Resources in your books:
Each one of our books offers useful material in addition to the primary text it presents. These resources are especially important when you are reading a text from a culture that differs markedly from ours, since to fully understand such a work we often need a frame of supporting information. Much of of this information will be presented in class, but the books themselves frequently give you a lot of what you need to know. Sanders' translation of Gilgamesh offers a variety of aids to the reader. The most important ones are:
1) The map on p. 6, which enables you to identify the location of Uruk, Gilgamesh's city. If you are unable to place the Near East in relation to the Mediterranean and Europe (or for that matter, the rest of the world), consult a larger map or a globe.
2) The glossary of names beginning on p. 120. Gilgamesh, like many of the texts we are reading this semester, presents us with names that are at best unfamiliar, at worst bizarre. Although you need learn only those names which are essential to an understanding of the story, the concise information presented by the glossary of names can make your reading easier and more enjoyable, and greatly improve your comprehension.
3) The introduction. Many readers skip introductions (I am occasionally guilty of this folly myself, but I always read the introductions to texts I plan to think about and/or discuss). Such readers miss a concise presentation of the background of the text, and often a useful discussion of important themes and issues. If you have the time, dip into the introduction, especially sections 5-7.
Resources on the web:
For a brief outline of the history of ancient Mesopotamia, and a useful summary of information about Sumerian deities and cosmology, visit the Sumerian Mythology FAQ. Note that the names of the gods on this page are Sumerian, not the Assyrian forms found in our text. Note also that the story "Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the Netherworld" which it mentions is not included in our translation of Gilgamesh.
The Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ presents a similar range of information--an outline of history after the fall of Sumer, along with a summary of Assyrian and Babylonian mythology and deities.
Mesopotamia contains a much broader selection of information about the early Near East. Of particular relevance to our concerns is the page on Cuneiform, since one of our topics for Thursday is the development of writing.
Questions and issues to think about as you read:
1) Gilgamesh can be read as a struggle between civilization and nature, or as a story of humanity's struggle to control and dominate both its own nature (instincts; life-span) and the nature of the external world. Do you find such a reading convincing? Why? What would you point to in the story to either support or discredit such a reading?
2) What kind of man is Gilgamesh? Is he a good ruler? Does he fit your idea of a hero?
3) Enkidu is created to be Gilgamesh's equal, "as like him as his own reflection" (p. 62). Are they indeed the "same", or are there significant differences between them?
4) Many of the texts we are reading this semester focus on the figure of the hero, a figure that will change, some times subtly, some times dramatically, as we move from one text to another. What does Gilgamesh say about the nature of the hero and his role in society?
5) What is the role of the gods in the society presented in Gilgamesh? Is Gilgamesh an ally of the gods, or is he their opponent?
6) One of the key moments of the story occurs when Humbaba begs Gilgamesh to spare his life, and Enkidu convinces the wavering Gilgamesh that Humbaba must die (pp. 82-83). Is Enkidu correct, or would sparing Humbaba have produced a different future, a future that would be better for the two companions, for Humbaba (obviously), and for their society's relationship with the primal forces of nature?
Enjoy your reading!