to humanity, the first complete version was written in Akkadian in Babylon during the 18th or 17th century BCE. The Epic was inscribed in pictograms on clay tablets.
Recent studies have drawn parallels between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Twelve Labors of Heracles, with the Babylonian legend predating Homer’s writings by nearly a millennium.
Translated from Akkadian by Jean Bottéro
I have only reproduced the text of the Epic here. If you are interested in reading Jean Bottéro’s full book, including studies and commentary, it is available in bookstores and online.
The purpose of this work is to make this translation available to those who do not have the economic means to purchase the book or who do not have access to it in their region of the world.
Documentary excerpt
In this 24-minute video excerpt, the Gnostic nature of the Epic is clearly evident.
