Gilgamesh Flashcards: Mesopotamian Civilizations

Questions and Answers

What does Mesopotamia mean?

City of Uruk

Land of the gods

Area between the rivers (correct)

Home of the Sumerians

Who were the Sumerians?

People who lived in southern Iraq from 34000-2000 BC.

Which civilization emerged in central Iraq around 2000-1600 BC?

Babylonians

What is the capital city of the Assyrians?

Nineveh Signup and view all the answers

Who is Lugulbanda?

The 3rd ruler of the first post-diluvian dynasty of Uruk. Signup and view all the answers

What role did Gilgamesh hold?

5th ruler of the first post-diluvian dynasty of Uruk. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Anu?

God of firmament. Signup and view all the answers

What is Enlil known for?

God of wind. Signup and view all the answers

What does Sin represent?

God of the moon. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Shamash?

God of justice and light. Signup and view all the answers

What does Ishtar represent?

Goddess of love and war. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Ereshkigal?

Queen of the underworld. Signup and view all the answers

What is Ea known for?

God of wisdom and friend of mankind. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Annunaki?

Minor divinities and judges in the underworld. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Aruru?

Goddess of creation. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Ninsun?

Mother of Gilgamesh. Signup and view all the answers

What geographical region is associated with An?

Upper heavens. Signup and view all the answers

What geographical region is associated with Ki?

Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What geographical region is associated with Kur?

Underworld. Signup and view all the answers

What geographical region is associated with the House of Death?

In underworld. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the character Gilgamesh?

King of Uruk and a tyrannical ruler. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Enkidu?

Gilgamesh's second self, part human and part animal. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the trapper play in Enkidu's life?

Sees Enkidu and brings the harlot to him. Signup and view all the answers

What does the harlot do for Enkidu?

Civilizes him. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Humbaba?

Guardian of the cedar forest, killed by Gilgamesh. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Bull of Heaven do?

Is let out upon Uruk and killed by Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Scorpions in the story?

Guard the tunnel to the garden. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Siduri?

The tavern keeper who tells Gilgamesh where to find Urshanabi. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Urshanabi?

Brings Gilgamesh to Utnapishtim. Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about Utnapishtim and his wife?

They are immortal and survived the great flood. Signup and view all the answers

What plant makes old men young?

Gilgamesh takes it from the water. Signup and view all the answers

What does the serpent do?

Smells the plant and takes it from Gilgamesh. Signup and view all the answers

What city is associated with Ishtar and Anu?

Uruk. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ceder Forest?

Mountains of northern Iraq and eastern Turkey, guarded by Humbaba. Signup and view all the answers

Who engraves on stone the whole story of Gilgamesh's long journey?

Gilgamesh. Signup and view all the answers

With whom does Enkidu live initially?

He lived with shepherds. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of the trapper and harlot in Enkidu's life?

They civilize him and make him more human. Signup and view all the answers

Why do Enkidu's animal companions reject him?

He is now more human and has been tamed. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the stages of social development in Enkidu's life.

Enkidu lives among and under the influence of wild animals, then is tamed by a woman of the city, becomes a man of the city. Signup and view all the answers

What event initiates the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu?

Enkidu hears of Gilgamesh going to sleep with a virgin, they end up wrestling and Gilgamesh ends it to say Enkidu is his friend. Signup and view all the answers

What is Enkidu's motive in going to the city of Uruk?

To test his strength against that of Gilgamesh's and to make Gilgamesh be better to his people. Signup and view all the answers

In the dream which he relates to his mother, Gilgamesh is drawn to Enkidu 'as though to a ____'.

Woman. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Gilgamesh's dreams about Enkidu.

Dreams are indicative of their bond and mutual respect. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mesopotamia and Its Civilizations

Mesopotamia refers to modern-day Iraq, meaning "the area between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates).
Sumerians (34000-2000 BC) inhabited southern Iraq, known for ziggurats and cuneiform writing.
Babylonians (2000-1600 BC) were located in central Iraq and identified as Semitic.
Assyrians (1200-600 BC), in northern Iraq, established an empire stretching from western Iran to Egypt, with Nineveh as their capital.

Key Figures of the Epic of Gilgamesh

Lugulbanda was the third ruler of the first post-diluvian dynasty of Uruk.
Gilgamesh was the fifth ruler (historical king around 2700 BC), described as tyrannical, two-thirds divine and one-third human, and responsible for building the city walls of Uruk.
Anu, Enlil, Sin, Shamash, Ishtar, Ereshkigal, and Ea are significant deities, each associated with key aspects like creation, wisdom, justice, winds, and the underworld.

Characters and Themes

Enkidu was created as Gilgamesh's second self, embodying both human and animal traits. He transitioned from wildness to civilization, influenced by a harlot.
The relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu starts with Enkidu confronting Gilgamesh about his behavior toward the people of Uruk.
Enkidu civilizes through interactions with the harlot, representing the theme of transformation through relationships.

Notable Events and Symbols

Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest, is killed by Gilgamesh and Enkidu, symbolizing the confrontation between civilization and nature.
The Bull of Heaven, sent against Uruk, is slain by Gilgamesh and Enkidu, showcasing their power and the gods' responses to human actions.
The story of Utnapishtim, who survived the great flood, provides a parallel to the Noah narrative, emphasizing immortality and the quest for eternal life.

Significant Locations

Uruk is established as a central city associated with important deities Ishtar and Anu.
The Cedar Forest represents divine realms and serves as a backdrop for epic quests.
Dilman is the island where Utnapishtim resides, marking the endpoint of Gilgamesh's journey for wisdom and immortality.

Themes of Transformation and Humanity

Enkidu's development reflects stages of social evolution: from wild animals to civilized man, driven by human connection.
After becoming civilized, Enkidu's rejection by animal companions signifies a loss of primal identity and the embrace of humanity.
Gilgamesh's journey highlights themes of friendship, heroism, mortality, and the constant search for meaning and legacy.

Key Questions and Reflections

Gilgamesh engraves his journey on stone, reflecting the importance of storytelling and memory.
Enkidu's motive to confront Gilgamesh showcases the quest for equality and the desire for accountability in leadership.
Dreams in the narrative, such as Gilgamesh feeling drawn to Enkidu "as though to a woman," signify deep emotional connections and foreshadow their friendship.

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Description

Explore key vocabulary related to the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations using these flashcards. Learn about the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, alongside the geography of the region. This quiz is perfect for students studying the Gilgamesh epic and Mesopotamian history.