How The Epic of Gilgamesh Reflects Sumerian Beliefs Surrounding “Civilization” Throughout ancient history, various societies and cultures held strong beliefs about what they considered “civilized,” which shaped not only their self perception but also their practices and literary works. Many societies held elements of their interpersonal relationships and community structure to different values, creating unique lifestyles based on their perception of “civilization.” This can be seen notably throughout Sumerian society, as depicted through The Epic of Gilgamesh, a sprawling story written around 2000 BC about an Uruk king who undergoes a hero’s journey. Throughout the story, there is ample evidence that Sumerian culture stressed an ambitious …show more content…
Sumerian kings were treated as the main representatives of their civilization, granting them both special privileges and responsibilities. As rulers, they were granted the most power over the civilization as a whole, and they were often even considered as part god to emphasize their divine ability to lead their citizens. This is reflected in the introduction of Gilgamesh, who is initially described as a nearly perfect man, according to Sumerian standards. For instance, Gilgamesh is described as having accomplished several feats before his journey even began. In the first chapter alone, Gilgamesh is described as “[he] who opened passes in the mountains, who dug wells on the slopes the uplands, and crossed the ocean, the wide sea to sunrise; who scoured the world ever searching for life. who restored the cult-centres. and set in place for the people the rites of the cosmos.” These achievements were nearly impossible for a single contemporary person to accomplish, indicating that Gilgamesh is not only ambitious but brave, mighty, and capable as a leader. This contributes to his “larger-than-life” image and reinforces the idealization of Sumerian kings. However, to accompany his extraordinary power, there are also various