An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic

Gilgamesh is an epic poem originating from Ancient Mesopotamia. It is believed that this poem finds its origins in the Sumerian legends and poems about Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk. He is two-thirds god and one-third man. He was handsome, incredibly strong and very wise. But, at the beginning of his ruling, he was a cruel tyrant. People were living in fear and misery. When the gods heard about his evils, decided to create another man like Gilgamesh named Enkidu. They became best friends and when Enkidu died from a disease caused by the gods, Gilgamesh heart is shattered and filled with sorrow. Not being able to get over Enkidu’s death, he decides to go to the end of the world in order to find Utnapishtim, the Mesopotamian Noah.

This epic explores: the fear of death, the path to wisdom, facing reality, the duties of a king, friendship, life and death, etc.

In this book are presented the Pennsylvanian and the Yale tablet, which are part of the old Babylonian version of this epic poem. You will find the translations of these two tablets, commentaries on them, and their images.