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Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh: A Verse Narrative | Herbert Mason
Herbert Mason's best-selling Gilgamesh is the most widely read and enduring interpretation of this ancient Babylonian epic. One of the oldest and most universal stories known in literature, the epic of Gilgamesh presents the grand, timeless themes of love and death, loss and reparations within the stirring tale of a hero-king and his doomed friend. A finalist for the National Book Award, Mason's retelling is at once a triumph of scholarship, a masterpiece of style, and a labor of love that grew out of the poet's long affinity with the original.
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Bookwomble
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The Epic of Gilgamesh has parts dated from 2100 BCE, other elements up to 1200 BCE. It's a fantastic insight into the minds of the earliest settled, literate people. My edition is a Penguin Classic I bought in the 1980s, so I do need to get a more modern edition that incorporates newer archeological findings and historical perspectives.
#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

Soscha That would be mine as well! What? What? You‘ve stolen my flood! 🌊 3w
julesG Oh, right, The Epic of Gilgamesh is ancient. Same goes for The Book of Toth. 🤔 Guess I've read ancient book then. 🤣🤣🤣 3w
Awk_Word_Smith Beowulf most likely. 3w
BookmarkTavern I need by to read this one. 😄 Thanks for posting! 3w
quietlycuriouskate Gilgamesh! I've got the Stephen Mitchell one (Profile Books, 2005) ❤️ 3w
29 likes5 comments
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Cupcakesbookishreviews
The Epic of Gilgamesh | Nancy K. Sandars
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Starting this today! 😊

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vivastory
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1) The tagged book which some consider to be the oldest written book. Highly recommend the Stephen Mitchell or David Ferry translation. I'm intrigued by the version published last year, translated by Sophus Helle.
2) It is really hard for me to be interested beyond 3-5.
3) I had a major book hangover with The Dark Tower.
#wondrouswednesday @eggs

LeahBergen I read Gilgamesh in my Classics class in university. Now I must try to remember what translation it was. 😆 10mo
Eggs Thanks for the thoughtful responses 🙏🏻📚🤗 10mo
vivastory @LeahBergen That sounds like a fun class! Any favorites? 10mo
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen Ohh, that‘s a toughie. We also read Ovid‘s Metamorphoses in this class which I loved. I did several other classics courses and the standouts were Virgil‘s Aeneid, Homer‘s Iliad and The Odyssey… oh, and the “love” poems of Catullus were amazing. Our prof was an Oxford grad and would totally help translate all the nastiest bits for us. 😆 I did a couple of years of Latin, too. 10mo
vivastory @LeahBergen I 💙 Metamorphoses. I've read a couple of versions, but am curious about the recent translation published by Penguin. Catullus & the Latin poets were fantastic. I always really loved Horace too. 10mo
LeahBergen Oh yes, Horace was one I read and loved, too! I‘m going to have to look up that newer Ovid translation. 👍 10mo
51 likes6 comments
review
E.Bolhafner
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Pickpick

I looked up more words while reading this version over the Mitchell one I just finished. I think slightly less enjoyable due to pacing and tone. The Ferry version includes Tablet 12 which deals with Enkidu's spirit returning to speak to Gilgamesh about the underworld. Still a day's read and worth the different explanations of what was happening. I found the latter half {post Cedar Forrest} more interesting/descriptive/clear in Ferry.

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E.Bolhafner

From tablet 12--not included in Mitchell version:

'...... my body that once made Gilgamesh the companion rejoice to touch...'

Bromancing my way through the classics.

I had noticed that there was a distinction made between friend and companion a couple of times i.e. 'your friend and your companion'. Also used differently than brother. Brother seems to be used ala brother in arms for quests.

'the companion, whom I loved'

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E.Bolhafner

Then Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced, and kissed, and took each other by the hand.

The husband believes the Mitchell version took liberties in the bromance department but here is Ferry doing the same...

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trifleneurotic
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Pickpick

A story thousands of years old yet, even in translation, still manages to touch us. Freeing to read in a way, being written down when artistic ideals were only beginning to be a part of any oral or cultural heritage. Later works owe it a debt, including the Bible. An elemental tale.

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trifleneurotic

Lots of parallels to the Bible, which it arguably predates. An ancient tale, a myth, yet I still feel a little sting at the death of Enkidu. What does that signify, considering the earliest discovered passages date to around 2000 B.C.E.? A blood friend and companion dies. Not a novel part of mythology, but this story still endures.

SamAnne Finally read this last year and agree. 1y
3 likes1 comment
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trifleneurotic
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"...for whoever is tallest along men cannot reach the heavens, and the greatest cannot encompass the earth." - Gilgamesh

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BkClubCare
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Pickpick

A tough read, really. Much more scholarly approach needed than an expectation of entertainment. The first third is all explanations of its discovery and place in history so it almost felt like nonfiction. #CC50 #ClassicsClub

#BookSpin November! Read for #DoubleSpin, actually
@TheAromaofBooks

Ruthiella Yeah, I find for a lot of literature from antiquity, I enjoy the introduction more than the actual work? 😆 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
BkClubCare @Ruthiella - I don‘t know why I thought this would be a “fun” reading experience… Too many books!! 2y
35 likes3 comments
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SherryJones
Pickpick

In all the millennia since this 2270 BC text was written, so little has changed. Men still fight and kill, and lay waste to the environment, for no good reason. They continue to value women solely for sex. It‘s depressing.

But all this is what makes The Tale of Gilgamesh so amazing —it‘s an exquisite portrayal of human nature, which will never change. Very illuminating, as well, is the flood scene that predates Noah‘s Ark and prefigures it.

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SherryJones

I‘m excited to read this book as part of an online world literature course I‘m auditing through Harvard U. Written 3,700 years ago!

BkClubCare I started this because … for other nerdy reasons. Must ask! Do you have THIS version? I am reading a VERY old paperback pub‘d in 1972 😂 2y
SherryJones Yes, this version was recommended by the course. How are you liking it so far? 2y
SamAnne I read this last year as part of a classics Good Read group and really enjoyed it. 2y
6 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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BkClubCare
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“The epic of Gilgamesh, the renowned king of Urik in Mesopotamia, comes from an age which had been wholly forgotten, until in the last century archaeologists began uncovering the buried cities of the Middle East.”
#FirstLineFridays (The first 60 pages are intro! Am counting this for #NonfictionNovember!)

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TH3F4LC0N
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Pickpick

So this is where it all started; the oldest story in the world. It was repetitive as hell, wildly contradictory at times, had a very loose continuity, and plot holes galore. And yet, somehow it was actually kind of fun to read, though perhaps more so in an anthropological kind of way than a literary one. (And btw, this Penguin Epics edition, which was a whopping 63 pages, cost 12 f*cking dollars!!! Just another reason why I hate Penguin Books. 🤬)

9 likes1 stack add
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WellReadCatLady
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I‘m trying to read more classics and great books! This one is requiring a bit of research to understand it.

24 likes1 stack add
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Settings
Pickpick

Can't not give Gilgamesh a pick.

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K.Wielechowski
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Mehso-so

Weird story but it covers the “book I was supposed to read in school but didn‘t” part of my reading challenge.

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rakeshpm


"‘He who comes is no man of mine, but on the right ……X 190 I am looking, but he is no [man of] mine …‘" (from "The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Classics)" by Penguin Classics, Andrew George)

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rakeshpm
Pickpick


My thoughts

This is an excellent book. It will help us know more about the beliefs and hero-worship customs of earlier people.
Rating
5/5

Nute Welcome to Litsy! It‘s a warm and friendly community. I know that you will enjoy yourself here. I‘m looking forward to getting to know you!🙂 4y
9 likes1 comment
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Billypar
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#bookspin

Here are my April #bookspin selections. The unfortunately cut off #20 is the tagged book.

Last month crossed off 1 of 2 non-fiction selections, so now only #19 remains. Otherwise, we've got:
-9 fiction (contemporary)
-7 fiction (classic)
-2 poetry collections
-1 essay collection

@TheAromaofBooks

LinesUponAPage Nice stack! 4y
merelybookish I'm still rooting for Jane Eyre! 🙂 4y
TheAromaofBooks Great pile, and I like your mix of types! 4y
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Suet624 I should put mine into a stack too. I realized I have no idea where I found a couple of mine to put on my list. Grrrr... 4y
Suet624 And siddhartha!!!! Yes! (edited) 4y
Billypar Thanks @Lifeisasnap and @TheAromaofBooks - looking forward to the spin! 4y
Billypar @merelybookish April might be the month! It's funny because I do find myself rooting for certain ones, but it's oddly more fun to leave to 'fate' ☺ 4y
Billypar @Suet624 You might have to go on a shelf hunt depending on the number 😁 I am looking forward to Siddhartha - I loved Steppenwolf and Glass Bead Game. 4y
49 likes8 comments
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Kav138
Mehso-so

Historically important . Read January 2020

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AthenaWins
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Pickpick

Wow. I wasn't really expecting The Epic of Gilgamesh to be so beautiful. Honestly, I wasn't sure I would understand it. But the author of this version has pieced the story together in a way that even the non-reader will understand and fall in love with. The narrators are more like performers, emotional and passionate. The author also includes an essay that goes deeper into the story, looking for deeper meaning. Loved this so much.

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AthenaWins
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I am loving this much more than I expected. The narrator is fantastic. Such a great story.

Emilymdxn I was surprised by how much I loved it too! 4y
AthenaWins @Emilymdxn it really is such a beautiful story. Rampant sexism (but hey, we're talking over 4,000 years ago), but the companionship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is just so heart wrenching. 4y
30 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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It‘s gorgeous this morning! I decided since I didn‘t get outside to walk yesterday (got my 10,000 in though) I would do my long walk. It feels good. But ... my headphones died about a third of the way into my walk 😭 #bookfitnesschallenge

blank RIP 😩 5y
CoverToCoverGirl Yup, this has happened to me.. 😭 5y
OrangeMooseReads @covertocovergirl it‘s so sad and frustrating lol 5y
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OrangeMooseReads @laurenslibrary I just have to make sure they are nice and charged every night 5y
blank @OrangeMooseReads Oh I thought you meant they stopped working entirely! Thank goodness 5y
OrangeMooseReads @laurenslibrary oh no thankfully! 5y
wanderinglynn Great job with your steps! 🙌🏻 5y
50 likes7 comments
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Emilymdxn
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1. Black Leopard Red Wolf and Crazy Brave
2. Probably Black Leopard Red Wolf - came out less than a week ago! I don‘t do ARCs so that‘s the most recently published one!
3. Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest story we currently know about im pretty sure so I might struggle to find anything older!

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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Tamra
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Pickpick

A fool on a fool‘s errand? Oh Gilgamesh.

Paired with pink lemonade margarita in the last gasp of summer heat here in the northland.

Velvetfur I love those flowers 😀 6y
Tamra @Velvetfur I‘m not sure the name of it, but it can really take a beating by the sun and has flowered all summer. Someone called it a lipstick plant? 6y
DivineDiana I‘m thirsty! 😉 6y
79 likes3 comments
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

So glad I read this!! Very accessible translation considering it‘s the oldest work of literature in the world

zsuzsanna_reads It's on so many lifetime reading lists, but I've been out off so far... Thanks for the recommendation! 6y
Emilymdxn @zsuzsanna_reads it has some very repetitive bits which are a bit odd to modern sensibilities, but other than that it‘s got a clear narrative, some beautiful descriptions and it‘s quite short so I didn‘t find it off putting at all really! 6y
zsuzsanna_reads We seem to read a lot of the same books plus I live in Surrey too (just a bit older than you, lol). I friended you on Goodreads! 6y
Emilymdxn @zsuzsanna_reads amazing!! I don‘t think I‘ve ever encountered another person from Surrey on here lol, I‘ll accept you on goodreads right away ☺️ 6y
zsuzsanna_reads Oh but I live in East Surrey. I never seem to encounter anyone from East Surrey anywhere. It's like we're a special tribe 😂 6y
41 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Swanofavon
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Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. One of these is not quite like the others 🤔😂

DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚👍Hope you enjoy it here! 6y
Swanofavon @DebinHawaii thank you!! 6y
RaimeyGallant Nice stack! And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
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Swanofavon @RaimeyGallant thanks so much, that's very kind 6y
Chelleo Welcome to Litsy! New book friends are the best! We hope you‘re loving it here! Checkout these #Litsytips: http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: http://bit.ly/litsyvideos There‘s so many fun things to do: book exchanges, buddy reads, photo challenges and more! Check out @LitsyHappenings for details. 6y
Jess7 Welcome! 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy 🎉🎊 6y
asiriusreader Welcome to Litsy! 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 👋🏻😊👋🏻 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 👍📚 6y
Wife Welcome to Litsy!🌹 6y
12 likes12 comments
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Anna40
Pickpick

"What is this sleep which holds you now?
You are lost in the dark and cannot hear me."

The oldest known work of literature is the captivating story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, which can be read as a tale of adventure or a spiritual journey, dealing with love, loss, grief, the realization that we are mortal beings. I thought that something created in 3000 BC would be too remote from my life. How wrong!

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Notmacaroniandcheese
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Well, it‘s official. I‘ve now opened a folk art meets ancient history Etsy shop. Currently only one item up, but I plan on making more each week.
If anyone‘s interested you can check it out at https://etsy.me/2Hiyysz

DarcysMom Super cool! I followed your shop so I don't miss out on your creations. 😁 6y
23 likes1 comment
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LikelyLibrarian
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Teaching a one-week mini-session of World Lit. Today‘s reading: The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis.

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sprainedbrain
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One of my favorite college courses at University of Iowa was Quest for Human Destiny my freshman year... partly because of the dynamic professor, and partly because I loved almost all of the required texts. So much so that I still have these, 20 years later.

#fallintoreading #quest

120 likes2 stack adds
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merelybookish
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I used to teach a survey called "World Literature Up to the 16th Century" ?. It met a requirement so most of the students were not exactly lovers of literature (from any country or century)
But many of them did enjoy Gilgamesh. It's short. It's seamy. There's violence. (I can't say the same for the Bhagavad Gita .) ?
Image from a children's version by Bernarda Bryan.
#classicsforclassicshaters #fallintobooks @RealLifeReading

LeahBergen I read Gilgamesh for a Classics course and really enjoyed it. 7y
merelybookish @LeahBergen Did you know they recently found some more tablets of the story? I guess they fill in one of the gaps. 7y
LeahBergen I didn't know that (off to investigate I go)! Have you heard of this book? I picked it up at a charity sale because it looked interesting 7y
See All 6 Comments
merelybookish @LeahBergen No, I haven't seen that. Sounds interesting! It's amazing how long ago Gilgamesh was written, and yet...still speaks to us. 7y
quietlycuriouskate I enjoyed the Stephen Mitchell translation. 7y
merelybookish @River_Voice Yes, that's the one I used! 7y
60 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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Faibka
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"Enkidu was resolved to lead his friend
Who was determined but did not know the way.
Now Gilgamesh was certain with his friend
Beside him"

One of the most moving tales of loyal and everlasting friendship and one my all time favorite epic poems ??
#inthemoodforlove
#seasonsreadings2016

27 likes1 stack add
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Kimzey
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Enkidu, the lap cat, is my most constant reading companion! #readingcompanions #photoadaynov16 @RealLifeReading

Seshat Love that you named him that! 7y
shanebeth so handsome! 7y
SharonGoforth 😻😻😻 7y
See All 8 Comments
Faibka Enkidu! Wonderful name 😍 adorable kitty 😻💜 7y
CherylDeFranceschi ❤️😻! 7y
Bette Beauty. 🐱❤️ 7y
RadicalReader @Kimzey what are all your pets names and how did they get them? 7y
86 likes1 stack add8 comments
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APLitlife
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Finishing up this gem today.

9 likes1 stack add
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ApoptyGina69
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Can't get much more classic than the main character in the first-ever (supposedly) novel of the world. Had a good time with these support texts in my myth & literature class. #classiccharacter #octoberphotochallenge

LeahBergen I have the one on the left but haven't read it yet. 7y
26 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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GoneFishing

Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things; day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice.

6 likes1 stack add
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MariettaSG

Attempting to read more literature from varying times and places. Ancient text, possibly oldest to survive. Lebanon existed. Mt Hermon, which is also mentioned in the bible existed. Similarities to the bible and Ancient Greek texts, parts sound like Samson, part God/part human characters like Greek mythology, reference to a great flood. Also line about a three ply rope cannot be cut exactly same as a Proverb. Search for meaning focus towards end.

2 likes1 stack add
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Oblomov26
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At least 4000 years old and still such wise advice