Connect
Through the first part of the tablet I connects the events of the flooding with the story of Noah and his arc. The city of Shuruppak was going to be flooded by the gods who believed people were behaving in a wrong way. But Utnapishtim was warned secretly by Ea about this flooding. He was told to build a huge boat, and he builds it, abandoning his house. Then the "world is flooded" by most of the gods, and some are even angry that Utnapishtim and his wife were able to survive. In the boat there were several birds, pigeons and ravens primarily according to the book. Utnapishtim would let these birds go, and if they came back it meant that there was no land near, but if they did not come back, land was close.
This compares to the story of Noah's arc, since he too was warned of a flooding and he builds an arc where he puts 2 of each species, which I believe also happened with Utnapishtim although it is not mentioned. His wife, sons, and himself are able to survive. G-d too floods the region because of wrong behavior, but he believes that the punishment fits the crime. Only those who committed offenses should pay (same as in Gilgamesh). Noah uses the same strategy Utnapishtim used, in which he released birds and saw if they came back or if they circled above any land.
The story of Noah might come out of this story as well as it might be vice-versa, the story of Utanpishtim growing out of Noah's. Personally, I think Noah's story grew out of Utnapishtim, since the civilization of Sumer was first than the Jews.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Gilgamesh's QUESTion: 'What happens when we die?"
If you are good,
you'll go to heaven with your pets
If you are bad,
You'll have to go through reincarnation (human only)
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Reading Blog Gilgamesh: Tablets VI & VII
Respond to the text personally
Although I've never had a brother or sibling die, I can feel the loss of Gilgamesh, like when my she-dog died 2 years ago. That night I was unable to sleep, I just couldn't imagine why they would take her away from me, I had several dreams in which she had come back, dreams so crisp and clear that I thought they were real, making waking up a real pain. I relate this loss to Gilgamesh's. Since he dreams (or more like nightmares) about the eventual loss of Enkidu, his faithful companion and loyal brother. I can feel the isolation he feels, his hatred for whoever controls death and life, his weepings for his brother.
Although I've never had a brother or sibling die, I can feel the loss of Gilgamesh, like when my she-dog died 2 years ago. That night I was unable to sleep, I just couldn't imagine why they would take her away from me, I had several dreams in which she had come back, dreams so crisp and clear that I thought they were real, making waking up a real pain. I relate this loss to Gilgamesh's. Since he dreams (or more like nightmares) about the eventual loss of Enkidu, his faithful companion and loyal brother. I can feel the isolation he feels, his hatred for whoever controls death and life, his weepings for his brother.
Reading Blog Gilgamesh: Tablets IV & V
Connect to another piece:
I connected the part in which the g-d Shamash sends 12 storms agaisnt Huwawa to the book by Rick Riordan: "The Son of Neptune". In the novel, it is said that gods and demigods must work together to defeat the titans. In the epic, Shamash works together with Gilgamesh and Enkidu (both demigods) to kill the demon, Huwawa. I can also connect it to Men in Black III when K is supposed to kill Boris the Animal, and he is bribing him to be put in a prison instead of being killed. This connects to how Huwawa is trying to persuade Gilgamesh to spare his life, that he'll be his servant, cut down his trees. Although not as direct, there is a certain type of connection to the decapitation of Medusa, since both creatures (Huwawa and Medusa) were decapitated by heroes, in fact both were demigods (Perseus and Gilgamesh/Enkidu).
I connected the part in which the g-d Shamash sends 12 storms agaisnt Huwawa to the book by Rick Riordan: "The Son of Neptune". In the novel, it is said that gods and demigods must work together to defeat the titans. In the epic, Shamash works together with Gilgamesh and Enkidu (both demigods) to kill the demon, Huwawa. I can also connect it to Men in Black III when K is supposed to kill Boris the Animal, and he is bribing him to be put in a prison instead of being killed. This connects to how Huwawa is trying to persuade Gilgamesh to spare his life, that he'll be his servant, cut down his trees. Although not as direct, there is a certain type of connection to the decapitation of Medusa, since both creatures (Huwawa and Medusa) were decapitated by heroes, in fact both were demigods (Perseus and Gilgamesh/Enkidu).
Reading Blog Gilgamesh: Tablets I, II, & III
Connect to another film:
I would describe the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in this part of the book, as the relationship between Willis and Jerry in the movie "Enemy Mine". It is the same way in which two characters are fighting for power and the end they become friends. In "Enemy Mine" the Terrans (or people from Earth) and the Dracs (from Dracon) are fighting for more power over the universe, then Willis and Jerry are stranded on a planet and they have to live together in harmony or else they would go crazy for not seeing another face. They learn each others language and culture. This is similar to the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu since they start fighting each other for control over Uruk and then they become almost brothers, since Gilgamesh's mother 'adopts' Enkidu. There is also a change in attitude in Gilgamesh since Enkidu makes him realize his mistakes.
I would describe the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in this part of the book, as the relationship between Willis and Jerry in the movie "Enemy Mine". It is the same way in which two characters are fighting for power and the end they become friends. In "Enemy Mine" the Terrans (or people from Earth) and the Dracs (from Dracon) are fighting for more power over the universe, then Willis and Jerry are stranded on a planet and they have to live together in harmony or else they would go crazy for not seeing another face. They learn each others language and culture. This is similar to the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu since they start fighting each other for control over Uruk and then they become almost brothers, since Gilgamesh's mother 'adopts' Enkidu. There is also a change in attitude in Gilgamesh since Enkidu makes him realize his mistakes.
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