epic of gilgamesh

mesopotamia

cradle of civilization

cuneiform

ca 3500 BC oldest system of syllabic writing

sumerians

earliest civilization to settle in mesopotamia 6500-1940 BC; produced first Gilgamesh stories ca 2100 BC

uruk

capital city of Sumur. where gilgamesh was king 2900 BC

Akkadians

conequered sumerians from 2300-2100 BC

Babylonians

1900-500 BC; Took Gilgamesh stories and weaved them into one epic 1850 BC

Assyrians

not akkadians. 2400 BC-600 BC

Epic of Gilgamesh

oldest major work of literature composed by human beings

"Surpassing all other Kings"

first edited version of Gilgamesh ca 1850 BC

Sin-leqi-unninni

translates and modifies first version of Epic to Akkadian - he who saw the deep

"He Who Saw the Deep"

named after opening lines 1300-1250!!!!!

Lacuna

gaps or missing lines in the story of gilgamesh

temple maiden

vaguely defined term. surrogate for a god or goddess/way to sexually and spiritually commune with the goddes or god of temple. shown as character Shamhat

polytheism

worship of many gods. based on nature spirits

mesopotamian religion

polytheistic religion that precedes Judaism in the Middle East

Eanna

"downtown area" of Uruk. birthplace of urban culture

Anu

sky god, distant and aloof. king of the gods

enlil

god of land. most powerful of the gods. "the warrior"

ea

god of wisdom and magic. works with Aruru, resides in freshwater ocean under the world

ereshkigal

queen of the underworld

ishtar

goddess of love and warfare. symbol is lion

shamash

sun god. protector of travelers

sin

majestic son of Enlil. god of moon

Ninsun

Gilgamesh's mom, daughter of Anu. "Wild cow Ninsun"

Aruru

Mother goddess. made mankind with the help of Ea.

Shiduri

goddess of wine

Ninurta

god of hunting and war