Ancient Sumerian Society in Epic of Gilgamesh

Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Summary
Work Cited

Introduction

Folk art, especially of the epic genre, doubtlessly is among the most reliable sources of knowledge about the worldview that is peculiar to a certain culture. The works of such a kind normally embody the values of the storytellers, which makes them a bright illustration of the ways those see their positions in the environment and roles in life. Thus, the Epic of Gilgamesh reflects the respect towards outstanding features in humans, the appreciation of friendship, and the unacceptability of arrogance, which apparently characterized ancient Sumerian society.

Main body

Actually, it is quite typical of epic literature to assume the divine origin of the protagonists to highlight how special they are. Gilgamesh, the central figure in the mythology of ancient Mesopotamia, is not an exception. According to the stories, he was a particularly beloved creation of the gods, who presented him with perfect beauty as well as unprecedented courage (3). It is noteworthy that, judging by such a description, both bodily and spiritual excellence were essential in the culture under review.

Another noteworthy point is the belief in the divine origin of human virtues, physical as well as moral; this shows that the possessors of those earned high esteem in the Sumerian society. Interestingly, the vast majority of such epic protagonists are brilliant creators, including Gilgamesh, who built walls, a great rampart, and the temple of blessed Eanna in his city (3). This can serve as additional proof of his relatedness to gods, which, in turn, distinguishes him from ordinary people and actually makes him heroic. In other words, by highlighting that Gilgameshs deeds resulted from the outstanding traits he acquired at birth, the Sumerians recognized that not everybody could develop such; that was the reason for his special attitude to him.

The admiration of an individuals strengths apparently was among the drivers of friendship for the members of the given culture, which they saw as the key to peace. This is observable in the scene where another divine creation, athletic Enkidu, finds himself unable to overcome the protagonist in a battle (6). Astonished by Gilgameshs might and boldness, the giant acknowledges him as an equal, which ceases the conflict and gives birth to a close and sincere relationship between the two. The story is not only another bright example of how essential virtues were for the ancient Sumerians but also an illustration of the conviction that friendship was more powerful in comparison with animosity.

It would be relevant to mention that not solely their positive features of Gilgamesh are outstanding; his weaknesses are of a special degree as well, among which the most apparent is arrogance. Thus, the epic tells that having overcome the enemies and become the sovereign in his land, Uruk, the hero began to maltreat the population and dominate over them (4). The latter appealed to the gods, who designed a multi-stage scheme of retribution. Specifically, they decided to create Enkidu, who, as mentioned, became Gilgameshs closest friend. Later, the gods took him, which was a crisis for the protagonist (4, 15). The loss of the sworn brother made him reconsider his own life. Specifically, he realized that his death, similar to that of any human being, was inevitable as well. In such a way, the gods showed Gilgamesh that he should not consider himself prevalent over the others, which behavior the Sumerians apparently disliked.

Summary

To summarize, the Epic of Gilgamesh is a collection of stories that present the values of ancient Sumerian society, including bodily and spiritual perfection, friendship, and modesty. In one respect, the main character embodies the key virtues of the culture, being the gods offspring, due to which he stands out. Along with this, he possesses the traits of which the Sumerians did not approve, such as arrogance, and his story serves to demonstrate the unacceptability of those.