Key Concepts and Characters from Gilgamesh, Genesis, Exodus, and the Odyssey

These flashcards cover key characters, concepts, and themes from the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Book of Genesis, the Book of Exodus, and Homer's Odyssey, aiding in understanding the foundational texts within their cultural and literary significance.

Gilgamesh

King of Uruk, 2/3 divine; his quest for immortality drives the epic.

Enkidu

Wild man created by the gods to humble Gilgamesh; becomes his closest friend.

Shamhat

Temple prostitute who tames Enkidu, serving as a catalyst for cultural entry.

Ninsun

Gilgamesh’s divine mother who interprets omens and supports him.

Shamash

Sun god; patron of Gilgamesh who aids him morally and practically.

Ea (Enki)

Wise Sumerian god of fresh water and wisdom who sometimes helps humans.

Enlil

Major storm/air god; decisions reflect capricious divine power.

Ishtar

Goddess of love and war; her spurn by Gilgamesh leads to retaliation.

Huwawa (Humbaba)

Guardian of Cedar Forest, killed by Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

Bull of Heaven

 Divine weapon Ishtar unleashes; causes devastation and is slain.

Utnapishtim

Flood survivor granted immortality; teaches Gilgamesh about mortality.

Urshanabi

Ferryman who helps Gilgamesh reach Utnapishtim.

Siduri

Riverside tavern-keeper who gives “carpe diem”–style advice.

Uruk

The city (and its great walls) symbolizing civilization and human achievement.

Sexuality and the “Temple Prostitute

Shamhat civilizes Enkidu; sex = entry to culture.

Natural, cultural, and divine realms

Tension between wilderness (Enkidu), city (Uruk), and gods.

Gilgamesh’s journey

From arrogant king to wise leader who accepts human limits.

Battles as catalysts

Slaying Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven drive plot & divine reactions.

Uruk & city walls

Civilization’s pride; Gilgamesh’s lasting legacy.

Role of the gods / polytheism 

Gods are powerful, jealous, and anthropomorphic.

Divine and semi-divine kingship 

Gilgamesh’s mixed nature raises questions of rule and fate.

The Flood

• Utnapishtim’s tale; parallels with later flood myths; lesson on mortality and divine caprice.

Grief and Enkidu’s death

• Catalyzes Gilgamesh’s quest; explores mortality and mourning.

Rejection of Ishtar : divine marriage 

Gilgamesh refuses Ishtar, causing divine retaliation.

Friendship

Central humanizing force that changes Gilgamesh.

Utnapishtim — immortality 

Source of the philosophical lesson: immortality denied, meaning discovered.

Poly-revolution (agriculture, urbanization, writing, bronze) —

Cultural transformations that underpin civilization.

Ziggurat

Religious/architectural symbol of city and divine connection.

Adam & Eve

The first humans created by God in the Book of Genesis, whose disobedience leads to the Fall of Man.

Cain & Abel

The first two sons of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis, whose story illustrates themes of jealousy and the consequences of sin.

Noah

A biblical figure who built an ark to save his family and pairs of animals from the Flood, as described in the Book of Genesis. Covenant with God. 

Abraham (Abram)

 First patriarch; covenant promises; father of Isaac and Ishmael. He is considered the founding figure of the Israelites and a model of faith in God, noted for his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Sarai / Sarah

Abraham's wife, mother of Isaac, and a key matriarch in the biblical narrative. Her name was changed from Sarai to Sarah by God, signifying her role in the covenant promise.

Hagar & Ishmael

Hagar was Sarah's maidservant, and Ishmael is her son by Abraham. They are significant in the narrative of the Abrahamic covenant, representing God's promise to bless and care for Ishmael despite the focus on Isaac.

Isaac

Abraham's son, the child of promise, who inherits the covenant and becomes a patriarch of the Israelites. His near-sacrifice by Abraham demonstrates themes of faith and obedience. Father of Esau and Jacob 

Rebekah

Isaac's wife and key matriarch, she played a vital role in the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant by bearing Jacob and Esau, and later facilitated the blessing of Jacob over Esau.

Esau

Isaac's firstborn son, who is known for his physical strength and skills as a hunter. He later sells his birthright to Jacob for a meal, illustrating themes of sibling rivalry and the value of spiritual inheritance.

Jacob (Israel

Isaac's second son, he is known for his cunning and resourcefulness. Jacob later receives the blessing intended for Esau and becomes the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Rachel & Leah

Wives of Jacob; mothers of many tribes.

Joseph & Benjamin

Sons of Jacob; Joseph’s dreams and rise in Egypt. Benjamin, the youngest son, is known for his close bond with Joseph and his role in the family's survival during famine.

Lot

Abraham’s nephew; story linked to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Pharaoh

Ruler of ancient Egypt in Joseph’s story, known for his power, divine status, and pivotal role in the story of Exodus.

Serpent

Symbol of temptation and sin in the Garden of Eden, associated with the fall of man in Genesis.

Twelve tribes of Israel

The descendants of Jacob's twelve sons, who formed the nation of Israel and were given distinct territories in the Promised Land.

Canaan

Land promised to Abraham’s descendants.

Eden

Sacred origin place; setting for creation stories and Fall.

Elohim / YHWH

Names/titles for the divine (general and covenantal aspects).

Torah

Law and Foundational instruction; Genesis as part of pentateuch origin stories. The Torah refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, encompassing the laws, teachings, and narratives foundational to Jewish tradition and faith.

Motifs: barrenness; sibling rivalry 

Repeated motif (Sarah/Hagar, Rachel/Leah, Cain/Abel, Jacob/Esau).

Two creation stories 

Different emphases: cosmic order vs. human intimacy/role

Two trees

Tree of life and tree of knowledge; theological symbolism.

Temptation

The serpent tempts; free will and consequence

Flood

Divine judgment and covenant (rainbow) with Noah.

Abraham the first patriarch

Model of faith, covenant, and tested loyalty (binding of Isaac).

Jacob (“heel sneak”) and Esau’s birthright —

Birthright & blessing as cultural/legal inheritance.

Dreams (Jacob and Joseph)

Dreams as divine communication and plot drivers.

Hagar

Example of marginalization and divine attention.

Joseph and his brothers

Narrative about sibling rivalry, dreams, and reconciliation.

Tower of Babel

A biblical story illustrating the consequences of pride and ambition, leading to the division of languages and peoples by God.

God’s covenants with Noah/Abraham

Agreements marking key promises from God, ensuring protection and blessing in exchange for faithfulness.

Binding of Isaac (Akedah)

A pivotal biblical event where God tests Abraham's faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac, representing themes of obedience and divine providence.

Monotheism

Genesis’ movement toward one God covenantally involved. 

Sacred place / sacred space in Genesis

 Eden, altars, and covenants mark holiness.

Moses

The central figure in the Exodus narrative who leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, receives the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and guides the people during their wanderings in the desert.

Pharaoh

Egypt’s ruler; opposes Israel’s release; subject to plagues. He represents tyranny and defiance against God.

Aaron

Moses' brother and spokesperson, who assists in leading the Israelites out of Egypt and serves as the first high priest of Israel.

Miriam

Moses' sister who plays a key role in the Exodus story. She is a prophetess and leads the women in song after the crossing of the Red Sea.

The people (Israelites)

who were enslaved in Egypt and led to freedom by Moses; they represent faith and perseverance in the face of oppression.

Joshua

Moses' successor who leads the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses' death. He is known for his military leadership and the conquest of Canaan.

Moses’ early life

Moses’ early life includes his birth to Hebrew parents, his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter, and his upbringing in the Egyptian royal court before fleeing to Midian after killing an Egyptian. Burning Bush: Moses encounters God in the form of a burning bush, where he is called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

The plagues / hardening of Pharaoh’s heart

A series of ten disasters sent by God to persuade Pharaoh to free the Israelites from slavery, culminating in the death of the firstborn in Egypt.

Wandering in the wilderness

The period after the Exodus when the Israelites roamed in the desert for 40 years before entering the Promised Land, facing various challenges and receiving God's laws.

The Ten Commandments

Laws given to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, outlining fundamental principles of morality and conduct essential for their covenant with God.

The burning bush

A miraculous phenomenon where God spoke to Moses, calling him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. It was a sign of God's presence and authority.

The golden calf

An idol made by the Israelites while Moses was on Mount Sinai, representing their lack of faith and disobedience to God.

Slavery and freedom

 Central Exodus theme: the struggle of the Israelites to escape bondage in Egypt and gain liberation under God's guidance.

Law vs. stories

The contrasting approaches in biblical texts where laws provide moral and ethical guidelines, while stories illustrate human experience and divine interaction.

Collective responsibility

A concept in which individuals are held accountable for the actions of their group or community, emphasizing the shared moral duty among members.

Passover

Ritual memorial of liberation; liturgical foundation.

Mount Sinai

Site of covenant, lawgiving, and divine presence.

Manna

Food provided by God to the Israelites during their journey in the desert.

Odysseus

Hero of the "Odyssey," known for his intelligence and cunning.

Penelope

Faithful wife who tests suitors and preserves household.

Telemakhos

Son of Odysseus and Penelope, who embarks on a journey to find his father. He matures throughout the epic and eventually assists in reclaiming his father's home.

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and warfare who aids Odysseus on his journey home.

Zeus

 King of gods; arbiter of fate and justice.

Poseidon

Sea-god antagonistic to Odysseus (revenge for Polyphemus).

Polyphemos (Cyclops)

One-eyed giant who is blinded by Odysseus after imprisoning him and his men in his cave.

Kalypso

Nymph who detains Odysseus—temptation and prolonged delay.

Kirke (Circe)

Enchantress who turns Odysseus's men into swine, later helps him on his journey.

Nausikaa

Princess who aids Odysseus during his journey, offering him hospitality and advice.

Alkinoös

King of the Phaeacians who provides Odysseus with a ship and safe passage home.

Phaiakians

A mythical Greek people known for their seafaring skills and hospitality, who assist Odysseus on his journey back to Ithaca.

Nestor, Menelaos, Alkinoös

Ancient Greek characters involved in the Trojan War, with Nestor known for his wisdom, Menelaos as the husband of Helen, and Alkinoös as the king of the Phaeacians.

Antinoös & Eurymachos

Two suitors vying for Penelope's hand in marriage during Odysseus's absence, known for their arrogance and treachery.

Amphinomos

One of the suitors of Penelope in "The Odyssey," known for his somewhat more honorable nature compared to the other suitors, yet ultimately meets a tragic end.

Argos (‘Flash’)

The loyal dog of Odysseus in "The Odyssey," who recognizes his master after many years of absence and dies shortly after, symbolizing fidelity and the passage of time.

Eurykleia

Nurse of Odysseus, known for her loyalty and role in recognizing him upon his return.

Eumaios

Loyal swineherd who shelters Odysseus: He represents loyalty and hospitality, aiding Odysseus during his return to Ithaca.