/lit/ - Literature

That is a perfectly valid interpretation of the text, OP. Personally, I am quite fond of the Epic, both because of it being the considered the first written work and for developing the universal themes of undying friendship between two men, the loss of a dear friend, and the all too human want for eternal life and coming to terms with one's own mortality. Truly a tale for the ages that resonates with readers to this day.

>>14158198
I agree. It feels more raw and personal than Homer's works because of it's relative simplicity. For example, despite how pivotal for Achilles's character the death of Patroclus is I never understood how attached they were until he was gone. In the case of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, you can really get the feeling of a strong bond between two men on equal grounds. Homer's epics don't go into the same depth in their portrayal of friendship as much as they do in camaraderie. Which is fine, I love the Iliad and The Odyssey, probably more than Gilgamesh, but they are different stories with different goals, and that makes Gilgamesh all the more valuable, because of how unique it was.
I also get emotional over people who express love for their home and their people.

>>14158283
I believe this has to do with the Greek conception of friendship Homer was working with. The bond between Achilles and Patroclus is explicitly that of lovers, or Erastes and Eromenos if you will. This sort of relationship was common during his time, but it implies a certain imbalance, since the participants take on different roles, one of the teacher and one of the student, while Enkidu and Gilgamesh become and see each other as equals after their duel. Furthermore, the Iliad is not entirely focused on Achilles, or any single character for that matter, but rather on the larger war that was being waged, while Gilgamesh is very much about the eponymous God-King.

>>14158168
check the book "myths from Mesopotamia" by Stephanie dally if you haven't

>>14158540
I haven't; thanks for the recommendation, friend.

>>14158467
I understand your point; while we are usually told that we shouldn't let our personal or cultural biases tarnish our perceptions of ancient works, I believe that a certain degree of subjectivity will always be present. So, even if I understand that different understandings of friendship are at play here, I can't help favoring one over the other.

>>14158784
This is perfectly understandable. We are human, we have our biases and our preferences. Both Gilgamesh and Homer's works are ancient is very far removed from our time, and while one would logically think that it's impossible to find them relatable, they still manage to make something resonate deep inside us. Friendship, death, war, journeys, why do they evoke so many emotions in the hearts of men? Perhaps because they are intrinsic to the human condition. In any case, what a marvelous invention is literature, letting the thoughts of men from bygone eras echo and resonate across time and space to reach us.

Is the Stephanie Dalley translation good?

>>14158168
retroactively refuted by the bible

>>14158168
I feel like we are free to have a deeper connection with the myth because it is uncontaminated by religious conservatism.
We often tend to find better adaptations of ancient Mesopotamian religion than we have of our own modern religions.

>>14159013
Also would like a translation rec.

>>14159091
based

>>14158856
Excellent post. These works resonate with us because they evoke deep feelings within us, that connect us with the people of old. Odysseus' dog only allowing old age to take him once he sees his master is home is indicative of our desire for loyalty in our own animal companions today. What's more the brotherhood shown by Agamemnon when the suitors are sent down to the house of the dead, he laughs, for his own situation was reversed in Odysseus' case. He came home and put things to right, something many veterans even today wish they could do when they find their girl friend, fiancé, or wife have left them for another man while they were away at war. So it is, the works are timeless because they move beyond a brief moment in history and show that they are not so different from us.

I haven't read it, but found it interesting how it went from a story similar to Gemini / Callus + Pollox and onto a story similar to Taurus. After Gilgamesh killed the heavenly bull, didn't he tell his builders to make it the symbol of his house?

Apparently the epic features symbols for all 12 signs.
https://www.mythicjourneys.org/newsletter_may07_gilgamesh3.html