Classics 10: Chapter 13 Gilgamesh: Introduction to Heroic MythI. Legend as Heroic MythLegendHeroes and Hero CultsII. The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of GilgameshThe Text of the Epic of GilgameshSlide 8Mesopotamia: “Between the Rivers” of Tigris / EuphratesMain Gods in Epic of GilgameshGilgamesh and EnkiduSlide 12Gilgamesh and IshtarGilgamesh and the Bull of HeavenHeroic Nudity in Greek ArtHeroic Nudity in SculptureGeorge Washington as American Zeus?The Death of EnkiduGilgamesh’s JourneySlide 20The End of Gilgamesh’s QuestGilgamesh and MortalityIII. Gilgamesh and Heroic MythImportant (Folktale) Motifs Common in Heroic MythSlide 25Slide 26Slide 27Classics 10: Chapter 13Gilgamesh:Introduction to Heroic MythI. Legend as Heroic MythII. The Epic of GilgameshIII. Gilgamesh and Heroic MythI. Legend as Heroic Myth•As divine myth is analogous to theoretical science, so legend is analogous to history•“What happened in the human past?”•Central characters and stories are those of great human heroes–The gods play a role, but they are not center stage–Poseidon curses Odysseus for blinding the Cyclops, but Odysseus still has to get homeLegend•These are not the acts of ordinary human beings, but they are still human•Legends take place on earth in the remote past and were thought by the Greeks to be real human events–The Greeks’ main interest was not in historical accuracy but in the human drama of the events (e.g., the Trojan War)–Likely some historical truth behind the mythsHeroes and Hero Cults•What is a “Hero”?–Homer: noble-born male who is alive (birth)–Later: noble figure from the distant past (merit)•Rise of “hero-cults” in Dark / Archaic Ages–Festival sites with reenactments?–Great deeds as examples for future generations?–Stimuli to record heroic/legendary myth?•Cult sites around great funeral mounds (e.g. Achilles at Troy)II. The Epic of Gilgamesh•Earliest known account of mythical hero•Probably began as oral story, but was written down very early (ca. 1800 BCE?)–At least 600 years older than Homer’s epics; written down at least 1000 years before•Likely influenced Greek heroic myth–Similar themes and motifs, extensive commerce makes trade in ideas also likely•Something of an archetype of heroic myth–Whole list of standard motifs presentThe Epic of Gilgamesh•Gilgamesh likely a historical king of the Sumerian city of Uruk around 2600 BCE–Famously well built city walls and fortress•He was the subject of a whole series of stories and adventures written all across Mesopotamia–No other figure so popular or widespread•Fragments of these stories still survive in Sumerian, Akkadian, and Hittite cuneiform tablets (over a span of 1000 years!)The Text of the Epic of Gilgamesh•Most complete account in 12 tablets excavated from the Assyrian city of Nineveh, destroyed in 7th C BCE•Story is pieced together from all the evidence in the different languages and from the different periods•Still some gaps and many places we don’t fully understand, but the outline of the story is clearThe Text of the Epic of Gilgamesh•Most complete cuneiform tablet from Nineveh (number 11 of 12) tells story of the universal flood•Not translated or understood until 1850s•Complete text fairly well established by 1970sMesopotamia: “Between the Rivers” of Tigris / EuphratesMain Gods in Epic of GilgameshAnu (old king of heaven) (compare Ouranus or Cronus)Enlil (storms, kingship) (compare Zeus)Ishtar (sexual love / queen of heaven) (compare Aphrodite and Hera)Ea (wisdom, trickster) (compare Hermes)Ereshkigal (underworld, dead) (compare Hades)Shamash (sun) (compare Helios)Gilgamesh and Enkidu•When story begins, Gilgamesh is already a great king with no rivals, begins to abuse his power–Sleeps with every virgin the night before her wedding•The people beg the gods for relief, and so a new character is created to temper Gilgamesh•Enkidu, the natural man–Lived in the wild, ate grass, ran with animals–Gilgamesh sent out a whore to make him fall–Human sex leads to loss of innocence; Enkidu is now civilized and the animals shun him•He learns how to eat, drink, dress like a humanGilgamesh and Enkidu•Enkidu then comes to Uruk to challenge the tyranny of Gilgamesh•They wrestle, Enkidu thrown, but two become best of friends–Importance of male companionship for hero–Replaces improper sex with women•The two seek great adventure and fame•They journey to the the Land of the Cedars, cut down the trees, kill the guard Humbaba•Enlil angry that Humbaba killed, but Gilgamesh and Enkidu gain fame and wood to build cityGilgamesh and Ishtar•Gilgamesh now beautiful in his glory•Ishtar wants to have sex with him–Gilgamesh mocks her as a treacherous lover•Ishtar responds by having the Bull of Heaven sent to kill Gilgamesh•Enkidu jumps on the bull, holds the horns so that Gilgamesh can slice open the neck•Ishtar shows up to curse Gilgamesh, and Enkidu throws the bull’s genitals in her face•Divine punishment now inescapableGilgamesh and the Bull of HeavenTerracotta relief, ca. 2000 BCEIs this Enkidu moving infor the genitals?Traditionally understood to be GilgameshNote (from the penis) that the hero is nudeHeroic Nudity in Greek Art•The tradition of nudity starts after Bronze Age–Homer’s heroes are not referred to as nude, but as exceptionally good looking–Odysseus once ashamed to be caught nude, but he was shipwrecked and needed a bath•Perhaps associated with Greek athletics, which was in the nude–Part of the practice of hero cults?–Way of communicating the hero’s great strength?•Greek sculpture in Archaic period very fond of nude young man pose (kouros , pl. kouroi)Heroic Nudity in SculptureGreek Youth, 6th C BCE Roman Emperor, 2nd C CEKouros = Youth Antoninus PiusGeorge Washington as American Zeus?•Sculpted by Horatio Greenough in 1840 for the centenary of Washington’s birth•Negative reaction demonstrated that heroic nudity no longer in style (or not American?)The Death of Enkidu•Ishtar has been humiliated by Enkidu•Enlil and Ishtar demand that a hero die•Enkidu dreams of death, gets sick, dies–Death a place where bird-like spirits sit in darkness and eat dust and clay•Gilgamesh mourns, finds his life meaningless if his friend and glory can be limited by mortality–Immortal mother, but mortal father–My reading: Heroes are between us and the gods, they help us to