The Epic of Gilgamesh, Lecture by Andrew George

The lecture begins with a warm welcome to the audience and an introduction to the topic: The Epic of Gilgamesh. The speaker outlines the historical significance of the poem, which originated over 4,000 years ago in Iraq, and its enduring relevance to themes of love, friendship, courage, and the acceptance of death. The lecture features Dr. Andrew George, a leading scholar in Babylonian studies, who has authored a critical edition and a widely acclaimed translation of the epic. The event also includes a panel of distinguished Harvard professors who will provide commentary on various aspects of the epic.

This paragraph discusses the profound influence of The Epic of Gilgamesh on modern Western culture, with its narrative having inspired artists, poets, musicians, and dramatists. The text's impact is considered second only to the Bible among ancient Near Eastern texts. The speaker proposes to explore five approaches to understanding Gilgamesh: its story, archaeology, decipherment, poetics, and its continued relevance. The narrative of Gilgamesh, a tyrant king of Uruk, and his wild counterpart Enkidu, serves as a backdrop to this exploration.

The paragraph delves into the adventures of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, highlighting their heroic feats in the Cedar Forest against the ogre Humbaba and their subsequent defeat of the Bull of Heaven. The story also touches on the romantic advances of the goddess Ishtar and Gilgamesh's rejection, leading to further trials and tribulations. The paragraph concludes with the tragic death of Enkidu, a turning point that triggers Gilgamesh's fear of mortality and his quest for immortality.

Gilgamesh's quest for immortality leads him to Utnapishtim, a survivor of a great flood and the only immortal man. Despite learning about the unique circumstances of Utnapishtim's immortality, Gilgamesh remains determined to evade death. The story follows his trials, including a failed attempt to stay awake to conquer sleep, and his eventual realization of the inevitability of death. The section ends with Gilgamesh's return home, marking the end of his journey.

This paragraph explores the archaeological context and decipherment of the Gilgamesh tablets. It begins with the 19th-century discovery of ancient tablets by Austen Henry Layard in the ruins of Nineveh. The narrative follows the early efforts to understand the cuneiform script, the significant contributions of George Smith, and the gradual aggregation of tablets and fragments that have pieced together the epic poem over time.

The speaker describes the painstaking process of reconstructing the epic from numerous clay tablet fragments. This involves creating line drawings, transliterations, and translations to assemble a coherent text from multiple sources. The paragraph emphasizes the challenges of working with broken and incomplete sources, the importance of conservation, and the ongoing efforts to decipher and understand the ancient literature.

The paragraph focuses on the poetic structure and artistry of Babylonian literature, particularly The Epic of Gilgamesh. It highlights the formal nature of Babylonian poetry, its use of short statements often bound in pairs, and the careful organization of narrative and ideas. The speaker provides examples from the epic to illustrate the poetic techniques and the aesthetic experience of the text.

The final paragraph meditates on the timeless message and legacy of the epic. It discusses the themes of human destiny, the brevity of life, and the search for meaning and immortality. The speaker reflects on how the poem has resonated with modern audiences and continues to inspire new interpretations. The lecture concludes with a reflection on the communal aspect of human life as represented by the city of Uruk, suggesting that the epic is ultimately a contemplation on the human condition.

In this paragraph, Peter Machinist discusses the evolving themes of kingship and immortality within the epic. He explores how the quest for immortality is presented and undermined through various stages of the story, ultimately suggesting that the true immortality of Gilgamesh may lie in the survival of his story, the epic itself. The discussion also touches on the implications of the epic on the concept of divine kingship.

David Damrosch examines the character of Enkidu as a representation of the professional managerial class in ancient Mesopotamia. He discusses Enkidu's role as a counselor to Gilgamesh and the pressures of advising a willful king. The paragraph draws parallels between the epic and modern contexts, suggesting that the story serves as a cautionary tale for those in advisory roles.

Irene Winter explores the relationship between the epic and the visual culture of ancient Mesopotamia. She discusses the limited archaeological record and the challenges of identifying visual representations of the epic. The paragraph also considers the possibility of other epics that may have existed in the Babylonian literary tradition and their potential visual representations.

The final academic contribution suggests that the epic's themes and messages can resonate both backward and forward in time. It proposes that the epic may have initially been more focused on the role of a ruler and the experience of state formation, rather than the later themes of human existence and the individual's place in the universe. The speaker also draws connections between the attributes of a good ruler described in the epic and the visual representations of kings in Mesopotamian art.