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According to the [[Sumerian king list]], '''Gilgameš''' was the son of [[Lugalbanda]] and the fifth king of [[Uruk]] (Early Dynastic II, first dynasty of Uruk). He ruled circa [[2600 BC]]. He became the central character in the ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]'' - one of the best known works of early literature, which says that his mother was [[Ninsun]] (whom some call Rimat Ninsun), a goddess. Gilgamesh is described as two thirds god and one third human.  

According to the [[Sumerian king list]], '''Gilgameš''' was the son of [[Lugalbanda]] and the fifth king of [[Uruk]] (Early Dynastic II, first dynasty of Uruk). He ruled circa [[2600 BC]]. He became the central character in the ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]'' - one of the best known works of early literature, which says that his mother was [[Ninsun]] (whom some call Rimat Ninsun), a goddess. Gilgamesh is described as two thirds god and one third human.  

Fragments of an epic text found in Me-Turan (modern Tell Haddad) relate that Gilgamesh was buried under the waters of a river at the end of his life. The people of Uruk diverted the flow of the [[Euphrates]] River crossing Uruk for the purpose of burying the dead king within the riverbed. In April 2003, a [[Germany|German]] expedition discovered what is thought to be the entire city of Uruk - including, where the Euphrates once flowed, the last resting place of its King Gilgamesh.

Fragments of an epic text found in Me-Turan (modern Tell Haddad) relate that Gilgamesh was buried under the waters of a river at the end of his life. The people of Uruk diverted the flow of the [[Euphrates]] River crossing Uruk for the purpose of burying the dead king within the riverbed. In April 2003, a [[Germany|German]] expedition discovered what is thought to be the entire city of Uruk - including, where the Euphrates once flowed, the last resting place of its King Gilgamesh.

Despite the lack of direct evidence, most scholars do not object to consideration of Gilgamesh as a historical figure, particularly after inscriptions were found confirming the historical existence of other figures associated with him: kings [[Enmebaragesi]] and Aga of [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]]. If Gilgamesh were a historical king, he probably reigned in about the [[26th century BCE]]. Some of the earliest Sumerian texts spell his name as ''Bilgames''. Initial difficulties in reading cuneiform resulted in Gilgamesh making his re-entrance into world culture in 1891 as  '''"Izdubar"'''.<ref>In [[Alfred Jeremias]], ''Izdubar-Nimrod, eine altbabylonische Heldensage'' (1891).</ref>

Despite the lack of direct evidence, most scholars do not object to consideration of Gilgamesh as a historical figure, particularly after inscriptions were found confirming the historical existence of other figures associated with him: kings [[Enmebaragesi]] and Aga of [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]]. If Gilgamesh were a historical king, he probably reigned in about the [[26th century BCE]]. Some of the earliest Sumerian texts spell his name as ''Bilgames''. Initial difficulties in reading cuneiform resulted in Gilgamesh making his re-entrance into world culture in 1891 as  '''"Izdubar"'''.

In most texts, Gilgamesh is written with the determinative for divine beings (''DINGIR'') - but there is no evidence for a contemporary cult, and the Sumerian Gilgamesh myths suggest the deification was a later development (unlike the case of the Akkadian god kings). With this deification, however, would have come an accretion of stories about him, some potentially derived from the real lives of other historical figures, in particular [[Gudea]], the Second Dynasty ruler of [[Lagash]] (2144–2124 BCE).<ref>[[N.K. Sandars]], page 16 in the introduction to ''The Epic of Gilgamesh'' (Penguin, 1972).</ref> 

In most texts, Gilgamesh is written with the determinative for divine beings (''DINGIR'') - but there is no evidence for a contemporary cult, and the Sumerian Gilgamesh myths suggest the deification was a later development (unlike the case of the Akkadian god kings). With this deification, however, would have come an accretion of stories about him, some potentially derived from the real lives of other historical figures, in particular [[Gudea]], the Second Dynasty ruler of [[Lagash]] (2144–2124 BCE).

Historical or not, Gilgamesh became a legendary protagonist in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh''. The name Gilgamesh appears once in Greek, as "Gilgamos". The story is a variant of the [[Perseus]] myth: The King of Babylon determines by oracle that his grandson Gilgamos will kill him, and throws him out of a high tower. An eagle breaks his fall, and the infant is found and raised by a gardener.<ref>[[Walter Burkert]]: ''The Orientalizing Revolution'', citing [[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]], ''On animals'' 12.21; Burkert's citation as ''Varia historia'' is an editing error.</ref>

Historical or not, Gilgamesh became a legendary protagonist in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh''. The name Gilgamesh appears once in Greek, as "Gilgamos". The story is a variant of the [[Perseus]] myth: The King of Babylon determines by oracle that his grandson Gilgamos will kill him, and throws him out of a high tower. An eagle breaks his fall, and the infant is found and raised by a gardener.<ref>[[Walter Burkert]]: ''The Orientalizing Revolution'', citing [[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]], ''On animals'' 12.21; Burkert's citation as ''Varia historia'' is an editing error.</ref>

==In popular culture==

==In popular culture==

* Several elements and characters from the Epic of Gilgamesh appear in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' novel ''TimeWyrm:  Genesis''.

* Several elements and characters from the Epic of Gilgamesh appear in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' novel ''TimeWyrm:  Genesis''.

* Gilgamesh is referenced in the [[They Might Be Giants]] song "The Mesopotamians". the song also alludes to the Mesopotamian kings [[Sargon]], [[Hammurabi]], and [[Ashurbanipal]]. Gilgamesh fears death.

* Gilgamesh is referenced in the [[They Might Be Giants]] song "The Mesopotamians". the song also alludes to the Mesopotamian kings [[Sargon]], [[Hammurabi]], and [[Ashurbanipal]]. Gilgamesh fears death.

* In the video game [[Devil May Cry 4]] Gilgamesh is the name of one of the protagonist's armor pieces.

* In the video game [[Devil May Cry 4]] Gilgamesh is the name of one of the protagonist's armor pieces.

==Notes==

==Notes==

# In Alfred Jeremias, Izdubar-Nimrod, eine altbabylonische Heldensage (1891).

# In Alfred Jeremias, Izdubar-Nimrod, eine altbabylonische Heldensage (1891).

# N.K. Sandars, page 16 in the introduction to The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin, 1972).

# N.K. Sandars, page 16 in the introduction to The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin, 1972).

# Walter Burkert: The Orientalizing Revolution, citing Aelian, On animals 12.21; Burkert's citation as Varia historia is an editing error.

# Walter Burkert: The Orientalizing Revolution, citing Aelian, On animals 12.21; Burkert's citation as Varia historia is an editing error.

==References==

==References==

* Damrosch, David (2007). The Buried Book: The Loss and Rediscovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh. Henry Holt and Co.. ISBN 0-805-08029-5.  

* Damrosch, David (2007). The Buried Book: The Loss and Rediscovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh. Henry Holt and Co.. ISBN 0-805-08029-5.  

* Oberhuber, K., ed. (1977). Das Gilgamesch-Epos. Darmstadt: Wege der Forschung.  

* Oberhuber, K., ed. (1977). Das Gilgamesch-Epos. Darmstadt: Wege der Forschung.  

* Parpola, Simo, with Mikko Luuko, and Kalle Fabritius (1997). The Standard Babylonian, Epic of Gilgamesh. The Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project. ISBN 951-45-7760-4 (Volume 1).  

* Parpola, Simo, with Mikko Luuko, and Kalle Fabritius (1997). The Standard Babylonian, Epic of Gilgamesh. The Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project. ISBN 951-45-7760-4 (Volume 1).  

===Original cuneiform text===

===Original cuneiform text===

*Original cuneiform text of [http://geokerk.googlepages.com/gilgame%C5%A1 the XI tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh] (standard Babylonian version)

*Original cuneiform text of [https://geokerk.googlepages.com/gilgame%C5%A1 the XI tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh] (standard Babylonian version)

 

===Text translations===

===Text translations===

*Sumerian texts: [http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.1.8.1* ETCSL]

*Sumerian texts: [https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.1.8.1* ETCSL]

**[http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1815.htm Gilgamesh and Huwawa], version A - (the adventure of the cedar forest)

**[https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1815.htm Gilgamesh and Huwawa], version A - (the adventure of the cedar forest)

**[http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr18151.htm Gilgamesh and Huwawa], version B  

**[https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr18151.htm Gilgamesh and Huwawa], version B  

**[http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1812.htm Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven]

**[https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1812.htm Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven]

**[http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1811.htm Gilgamesh and Aga]

**[https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1811.htm Gilgamesh and Aga]

**[http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1814.htm Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world]  

**[https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1814.htm Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world]  

**[http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1813.htm The death of Gilgamesh]

**[https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1813.htm The death of Gilgamesh]

*''The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature'' ([http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/ http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/]), Oxford 1998-.

*''The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature'' ([https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/ https://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/]), Oxford 1998-.

*http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/GILG.HTM

*https://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/GILG.HTM

*[http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/mideast/mi-wtst.htm The Epic of Gilgamesh: A Spiritual Biography]

*[https://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/mideast/mi-wtst.htm The Epic of Gilgamesh: A Spiritual Biography]

*[http://www.religioustolerance.org/noah_com.htm Comparison of The Epic of Gilgamesh to the Genesis flood]

*[https://www.religioustolerance.org/noah_com.htm Comparison of The Epic of Gilgamesh to the Genesis flood]

Translations for several legends of Gilgamesh in the [[Sumerian]] [[language]] have been written by:  

Translations for several legends of Gilgamesh in the [[Sumerian]] [[language]] have been written by:  

*Black, J.A.,  

*Black, J.A.,  

*Cunningham, G.,  

*Cunningham, G.,  

*Fluckiger-Hawker, E,  

*Fluckiger-Hawker, E,  

*[[Stephen Mitchell]]

*Stephen Mitchell

**[http://www.strippedbooks.com/comics/stripped03/gilgamesh01.html Stripped Books: Stephen Mitchell on Gilgamesh] - a comic-book adaptation of a talk by Stephen Mitchell about the epic poem.

**[https://www.strippedbooks.com/comics/stripped03/gilgamesh01.html Stripped Books: Stephen Mitchell on Gilgamesh] - a comic-book adaptation of a talk by Stephen Mitchell about the epic poem.

**Mitchell's translation was also adapted as a [[radio play]] for [[BBC Radio 3|Radio 3]] by [[Jeremy Howe]], first broadcast on Sunday [[11 June]] [[2006]] from 19:30-21:30 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/dramaon3/pip/gci75/]

**Mitchell's translation was also adapted as a [[radio play]] for [[BBC Radio 3|Radio 3]] by [[Jeremy Howe]], first broadcast on Sunday 11 June, 2006 from 19:30-21:30 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/dramaon3/pip/gci75/]

*Robson, E.,  

*Robson, E.,  

*Zólyomi, G.,

*Zólyomi, G.,

[[Category: History]]

[[Category: History]]

[[Category: Archaeology]]

[[Category: Archaeology]]