Gilgamesh: The New Translation

I am reviewing the myth and not the translation, as I am not qualified to judge the latter. I appreciated both the introduction and the appendices (which reprint analyses from earlier researchers/archaeologists) for the information and analysis of the origins of the myth. It does seem likely to me that Enkidu and Gilgamesh originally belonged to their own myths and the stories later merged.To me, the most striking aspect of the myth was the fear of death displayed by the heroes. Of course, there are many heroes who despise an "ordinary" death, like "mere mortals" suffer, instead seeking glory (e.g., Achilles, who chose a short but heroic life over a long but undistinguished one). But that's not the same thing as a fear of death--it's more a fear of being seen as ordinary. This fear of death is most emphasized in Enkidu's behavior leading up to the battle with Humbaba, Enkidu's approaching death, and Gilgamesh's reaction to Enkidu's death.In the first example, Enkidu repeats--over and over--that he is terrified of confronting Humbaba and doesn't want Gilgamesh to go to battle, to the point that he is chastised by Gilgamesh for cowardice. Previously, Enkidu has been set up as Gilgamesh's almost-equal--pretty much equal strength and bravery (it is, after all, Enkidu and not Gilgamesh, who later kills the Bull of Heaven). So this fear is interesting, and I don't quite know what to make of it. Yes, it obviously sets up Humbaba as a formidable foe, but probably a single instance of the warning/fear would do that. Instead, Enkidu repeatedly gives this warning. Maybe, as a result of merging two myths and putting together the story from multiple sources, (identical) warnings made by multiple sources are all attributed to a single person. But it makes for an interesting psychological portrait of a hero--one who fears death itself, even a glorious one.After his defeat of the Bull of Heaven, Enkidu dreams that the gods are going to take his life as punishment. I know the people far more knowledgeable about the text say that he's struck by a fever/wasting disease, but it appeared to me that he was struck with despair over his fate and gave up. It seemed to me that his fear of death led to his death.And Gilgamesh's grief over Enkidu's loss leads to his own existential crisis, in which he reverts to the wildness (killing, skinning, and eating lions, etc.) from which Enkidu emerged, going off on a long journey in the hope of obtaining immortality. Gilgamesh doesn't seek a glorious death but no death at all, which I also found interesting. Usually, the afterlife for heroes is depicted as a place where they will receive a just reward, often being reunited with those they loved. But Gilgamesh doesn't appear to see the afterlife as a place where he'll see his beloved friend again. One of the appendices--a dialogue between Gilgamesh and Enkidu's ghost--suggests that the dead in the afterlife are reunited with people they love, but the afterlife itself feels pretty grim, so I can understand why the fear of death is such a prevalent theme in the epic.

Wow, this story is really good! I have of course heard of the Epic of Gilgamesh before, but only terms of it containing a version of the biblical flood story. Such only comes in at the end, though, on the last tablet when Gilgamesh visits Upnashatim. The story as a whole is a great struggle of two friends to defeat an evil together, one of them dying and the other seeking the secret of immortality to bring back his friend. This is a story infused with Love, specifically a story of Philia, a deep and abiding friendship. However, at times the constant repeating of lines and questions gets a bit dull, so only four stars, but still a great story.

This is nothing less than the MOST incredible writing of human history known to date... It is simply derived from writings 3,000 years old (about). Think about that before we ask any more questions. THEN.... read it over.... and then again wouldn't hurt. And only then consider yourself maybe in a position to decide if you even like it. And if you don't....why the heck have you been wasting your time....go read some comics.IF you find it incredible you can join the club of many who understand the significance of these incredible writings in an age we can't even begin to imagine. Imagine, if you can, an age over 1000 years BEFORE the writings of the Bible that gives the saga of the Floor and Noah but given in different names....There is a flood killing inhabitants after a large craft is built with samples of all animals on the earth to repopulate the planet once the waters recede, a bird that flies off to return with a branch when the waters have receded and a wonderful ending in a world when there were numerous gods with one god scolding another that brought on the flood "Why didn't you just let loose a bunch of lions to kill the bad humans you want to rid us of instead of a flood killing everyone left on the surface?" What a wonderful follow-up to the Biblical version that came so many lifetimes later.... Think about it.... (or have you dropped out already and are reading comics?)

While the translation text is seemingly complete and better understood than others, and enjoyable to read; all the comparisons to the different versions of several tablets is there, I suppose is only of use to a dedicated student of Gilgamesh.

My son needed this for his English class to take annotations, perfect price for what he needed to do.

The translator did a good job of keeping the sense of the original, while making it relatively easy to understand. It provides a good look at this amazing ancient story. The commentary is also quite enlightening.

This is an interesting new translation of an ancient epic from Mesopotamia that many of us know from Kramer's earlier, near-literal transcription of the fragmentary cuneiform tablets available at the time of Kramer's investigations into Near Eastern religious texts. (I believe Kramer was the first to note the parallels between this ancient poem and the Old Testament story of The Great Flood, recorded probably after the Hebraic Captivity in Babylon - i.e., during the Diaspora ). At any rate, Gerald Davis has set himself the task of being worthy of "Gilgamesh"; the reader will, of course, judge for himself if he has succeeded. I believe he has and would recommend this book as a worthy addition to any college-level syllabus on ancient and medieval epics, especially those - like Beowulf - in which warrior friendship such as that between Gilgamesh and Enkidu plays a role.

I am not a scholar but it was interesting to read this, the oldest written epic in the world. I enjoyed it, and the appendix is also interesting and informative, I have learnt a few things, it makes you reflect on history of mankind and culture.

Product was fine and in good condition - in spite of being left on the wall connecting me to a CAR PARK, just as well i found the package before it rained!

This is boring but it is important to remember that it is probably the earliest book ever written so the writer won't have had any tuition in how to deliver a gripping story. It is repetitive and not inspiring, but deserves respect as the first book.

3 pages fallout as soon as I took it out of the package, also I he printing is purely done, is to close to the end of the page…

Interesting read... The story is repetitive and loops back on itself