The Epic of Gilgamesh | Some Literary Motifs in the Composition of the Gilgamesh Epic
In the following excerpt, Sasson discusses the five separate, original Sumerian legends that were eventually combined into the unified Gilgamesh epic.
As it is still preserved for us, the material in Sumerian dealing with Gilgamesh consists of five legends, each complete within itself. "Gilgamesh and King Agga of Kish" is probably the most "historical" text. It speaks of Gilgamesh's stout-hearted refusal to submit to the mighty king of a neighboring kingdom and of his eventual triumph over the forces which threatened Uruk. "Gilgamesh and the Land of Living" is by far the masterpiece among the fragments in existence. Its mood is somber throughout, for it treats a poignant theme. These are the words of Gilgamesh to Utu, the sun god:
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