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10/2/09

The Heroic Epic of Gilgamesh

By

Keaton

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest recorded story we know of. It was written roughly 5,000 years ago on twelve hard-baked clay tablets. The tale begins in a Sumerian city named Urek where Gilgamesh is king. The story is full of villainous gods and fierce creatures. Gilgamesh is a corrupt king. Remarkably, Gilgamesh makes a friend and becomes kind. Sadly, a goddess sends sickness on his friend and kills him. Then Gilgamesh bravely departs on a quest for eternal life. In the end, Gilgamesh does not achieve immortality, but we still can read his heroic story today.