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Jul 2011
19m 17s

Introduction to the Text

John Harris
About this episode
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 of the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal (reigned 669-631 BC)
in his palace at Nineveh.
Up next
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
6m 26s
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
Jul 2011
Adventure of Forests of Cedar (Part 1)
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 l ... Show More
19m 4s
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