The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Code Of Hammurabi - 983 Words

World Civilizations Essay The Mesopotamian society lived a long life which included the writings, â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh† in the beginning and led to the â€Å"Code of Hammurabi†. Although these significant texts have been written centuries apart, they have quite a few similarities and differences. I am going to discuss them each separately, explain how their leaderships compare and contrast, and how change came over time. These texts are basically led by the rulers of that time. In Uruk it is King Gilgamesh who rules, while in Babylon it is King Hammurabi; they are the ones who govern the laws that are included in each text. So the Epic of Gilgamesh comes from the first state which is Uruk and so happens to be the first piece of literature around 2800 BCE. It is an extended version of literature, meaning it is a set of stories, not a poem or anything like that. It was the birth of a hero named Gilgamesh in Uruk and had many points to it like friendship, civilizations, and life or death situations between certain people. The story gave meaning to the people of Mesopotamia of how their indication of life may be relating to the morals and values of the people. Gilgamesh did not just rule the city; he was as well an amazing warrior. He was really brave and demonstrated trust between his companions. Another character that comes from the reading is Enkidu whom is a wild man who comes from the gods and has an unusual interaction with Gilgamesh. On the other hand, the Code of HammurabiShow MoreRelatedSimilarities Between Mesopotamian And Ancient Mesopotamia1628 Words   |  7 Pagesdrastically. This can be shown in the Great Lyre, from the Royal Tomb of Ur, Stele of Naram-sin, from Sipper, Babylon, and Law Code of Hammurabi, which was also caved in Babylon as well. All three pieces of art are very different and are from different parts of Mesopotamia. However, they all have one main thing in common; the Great Lyre, the Stele of Naram-sin, and the Law C ode of Hammurabi show the hierarchical shift and rise of the sun god, Utu. History The Mesopotamians had many gods and goddess. SometimesRead MoreWorld History Chapter 1 Essays624 Words   |  3 Pagesobserved death and afterlife from a distance and some made them into a series of myths. For instance, â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh† expresses its idea on eventual death. No matter how hard Gilgamesh tries to lengthen his life, his death is predestined. The Mesopotamians viewed afterlife as an inevitable end. 2. What is the message of Siduri’s advice to Gilgamesh? The message from Siduri to Gilgamesh is that one cannot hurry to the meaning of life. As God assigned us all to our eventually endings, weRead MoreAncient Mesopotamia Essay1004 Words   |  5 Pagesdemonstrate that many prominent sources in ancient literature, law codes, and archaic Sumerian religion reflect the rigorous geographic and natural conditions which caused this deterministic mindset. The Epic of Gilgamesh, perhaps the most important literary piece of Mesopotamia, displays a world in which even the mightiest of human beings possessed little freedom to control their own fate due to an insurmountable environment. The Epic of Gilgamesh’s plot centers on Gilgamesh’s unavailing struggleRead MoreLiterature, Law Codes, And Archaic Sumerian Religion1003 Words   |  5 Pagesdemonstrate that many prominent sources in ancient literature, law codes, and archaic Sumerian religion reflect the rigorous geographic and natural conditions which caused this deterministic mindset. The Epic of Gilgamesh, perhaps the most important literary piece of Mesopotamia, displays a world in which even the mightiest of human beings possessed little freedom to control their own fate due to an insurmountable environment. The Epic of Gilgamesh’s plot centers on Gilgamesh’s unavailing struggle toRead MoreThe Civilizations Of Ancient Civilization1178 Words   |  5 Pagestime, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is also useful in determining the values of the Sumerians. The poem begins by talking about how bad of a king Gilgamesh was, showing that the Sumerians valued good, kind kings. The people prayed to their gods asking for them to punish Gilgamesh for being a bad king, so the gods sent Enkidu, a human who acts like a beast. When Enkidu is â€Å"tamed† and becomes more â€Å"human† Gilgamesh says that Enkidu â€Å"gained [reason] and expanded his understanding† (The Epic of Gilgamesh). ThisRead MoreEpic of Gilgamesh Essay1021 Words   |  5 PagesEp ic of Gilgamesh . Mesopotamia, current day Iraq, derived its name from words meaning, the land between the rivers, which refers to the Tigris and Euphrates. This land was inhabited during the fourth millennium B.C.E. and throughout time transcended into political and military organizations. The significance of these cultures revolved around important warrior figures and their impact on society. The most important figure that will be discussed is the protagonist from The Epic of GilgameshRead MoreHow Writing Is Important For The Creation Of Organized Societies1564 Words   |  7 Pagesof tax was the Code of Ur - Nammu. It was written in Sumerian on clay tablets and governed the regions of Mespotamia. At the time laws were viewed on a universal standpoint. In other words, it was perceived that the law came from the gods and the rulers of the society just implemented them. This view further enhanced the way people acted accordingly. An even more widely recognized law in ancient history that ca me 300 years after the Code of Ur - Nammu was the Code of Hammurabi. Originated inRead MoreAncient Concepts Of Law, Government, And Social Structure1408 Words   |  6 PagesIn the readings, there are many trends regarding ancient concepts of law, government, and social structure. The code of Hammurabi played a significant role in Mesopotamian law, while the Nile River had a large part in the development of Egyptian civilization. In addition, the Hebrews moved toward pure monotheism and the Persians enhanced the Near Eastern model of monarchical government. â€Å"The evidence reveals that on the one hand, peoples then living in the Near East, Africa, and the MediterraneanRead More The History of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt Essay1323 Words   |  6 Pageshistorians found a long narrative known as the Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is a great hero and ruler who sets out to recover cedar from northern lands. He travels with his companion Enkidu, who is killed by the storm god, Enli l. Mourning the loss of his companion and confronted by death himself, Gilgamesh travels the world in search of eternal life. He ends up finding the plant of eternal youth, but a serpent swallows it while he is bathing. The epic ends with his death and funeral. The SumeriansRead MoreThe Greatest Hero Figure Of Ancient Mesopotamia Essay977 Words   |  4 Pagesabout how people in the past had believed in and how it is thought of compared to today s society and culture. The best-known individual of Mesopotamia was Gilgamesh. He was in a cycle of stories called Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was the greatest hero figure of ancient Mesopotamia. Though the stories focus on the adventures of both Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu, the stories explored themes like ambition and the longing for immortality. These themes reflected the interests of the urban-based society