An Epic World: Tablet II & III (Gilgamesh)

Tablet II of Gilgamesh might as well be a comparison to modern society: What would you call a renowned indigenous tribe being introduced and absorbed into the superficial and external eminence of our modern, blemished society? ... Unwanted assault?

Same goes for Tablet II, except, in this case the indigenous group is a wild, Godly-made man with hair growing out of his every pore, and society can be interpreted as the beloved Sumerian city-stated of Uruk around 2700 B.C. These two compare to each other in the way that a natural, native and imitable person (or group of people) are being carved up from their roots and nature-based, admirable cultures, and being seemingly transformed into another part of our faceless civilization.

Another thing that caught my attention was the idea of the prostitute, or harlot as you see it to be put. This part of the epic takes place when the prostitute sets out to domesticate Enkidu by ‘laying with him’, (In other words, make ‘love’), and creating a sort of friendly atmosphere. For starters, the fact that prostitutes in that time were not viewed in a negative fashion, but praised and held in very high and noble standards, stands to show the evolution of certain notions in this world in time. But, the fact of her coming over to acculturate him also stands for proof that today’s ways of the press and current events manipulating people’s thoughts and views on how society should be and how they should be, is not only a thing of the present.

Also, Gilgamesh says,

“Who is the moral able to enter heaven?
Only the Gods can live forever.
What he accomplishes is but the wind”

Here, this leads to Gilgamesh’s true beliefs about life and where they are going, such as the QUESTions.
He is basically saying that men’s purpose in life is basically a bug on windshield; it’s there, but when you look at the whole picture, you barely notice it. He thinks the struggles we go through, the success, the hardships…they are all for nothing.
When he questions the ability of a moral to enter heaven, he is stating the fact that when we die, we are not going to heaven. So whoever had that in mind can go justify out with Gilgamesh himself.
There’s also the fact that he says only Gods live forever. So not only are we not going to heaven, we’re not going anywhere. We are born, we live, we die.

And that’s all....right.


While Enkidu and Ilgamesh may be very distinct in their backgrounds and beings in general, they are similar in very ways, that which is shown when they form a bond to go after the horrifying fire-breather, Huwawa. What stands to question is the mentionable incident that occurred when they joined forces. After attacking each other for what one could say a definitive amount of time, and they suddenly realized they were made for each other—‘made for each other’ in the way that they exist for the lone purpose of linking up together and defeating evil creatures and malevolence itself since they both have the build of a track star—, they kissed.…

......um….what?

Yes. After beating each other to the point of liquefied pulp (Maybe I’m just exaggerating, but it gives it a little ‘UMPH!’ don’t you think?....) and they have the sudden realization that they have just found their own, personalized, ready-for-battle, soldier soulmate, they kiss. Does the written text say anything about on the cheek or on the lips? Negative. So this only leads me to infer they either live in a city-state with an affectionate and tender background, or they are undoubtedly gay.

The thing is, I never really understood if it was even possible to be attracted to the same sex so long ago. Weren’t they all recently aware of Adam and Eve and therefore brought to the conclusion that men should be with women, and that’s just the way it is? I, personally, don’t have anything against that type of sexuality, but seriously? The visualized concept we all have of ancient Greece being a clean, standard, uptight modern society is gone down the drain, because it turns out homosexuality existed even when we, humans, walked around in our birthday suits.

This goes to show how much we have seriously turned into homophobic, cold, judgmental beings that at the sight of two gays kissing, we make a random disgusted comment, and judge with no fears.

How I would love to go back to an era where two grown men could kiss each other and not get beaten down to face the rusty concrete just for showing signs of affection.

Now THAT would be an epic world.