Discussion 1: The Epic of Gilgamesh and Ancient Mesopotamia ( Lecture 1+2)

Flashcards covering the emergence of Mesopotamian civilization, archaeological artifact analysis, and the historical and textual context of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

What types of agriculture in Mesopotamia contributed to creating an agricultural surplus?

Rain fed and canal irrigated agriculture.

What key developments accompanied social stratification during the emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia?

Craft specialization, agricultural technology, trade, social hierarchy, and monumental buildings and walls.

What three stages in the development of writing are outlined for early Mesopotamia?

Tokens, proto-cuneiform, and Sumerian.

What was the function and significance of the Eanna Temple in early Mesopotamia?

It served as an economic and religious center and operated as a hub for redistribution.

What two leadership titles emerged in early Mesopotamian civilization?

Lugal and En.

What is the primary goal when studying history through artifacts?

To identify their function or use and determine what people were doing or communicating.

When analyzing an artifact, what can knowing what it is made of reveal?

Information about access to materials and trade networks.

In archaeological find contexts, what does the term "assemblage" refer to?

Other objects found nearby in the same context.

What is the name of this famous carved vessel found in ancient Mesopotamia?

The Uruk Vase (also known as the Warka Vase).

Why are ancient epics considered valuable historical sources even though they are literature?

They are set in a specific background or context and can reveal underlying ideological or cultural ideas, including what people valued, how they thought about their world, and why the text was written.

Who was Gilgamesh historically, and what time period is he dated to on the Sumerian King List?

He was the King of Uruk, dated to ca. 2800 – 2500 BC.

According to tradition, what was Gilgamesh's divine composition and parentage?

He was 2/3 divine and 1/3 human, and the son of the goddess Ninsun.

What are the three main chronological iterations of Gilgamesh literature cited in the lecture?

Five Sumerian poems and an "Epic" of Gilgamesh (c. 2300 BC), the Old Babylonian version (1700 BCE), and the "Standard" Babylonian version compiled around 800–700 BCE.

Where was the "Standard" Babylonian version of the Epic of Gilgamesh discovered, and who compiled it?

It was found in Nineveh and compiled by a priest about 800–700 BCE.

Which tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh cover Gilgamesh and Enkidu?

Tablets 1 and 2.

What narrative journey is recounted in Tablets 3, 4, and 5 of the Epic of Gilgamesh?

The Journey to Humbaba.

Which tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh describes the scene depicted here, involving Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven?

Tablet 6.

Which tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh recount Enkidu's death?

Tablets 7 and 8.

What is the subject of Tablets 9, 10, and 11 of the Epic of Gilgamesh?

The Journey to Utnapishtim.

What is the subject of Tablet 12 in the Epic of Gilgamesh?

The Underworld.

Approximately how much of the Epic of Gilgamesh remains missing today?

About 20%.