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Originally the work of an anonymous Babylonian poet who lived more than 3,700 years ago, The Epic of Gilgamesh tells of the heroic exploits of the ruler of the walled city of Uruk. Not content with the immortality conveyed by the renown of his great deeds, Gilgamesh journeys to the ends of the earth and beyond in his search for eternal life, encountering the wise man Uta-napishti, who relates the story of a great flood that swept the earth. This episode and several others in the epic anticipate stories in the Bible and in Homer, to the great interest of biblical and classical scholars. Told with intense feeling and imagination, this masterful tale of love and friendship, duty and death, is more than an object of scholarly concern; it is a vital rendering of universal themes that resonate across the ages and is considered the world's first truly great work of literature.
@UrukRockCity All the ladies want to get it on now that I’ve slain the demon. But I must decline. I’m a clean man these days.
I just can’t win with women. Before, nailing all the ladies was bad. Now I refuse to seduce, and the Gods send a giant bull to kill me?
From Twitterature: The World's Greatest Books in Twenty Tweets or Less
Anonymous
Posted February 3, 2008
Don¿t listen to these other reviews posted here. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a classic of mythology and literature and one of the best and most meaningful tales ever told. It is also one of the key foundations for western culture, civilization and religion. I read it while I was a teenager and fell in love with it. I can understand, however, why the some of the other reviewers may have been confused. This particular edition is intended for scholars and researchers NOT laypeople just looking for a good read. It contains the original translated text with all the gaps and bumps and has not been smoothed out for easy reading. Penguin Books however does carry a ¿normal¿ edition of this story and I suggest that those not seeking a degree in mythology or religion pick up that one instead. Again this is a GREAT story, a true classic that has stood the test of time.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.mschmidt62
Posted June 29, 2012
Please note: if you click on the nook-book "Buy Now" button on the page for the 2003 Andrew George translation, you will be charged $9.99 and be sent a copy of the 1959 Sandars translation. If you want the Andrew George translation, I think you need to buy the paper version.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 12, 2005
This epic manages to keep interest, especially because of its short length and quick pace. The hero is shown as more of a desperate man searching to be a god than it does a godly man in his quest for glory.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 17, 2004
The earliest quest for immortality. This epic from the Assyro-Babylonian culture (parts of which were probably written as early as 3000 B.C.) contains perhaps the earliest known example of man's quest for immortality. According to Samuel Kramer, the prologue has the oldest known reference to Lilith, who is an important female demon in Jewish legend. Apparently, a historical Gilgamesh actually existed and ruled Uruk in Mesopotamia in the first half of the third millennium B. C. (probably in the first dynasty of Uruk). In the epic, the god Anu attempts to curb the harsh rule of Gilgamesh by the creation of a strong and wild man (many scholars regard this character as a symbol of primitive man). After a fight between the two, they become friends and have a number of adventures. In one tale, Gilgamesh is wooed by a goddess. But she is rejected by Gilgamesh and the bull sent by her father to destroy him is killed (some regard this story as a nature myth in which Gilgamesh represents the solar god of the spring season and the goddess is the goddess of love and fertility). Later in the epic Gilgamesh's friend is stricken with disease and dies. Gilgamesh is devastated and wishes to avoid a similar fate. He goes in search of eternal youth and immortality (perhaps the earliest example of such a quest in literature). After more adventures, which includes him learning the Babylonian story of the great flood, he finds the answer to his quest; but, it is quickly lost. Even though this is probably the earliest epic, it has considerable allegorical significance. It is perhaps the earliest known description of man¿s quest for the meaning of life and the struggle to avoid death. What is learned is that death is inevitable and man should enjoy the life he has.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 1, 2013
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Anonymous
Posted March 31, 2013
Ok happy easter i bet i am the only one who said that
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 29, 2012
Not the Andrew George version (2003).
Anonymous
Posted June 19, 2012
Do not listen to the last review, this version is terrible!
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Posted December 26, 2011
It was cool and fun. Good read.
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Posted February 11, 2011
If you are intersted in reading one of the most important early works of mankind, this is the book. If you need something for a high school book report, find a fictional version of Gilgamesh. This is an accurate translation of a very important work.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 25, 2008
Thank you for writing your review. I had planned on purchasing it for my 12 and 16 year old sons. After reading your thoughts, I researched a little more and quickly changed my mind. Thanks again.
0 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 14, 2005
I am not usually a complainer, but when I read this book, I was truly amazed by it. I had to read a book for history, so I chose this one, and boy was that a mistake!It is by far the most confusing book I have ever read, it was written in an ancient language, and should have stayed that way because it is untranslatable. I am 16 years old and I was lost through out the whole book! If you ever have to read a book for history, this is not the book for you! It was not only confusing, but boring, and it talked about innapropriate topics briefly for no purpose. Once again, I am not a complainer usually, but I wanted to give you the 'heads up' so you wouldn't fall into the same trap as I did.
0 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 3, 2000
yup very cool(lol)
0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 25, 2010
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Posted March 22, 2011
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Posted June 29, 2010
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Posted November 14, 2010
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Posted May 7, 2009
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Posted June 20, 2009
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Posted December 5, 2008
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Overview
Originally the work of an anonymous Babylonian poet who lived more than 3,700 years ago, The Epic of Gilgamesh tells of the heroic exploits of the ruler of the walled city of Uruk. Not content with the immortality conveyed by the renown of his great deeds, Gilgamesh journeys to the ends of the earth and beyond in his search for eternal life, encountering the wise man Uta-napishti, who relates the story of a great flood that swept the earth. This episode and several others in the epic anticipate stories in the ...