The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the reader as much about the society in which the work was written as it does about the life of the hero-king Gilgamesh himself. Gilgamesh's story began to take shape some four thousand years ago , and the result of succeeding additions and revisions is a portrait of a larger-than-life epic hero whose character and exploits embody the highest ideals and values of the pagan (pre-Christian) culture he represents. The Mesopotamia of more than two thousand years ago (Sumer was a region in southern Mesopotamia) consisted of harsh and dangerous societies in which bold and courageous action was required from heroes, especially kings. "Gilgamesh" lived in a time of great trouble and strife, when history was in its early stages and society was just beginning to develop. His amazing physical exploits answer the call of the time for blatant expressions of bravery and goodness in the face of the forces of darkness, evil and chaos. The stories of Beowulf and Sundiata reflect the cultural needs of two other societies and eras, as this study will demonstrate, in comparison to Gilgamesh and his place and time.
Gilgamesh is shown to be a superior character, and his superiority is manifest in physical, mental and social aspects:
Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance,
he is the hero, born of Uruk, the goring wild bull.
and walks at the rear, trusted by his companions.
Mighty net, protector of his people,
raging flood-weave who destroys even walls of stone!
Gilgamesh is the hero of a story which is far from romantic. The culture which his story addresses and represents is one in which numerous dark struggles dominate human existence, involving nature, humanity, the gods, violence, and death. Gilgamesh's experiences focus on these facets of life as he grows and develops as a leader and a mortal man. The major threads of the story are Gilgamesh's relations with other human beings and with gods, an...