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Questions and Answers
What is Uruk?
What is the significance of the Bull of Heaven?
The creature sent by Anu to destroy Gilgamesh because of his interactions with Ishtar.
Who is Urshanabi?
The ferryman of the dead who takes Gilgamesh to the immortal man.
What role does Shamat play in the story?
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Who is Utnapishtim?
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What is Ninsun's relationship to Gilgamesh?
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Who is Gilgamesh?
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What is Anu known for?
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Who is Humbaba?
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What is Ishtar the goddess of?
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Who is Shamash?
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Who is Enkidu?
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What advice does Siduri give to Gilgamesh?
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What characterizes Gilgamesh's reign?
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What does Nergal represent?
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What event does Utnapishtim's Flood Account describe?
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Match the Sumerian gods with their roles:
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The Wrath of _____ is a key component of the Flood Myth in Gilgamesh.
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The Flood lasted for _____ days and _____ nights in Utnapishtim's story.
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The survivors of the flood accounted in the Epic of Gilgamesh are Utnapishtim and his _____.
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Enkidu is a civilized man who forms a strong bond with Gilgamesh.
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Study Notes
Characters in the Epic of Gilgamesh
- Uruk: A significant city ruled by Gilgamesh, representing a center of civilization.
- Bull of Heaven: A creature sent by the god Anu to punish Gilgamesh for rejecting Ishtar.
- Urshanabi: The ferryman of the dead, responsible for guiding Gilgamesh to the immortal Utnapishtim.
- Shamat: A harlot who civilizes Enkidu, teaching him societal customs and norms.
- Utnapishtim: The sole human survivor of a great flood, granted immortality for his efforts in preserving life.
- Ninsun: Gilgamesh's divine mother, known as a goddess and a protector of her son.
- Gilgamesh: The protagonist, a hero with a lineage of two-thirds god and one-third human, facing mortality.
- Anu: The creator god associated with life, highly significant in the Mesopotamian pantheon.
- Humbaba: A demon residing in the Cedar Forest, defeated by Gilgamesh and Enkidu in their quest.
- Ishtar: The goddess representing love and war, who faces rejection from Gilgamesh.
- Shamash: The sun god who lends his protection to Gilgamesh, sent by Ninsun.
- Enkidu: A wild man created by the gods, who becomes Gilgamesh's devoted companion.
- Siduri: An innkeeper who imparts wisdom on the nature of life to Gilgamesh.
Sumerian Deities
- Anu: The god of the sky in Sumerian belief.
- Shamash: Sun god revered for his light and justice.
- Ishtar: A multifaceted goddess of love, fertility, and war.
- Aruru: The goddess recognized for her role in creation.
- Enlil: The deity of the air, holding great power and influence.
- Ea: The wise god associated with sweet waters, also a key figure in the flood narrative.
The Flood Account
- Utnapishtim's Flood Account: A detailed story of a divine warning, where Anu's wrath prompts a great deluge after Enlil's restlessness.
- Utnapishtim receives a dream from Ea, prompting him to build a boat for survival.
- After the flood, Utnapishtim reflects on the catastrophe, believing that divine intentions may have been mistaken.
Components of Flood Myths
-
Gilgamesh's Flood Myth:
- Originated from Enlil's anger leading to the catastrophic flood.
- Involves a crucial warning to Utnapishtim.
- Describes the deluge lasting for six days and nights.
- Only Utnapishtim and his wife survive.
- Ends with a covenant involving sacrifices and a promise of immortality.
-
Biblical Flood Myth:
- Rooted in God's wrath against humanity.
- Noah receives a warning about the impending flood.
- Lasts for forty days and nights, culminating in Noah and his family's survival.
- Concludes with a covenant involving sacrifices to God.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the key characters from the Epic of Gilgamesh with these flashcards. Each card provides a term and its definition to help you understand their roles in this ancient text. Perfect for students or enthusiasts looking to deepen their comprehension of this literary classic.
