A Closer Look at the Myths of Cities in Ancient West Asia
The Mesopotamia cities of Uruk and Ur are cities of sacred and
monumental images. These cities of Mesopotamia have unique
characteristics, which go into the design of these two cities.
Monumental organization and planning was carried out only in the
centers and complexes of Mesopotamian cities. These centers were laid
out using axial planning (rectangular arrangements). These huge
centers contrast strikingly with the most important parts of the
cities, which were not planned at all. Housing areas grew from the
inside out, which made the house based on rooms around a central
courtyard.
Uruk culture (3200 to 2350 B.C.E) had two very important scores:
religion and science, which is confirmed by the thousands of clay
tablets, dug in it, which goes back to the beginning of the writing.
It was also the center of the worship of the goddess Inanna (goddess
of love and war). The Eanna precinct was dedicated to Inanna. A
ziqqurat was constructed under the command of King Ur Nammu (2112-2095
B.C.E). “To serve as an elevated platform for a temple to Inanna” (p.6
Primacy Source) Amid the rubble of temples in the Eanna precinct found
““Warka Vase,” an “ alabaster cult vessel 39 inches high with a scene
of priest- king making on offering to the goddess Inanna , which
symbolizes the religious roles that were produced in the Mesopotamian
city of Uruk. Uruk was renowned for its wall, which cuneiform texts
say were first built years ago by king Gilgamesh. The city in its
neighborhood is the ruins of a temple, which used for mural
ornamentation thousands if colored clay cones. Another temple in ruins
is one devoted to Anu.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the greatest pieces of literature from the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia known to modern scholars. It was found among ruins in Ninevah in the form of twelve large tablets, dating from 2,000 B.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur. From the ancient Mesopotamia, the poem is set where modern day Iraq is today. Composed of five Sumerian poems about Bilgamesh, which is Sumerian for Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is two parts God and one part Man who is a hero. Gilgamesh encounters many challenges and situations during The Epic of Gilgamesh that cause him to evolve into a better king. Consequential, Gilgamesh recommences his position in Urk and evolves as an improved king.
The story of the great hero, Gilgamesh, fulfills the requirements of an epic. Gilgamesh is consistently relevant to society and it conveys timeless themes and messages. It is in human nature for people to want to excel in life and strive to make a name in this world for themselves. We want to be remembered by name or for something we have done. Most, who actually succeed, are forgotten about in a matter of years. However, some are remembered for tens, hundreds, and even thousands of years, because of their great intellectual achievement to feats of outstanding skill.
The Epic of Gilgamesh introduces us to the Mesopotamian culture, where citizens believe they should live in a just society, women have power, and people feel that their ideal death would be in an honorable manner. (####) The story of
The Epic of Gilgamesh, although written in the area between the West and East, is a more Western text rather than an Eastern text. Gilgamesh, in its ancientness can be seen as the catalyst for the majority of Western ideologies and texts. The text in its approach to aging, finding the truth and the pursuit of immortalizing oneself are in parallel with how Western beliefs conduct themselves and by extension show how Western motivation for their text could be constructed. In this manner, Gilgamesh is the oldest surviving Western text to pave the paradigm of Western texts rather than Eastern texts.
In ancient Mesopotamia, people transmitted orally The Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is the person who ruled at Uruk about 2700 BCE. This epic was originally composed in Sumerian at 2000 BCE and eventually written on clay tables by Babylonians, Hittites, and other in their own languages (Culture and Value. Page7). This epic focuses on human existence (Culture and Value. Page8).
“Gilgamesh." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
The Epic of Gilgameshis thought to have been orally recited in the late third millennium B.C.E in Sumer. Gilgameshis a semi historical, two- thirds god and one-third man, ruler of the city of Uruk in Sumer in the region of Mesopotamia approximately in 2800 B.C.E (19). The book of job takes place in Uz around the 530’s B.C.E (34).
Gilgamesh, The Epic of. Vol. A. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner, et al. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2012. 95-150. Print.
The ancient Mesopotamian writing, The Epic of Gilgamesh, gives readers insight into the traditions and customs of the people who wrote it. Like all epics, The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story of a heroic national figure: this epic gives the story of the life of Gilgamesh from his birth as two-thirds god, one-third man to his death. Throughout the epic the importance of loyalty is addressed. In The Epic of Gilgamesh readers see that loyalty is the most important aspect of a Mesopotamian relationship and that there are always consequences for violating trust.
The Epic of Gilgamesh served the purpose to shed some light on the culture of Sumeria. The story has helped give factual information even though the epic many not be true in whole, it may have some truth in parts. It has given us more knowledge on the architectural craftsmanship of Sumerian people, and also shows us the belief of many gods in Sumer's polytheistic society.
The Epic of Gilgamesh. Trans. Benjamin R. Foster. Text. Martin Puncher. New York: W.W and Company, 2013.Print.
We learn about ancient civilizations through literature, artifacts, and stories passed down from generation to generation. The Mesopotamian civilization is one of earth's earliest civilizations, and it's also one we know very little about. We can gather information about these people's way life, beliefs, and geographical location. The Epic of Gilgamesh, a literary work from this time period, shows us several important pieces of information that helps us understand this ancient civilization. This epic shows us the Mesopotamian peoples belief system, their views on death, and their description of the after life.
Gilgamesh is an epic of great love, followed by lingering grief that causes a significant change in character. It is the story of a person who is feared and honored, a person who loves and hates, a person who wins and loses and a person who lives life. Gilgamesh's journey is larger than life, yet ends so commonly with death. Through Gilgamesh, the fate of mankind is revealed, and the inevitable factor of change is expressed.
"Epic of Gilgamesh." Academy for Ancient Texts. Ancient Texts Library. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. .
The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest text in history. Gilgamesh is a powerful king and an awe-inspiring warrior who is 2/3 divine and 1/3 human. I think it is interesting that the epic has so many factors that I can relate to in our current time. There are a lot of lessons that can be gained from reading the epic. The text relates to me as a college student in a various ways. It has a few key experiences that reminds me of my own personal life experiences. The epic is an important text that should be read because it has life lessons for modern humans from centuries ago.