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The Epic of Gilgamesh: An English Verison with an Introduction (Penguin Classics)
 

The Epic of Gilgamesh: An English Verison with an Introduction (Penguin Classics)

by Anonymous

This edition provides a prose rendering of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the cycle of poems preserved on clay tablets surviving from ancient Mesopotamia of the third mi llennium B.C. One of the best and most important pieces of epic poetry from human history, predating even Homer's Iliad by roughly 1,500 years, the Gilgamesh epic tells of the various adventures of that hero-king, including his... (read more)

Top tags: mythology,  classic,  epic,  fiction,  ancient (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Monique
  • Rated 5 stars

“Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, but his people think he’s not a good king and call for help. To help them, the goddess Aruru creates Enkidu, a wildman who is just as strong as Gilgamesh. The fight and Enkidu wins. Gilgamesh understands that he was a bad king. He and Enkidu becomes friends until Gilgamesh insults the goddess Ishtar.

This is one of my favorite stories in mythology. What I find very interesting about this story is that it tells about the Flood before Noach. If the story...”

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Didn’t Like It

Alantie
  • Rated 2 stars

“An interesting mythology with unique characters.”

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Community:
  • Rated 3.808696 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Marcus

    marcus said:

    “That's one of a long list, Harvey. Anyway, here's a free copy: enjoy!

    http://www.shelfari.com/groups/26033/discussions/53054/Gilgamesh”

    posted Wednesday, July 2 2008
  • Harvey Booth

    harvey booth said:

    “I ain't read this.”

    posted Wednesday, July 2 2008
  • Olivia R

    olivia r said:

    “I had to read this for a Humanities Western Texts class... I thought it was going to be a difficult read, but it was actually relatively easy. I enjoyed it. It is the oldest text in our history. They are still finding bits and pieces of the story.”

    posted Tuesday, July 1 2008
  • B. A.

    b. a. said:

    “A very quick read. Shows many common archetypes in mythology and fiction.”

    posted Tuesday, July 1 2008
  • Kaleem B

    kaleem b said:

    “"grind up, kill, pulverize". over and over. reminds me of those bloody hittite reliefs at the BM, war, conquest, war, conquest. some good stuff tho:
    "Friend, gods have given you a broad mind
    and though it behoves you sensible, you keep uttering improper things.
    Why, my Friend, does your mind utter improper things?" (Kovacs trans)”

    posted Thursday, February 28 2008
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