The Epic of Gilgamesh is an Ancient Mesopotamian epic poem, which was first written as a series of poems and short stories; the earliest stories were presumably written in 2100–1300 BC, while the most popular and most translated version of the epic that we know today was completed by the Babylonians in the twelfth century. The poem was originally written on twelve clay tablets in Akkadian cuneiform script, and it is considered to be the oldest fictional work of literature and second oldest religious text in world history. Many analysts and scholars agree that The Epic of Gilgamesh is almost four-thousand years old. However, it is confirmed that the story was actually very well known in Ancient Mesopotamia and even beyond before it was written down.

The myth follows the adventures of Gilgamesh, the proud and powerful king of Uruk, who is said to be one-third human and two-thirds God. The poem is considered the first work of literature in which the main protagonist goes on a spiritual quest to find the meaning and purpose of life and hopefully defeat death, which consequently makes Gilgamesh the first epic hero as well; thus, it is noteworthy to mention that the poem is also commonly regarded as the first written text which explores themes such as the concept of immortality, death, and the meaning of life and humanity.