Illustration of Gilgamesh's face

The Epic of Gilgamesh

by John Gardner, translator

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The Epic of Gilgamesh Questions on Utnapishtim

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The gods decide to destroy humanity in The Epic of Gilgamesh because they believe humans have become too numerous and noisy, disturbing the peace of the gods. Enlil, the god of earth, wind, and air,...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Utnapishtim was selected by the god Ea in "The Epic of Gilgamesh" to survive a great flood because of his piety and virtue. Ea opposed the god Enlil's plan to destroy humanity with a flood due to...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays a complex relationship between humans and gods, marked by mutual dependency and transactional exchanges. While gods are powerful, they are depicted as fallible and...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The actions of the gods in Utnapishtim's story from The Epic of Gilgamesh suggest that Mesopotamian deities were seen as supernatural beings with human-like flaws, such as jealousy and irritation....

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The gods reward Utnapishtim and his wife with immortality for surviving the great flood, which they were warned about by the god Ea. This act of divine recompense is a key theme in The Epic of...

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