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Jul 2011
19m 4s

Adventure of Forests of Cedar (Part 1)

John Harris
About this episode
The text of this episode is much damaged in both the Akkadian and the Babylonian series; rather than indicating the frequent gaps and ambiguities, the text is reconstructed from the best sources, including the more ancient Sumerian.

Much is conjectural, and is given some poetic license. The Sumerian, rather than the Akkadian, contains more details, and so the temper of the story reflects its more “archaic” tone.

***

Image is a classic Sumerian representation of Gilgamesh wrestling a lion to his death.

Music excerpt is 
“Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis”
from the album, Vaughan Williams: Symphonic Works
Up next
Jul 2011
Introduction to the Text
A brief introduction to the Epic: its origin and significance to our lives. *** Image is of the famed eleventh tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh, in which the tale of the Flood is related. Now housed in the British Museum, it was found in the pillaged remains of the royal library o ... Show More
19m 17s
Jul 2011
Prologue
Preamble to the adventures, introducing Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, and alluding to the goddess Ishtar whose presence is preeminent among all divinity in this tale, and in whose temple are kept the tablets which are to be read to tell this tale. *** Image is an Akkadian representati ... Show More
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Jul 2011
Adventure of Enkidu
The Adventure of Enkidu continues tablet I of the Epic and finishes on tablet II. It is supplemented by Bablyonian material where the Akkadian text is damaged. Gilgamesh is a young king of Uruk, arrogant, and overbearing. He so abuses his authority by the mistreatment of his peop ... Show More
22m 47s
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