Parallels between Gilgamesh and Genesis Essay Example for Free

Parallels between Gilgamesh and contemporaries EssayI. IntroductionToday, we argon often bombarded with miscellaneous inventions and discoveries access from different parts of the world. But it is with great amazement when we look upon the advancement made by an antediluvian patriarch civilization that has deduct to be acknowledged as the cradle of civilization, Mesopotamia, at a epoch when more or less of its neighboring people-group was pursuing a nomadic life. Not only have they revolutionized hu man society through its invention of the wheel, writing too, must have originated in this place as shown by the heroic of Gilgamesh. antiquated as it is, being one and only(a) of the worlds earliest-known epic poetry (Epic) taken from Sumeria and which the Babylonians highly-developed into a long poem, it is undoubtedly beautiful and ancient as it may be, high respect should be given to it as one of the literary masterpieces of mankind.Genesis on the other hand, is the gra duation book of the Bible. Genesis is the Greek word for beginning or origin, and is a Greek translation derived from the Hebrew breshith meaning in the beginning, the first word in the Old Testament.II. Meaning and ImportanceA. Epic of GilgameshAt the outset, as one postulates through the poem, it would readily display the glorification of the central figure, the historical competitive king of Uruk Gilgamesh. All throughout the poem, the reader is led through his many exploits and achievements of Gilgamesh that gives the over-all impression of a stability of battle-like stance. This I would non find surprising since this peoples land was always subjected to crisis such as the threat of invasion or the flooding of the rivers. As to the history, it relates much on how he has overcome each opponent, obstacles, and almost everything he had set out to do. Such achievements were made possible and justifiable as the communicative distinguishs the super-human nature of the lead fig ure being deuce-thirds divine and one-third human.How Gilgamesh emerges as a conqueror comprises the first part of the story. It would seem that the author wants to establish the fact that all the hopes and aspirations of its people are embodied in Gilgamesh. The first part shows and proves that whatever man could aspire to achieve or be has been done by the superhuman Gilgamesh. The second part directs the story towards the kings bid for im finiteity through his quest for the immortalized Uta-Napishtim.structurally speaking, these cardinal parts (which would almost appear as unrelated) divides the story. Both would seem to take the reader into two different directions, driving raven two different points. The death of Enkidu serves as the turning point that separates the two parts. What serves for continuity for the narrative are the inherent traits of Gilgameshs character his fearlessness and obstinacy to be bold by obstacles.What is also a unique trait of the account of Gilga mesh is that the reading of the story is through a transcription of an unwritten story-telling, which the bank clerk in the story also revealed as a transcribed oral story of ancient times. Just as Gilgamesh was described as half-human and half-divine, so is the overall nature of the story. The narrator convinces its listeners and readers alike of the real earthly concern of the king. However, its way of convincing is ironic since it proves the authenticity of its story through the existence of the very walls of the city of Uruk which we, present-day readers would find nowhere but in the walls of our imagination (Assro-Babylonian Mythology Gilgamesh).The epic serves not only as a literary feat for early(a) civilization it also bears the identity of the early settlers of the Tigris-Euphrates area. However, its relevance supersedes its cultural identity. This ancient story connects its people with us and all of humanity as they confer the same question which afflicts all men dea th, the destiny of every man. It also attempts to process whether any mortal man could possibly escape it and also the mystery of what lies ahead after death.In finding the answer and certainty to these questions lies the sign upificance of the two parts of the story. As character referenceed, the first part is given to prove the fishing tackle god-like abilities of Gilgamesh. If he then, who bears such qualities failed in his bid for immortality, as shown on the second part, how much more for mine run mortals? The narrative convinces its hearers or readers of the inevitability of death and must resign oneself of this fact. The most that man can do is to be fearless in facing it, the way Gilgamesh triumphantly faced death together with Enkidu in the great Cedar Forest. However, its main conclusion is that man is powerless to escape it.B. GenesisGenesis originated as part of a large literary unit that was only later broken up into books. That larger unit is the religious hist ory of ancient Israel, usually called the Pentateuch. In it were traced Israels origins from its chief formative experiences down to its settlement in the land of Palestine. Also incorporated into the narrative were law codes formulated at various times in Israelite history. The entire complex came to be ascribed to Israels founder and first lawgiver, Moses. This position has been special as a result of modern Biblical scholarship. Genesis is a logical division of the veritable text of the Pentateuch.It represents a twofold introduction to the story of Israels formation as a covenant peopleGods chosen people. The patriarchal history comprises cycles of stories relating to three major figures of the pre Israelite past, namely Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, together with supplementary traditions about other ancestors who were of secondary interest. After an introductory genealogy in that respect appears first the story of Abraham and Isaac. Included is a fragmentary history, possibly o f Moabite origin, of Lot, the ancestor of the Moabites and Ammonites, who were related to the Israelites. There is also the history of Ishmael, who is regarded as the ancestor of the Arab peoples. The second major cycle is that of Isaac and Jacob.This cycle also contains supplementary material, some of the Edomites origins, relating to Esau, ancestor of the Edomites. Finally, there is the extensive and distinctive story of Joseph, the major intrusions into which are a variant history of Judah in chapter 38 and the blessings of the Israelite tribes in Chapter 49. Chapter 1 tells of Gods act of creation. Chapters 2-11 record human history from Adam to Abraham and describe the Garden of Eden, the Tower of Babel, and the Flood.The connecting link between all these parts of Genesis as well as between it and the other books of the Pentateuch, which it introduces, is a belief of divine intervention in mans history. This concept has been given the name Heitsgeschichte, salvation history. I srael believed itself to be the product of a history in which it had encountered a God who had made it His Covenant people. The great events of this history are tracedthe Exodus from Egypt the experiences of the Red Sea, of Sinai, and of Kadesh, where Israel waited outside the Promised knowledge base and the occupation of the Promised Land. All these reveal a God of mercy and kindness, though also of justice and retribution, a God who had chosen Israel out of simple, gratuitous love. This historical perspective was imposed in Genesis both(prenominal) on the patriarchal leg cans that had been derived from Palestine and on the mixed Mesopotamian- Palestinian myths and sagas from which the books first chapters are constructed.Thus in Genesis, Creation is seen no longer as mere myth, that is, as a religious conviction visualized in narrative. It is instead, the first in a series of Gods prudence acts, by which he had brought forth an ordered universe out of primordial formlessness. M an was placed in that world as Gods image and likeness, to be its ruler. But men improved odds-on to the task. His wilfulness set him in opposition to God and introduced disorder into the world. After this followed murder and the hatred of man for man, for example, Cain and Abel, Lamech and the Cainites, even cosmic disorder, which the story of the sons of God and the daughters of men attempts to, explain. The Flood is understood in Genesis as both divine retribution and mercy it brought an end to an evil generation, but a faithful oddity was preserved in the person of the righteous Noah and those who were saved for his sake.III. Gilgamesh and the Flood in the BibleThe epic makes mention of the Flood in reference with one of the oldest books of the Bible. Similarities of the two accounts were the flood, the gigantic boat, and the fact that animals and living creatures were made to come aboard along with the one human family who entered the boat. There are major disparities though as to the telling of the event. In the account of the Bible, the coming of the Great Flood in Noahs days was not held as a secret before men, whereas in the story of Gilgamesh, the gods have intended to have it kept as a secret. Noah was even commanded by God to preach and warn the people of its coming (as a sign of His mercy) while he builds the ark. The people however, did not listen and even taunted Noah. Such reactions may have been liable(predicate) since many Bible scholars believe that prior to this incident, rain had not merely fallen on the earth. In the Bible account, the door of the ark was supernaturally closed and opened by God alone. Noah had no power or authority over it. In Gilgameshs, the sealing of the door bears no spiritual meaning.Noahs God and the gods in Gilgamesh were shown to have deeply regretted the sending of the flood that has wiped out humanity expect for those inside the great boat. wholeness of the gods in the epic was displeased at first with the survivors, while the God of Noah readily blessed them.IV. inferenceThe work unfolds before us the thoughts and intents of the Sumerians and the rest of the Mesopotamians. Like the rest of most societies, they give enormous implication to fame and wealth. Fearlessness is held as a great virtue, born out perhaps of their constant living in fear of antagonizing their gods who they believed caused them all their troubles.Although Mesopotamians have achieved much, they did hold a pessimistic view. Life, it seemed for them, was a constant struggle a struggle against the forces of nature and the caprices of their gods. Towards the end of the story, even the endeavors of men would come to nothing as he comes to the end of his life. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we shall die would have been the guiding principle of Mesopotamians. Perhaps so, since one historian had noted that over forty percent of their grain production was used to make beer. Although we talk about this epic as an ancient story, the quest for the answers about life and death still continuous to resort several people even to this present-day.Above all, however, Biblical critics of the 20th century are willing to pulsation Genesis by historical standards other than those of the 19th century. By those standards Genesis was condemned or defended in the time of the Babel and Bible controversy. That dispute developed when the Sumerian and Akkadian literatures of ancient Mesopotamia were discovered and deciphered in the 19th century. The conclusion was easily drawn that the message of Genesis was of no more relevance to the history of religions than the myths of Babylonia, whatever strength be the other values of the book. But the 20th century idea of history is more attuned to that which invigorate the authors of Genesis. This view recognizes that recording specific facts and dares is not the, real object of history writing. Rather, the aim is to discover and delineate realities that challeng e human experience and demand an accounting. By the criteria of historicism Moses can hardly said to have existed yet Israel itself is the historical witness of Moses.Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh are two great books that could inspire people when they read it. The facts and informations are somewhat intertwined in some ways. These two books should be treasured and wanted especially by those who want to know the history of our forefathers, their fall and how they were saved by a the right way Creator.