Research Guides: Epic of Gilgamesh: Books

Books

Gilgamesh by John Maier
Call Number: PJ3771 .G6 G55 1997
ISBN: 0865163499
Publication Date: 1997-03-01
25 Interpretive Studies on Gilgamesh and a Comprehensive Bibliography with over 1500 entries, Gilgamesh: A Reader is a collection designed to: -- Enrich the reader's background information on the epic-- Help draw connections between Gilgamesh and other literature-- Stimulate thought and discussion-- Enliven interest in Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh among Us by Theodore Ziolkowski
Call Number: ebook
ISBN: 9780801450358
Publication Date: 2011-11-18
The world's oldest work of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh recounts the adventures of the semimythical Sumerian king of Uruk and his ultimately futile quest for immortality after the death of his friend and companion, Enkidu, a wildman sent by the gods. Gilgamesh was deified by the Sumerians around 2500 BCE, and his tale as we know it today was codified in cuneiform tablets around 1750 BCE and continued to influence ancient cultures--whether in specific incidents like a world-consuming flood or in its quest structure--into Roman times. The epic was, however, largely forgotten, until the cuneiform tablets were rediscovered in 1872 in the British Museum's collection of recently unearthed Mesopotamian artifacts. In the decades that followed its translation into modern languages, the Epic of Gilgamesh has become a point of reference throughout Western culture. In Gilgamesh among Us, Theodore Ziolkowski explores the surprising legacy of the poem and its hero, as well as the epic's continuing influence in modern letters and arts.
Male and Female in the Epic of Gilgamesh by Tzvi Abusch
Call Number: ebook
ISBN: 9781575063492
Publication Date: 2014-04-27
The deeds and struggles of Gilgamesh, legendary king of the city-state Uruk in the land of Sumer, have fascinated readers for millennia. They are preserved primarily in the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the most well-known pieces of Mesopotamian literature. Studying the text draws us into an orbit that is engaging and thrilling, for it is a work of fantasy and legend that addresses some of the very existential issues with which contemporary readers still grapple. We experience the excitement of trying to penetrate the mind-set of another civilization, an ancient one--in this instance, a civilization that ultimately gave rise to our own. The studies gathered here all demonstrate Tzvi Abusch's approach to ancient literature: to make use of the tools of literary, structural, and critical analysis in service of exploring the personal and psychological dimensions of the narration. The author focuses especially on the encounters between males and females in the story. The essays are not only instructive for understanding the Epic of Gilgamesh, they also serve as exemplary studies of ancient literature with a view to investigating streams of commonality between ancient times and ours.

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