Gilgamesh Votive Figure Essay

For the final project, I will compare works of art from the Quest for Immortality and the two pieces I chose are Statuettes of worshippers, from the Square Temple of Eshnunna and Epic of Gilgamesh. For my visual work of art, I chose The Votive Figures which date back to 2900-2600 B.C.E. and for my literary piece of art I chose The Epic of Gilgamesh which predates by 1500 years. I will compare these two pieces of art that share a common theme and also link the contemporary connection within each piece.
Votive Figures are various in sizes and are usually carved in gypsum or limestone and were mined from the Square Temple in Eshunna which is the present day Iraq. They portray men wearing fringed skirts and women wearing tufted dresses draped over their shoulder. These figures were excavated from the Square Temple of Eshunna which is present day Tell Asmar, Iraq. An interesting fact about Votive Figures is that they are all positioned the same way which is reflective to how a worshipper stands with their hands folded across their chest. The

Gilgamesh was the son of a man and a goddess, he was known as the strongest and most handsome man in the world. The first half of the story discusses the king of Uruk Gilgamesh and how his assets caused his ego to spiral out of control which caused him to be very cruel to his people. He forced the young men of his city to compete in different athletic contest and sexually exploited the young women. Gilgamesh and his cruelness became too much for the citizens of Uruk, so they prayed to the gods for help. When the god Anu hears them he commands the goddess Aruru to create another human who will be a rival for Gilgamesh. Enkidu was a wild man created by the gods to stop Gilgamesh from oppressing the people of Uruk however; they became close friends after an initial