Epic of Gilgamesh
February 16, 2008
The epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest surviving piece of written literature. Over three thousand years ago, the author explored the same essential aspects of our humanity that all great literature explores: interpersonal relationships and social structure, what is truly valuable, and ultimately how to cope with death. These issues are still applicable to us today, and the wisdom contained in the epic still relevant.
Stephen Mitchell’s version of the epic is excellent. He is himself a poet, and his version captures the true literary and poetic value of this epic. (Unfortunately, the epic of Gilgamesh only survives in fragments; most versions are heavily annotated literal translations.) Mitchell’s introduction provides an excellent analysis of the poem, exploring its significance to archeology, to literature, and to us as human beings — though I recommend reading the poem itself first and then reading Mitchell’s introduction.
Mitchell said of his version:
“If I have succeeded, readers will discover that, rather than standing before an antiquity in a glass case, they have entered a literary masterpiece.”
I would say that he has succeeded, and I strongly recommend this version of the epic of Gilgamesh.
To learn more about Gilgamesh, I recommend the content available from my friend Laura’s online Mythology & Folklore course. She provides background reading material and her own version of the epic that combines the versions of various scholars, along with some quizzes and additional assignments:
There are also some versions of Gilgamesh available online:
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The Epic of Gilgamish
By R. Campbell Thompson [1928]: the first complete academic translation.
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Ishtar and Izdubar
By Leonidas Le Cenci Hamilton [1884]: the only complete public domain translation of the Gilgamesh saga.