Gilgamesh (𒄑𒂆𒈦 /ˈɡɪl.ɡə.mɛʃ/; Gilgameš) was a king of Uruk, Mesopotamia, who lived sometime between 2800 and 2500 BC.[1] He is the main character in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Mesopotamian poem that is considered the first great work of literature.[2] – Wiki
The part of Gilgamesh that stuck out the most to me was how the two warriors encouraged each other to conquer the monster in the forest. It reminded me of a conversation I heard recently between my a sister and brother. Essentially as young siblings they ended up getting into trouble because, as she explained, she just couldn’t back down from anything when her brother was involved. For me, these stories are related directly to my own life and how I contemplate difficult decisions. A friend suggested that, to make hard choices, I imagine myself giving advice to my brother as if he were in my position. In this exercise I am supportive and encouraging of my brother’s dreams more so than I am for myself. In the story of Gilgamesh the warriors independently would not have taken on the monster but, consoling each other’s fears along the way, they were able to go through with the plan. I’m curious about the boundary crossings from safe to dangerous that can happen as people team up together. I wonder in what ways ethical social boundaries will shift because of social media and growing social networks. On a small scale, a mother might steal food for her children (who can’t understand that). On a larger scale, corporations and elected officials might decimate a population or species for the sake of their shareholders or citizens well being (perhaps ultimately self serving). Is there some key information in the myth about listening to your own inner wisdom, at critical moments, to avoid disaster? Would Enkidu and Gilgamesh have lived happily ever after if Gilgamesh had listened to his own voice and shown mercy? I personally prefer to make choices based on my inner convictions because I find it easier to accept the consequences.
Get the Book – read the full story: Gilgamesh: A New English Version
