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Epic of Gilgamesh

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Ancient Mesopotamian artwork showing Enkidu, a mythological figure from the epic of Gilgamesh, wearing a horned helmet. This artifact comes from Ur, Iraq, and is displayed at the Iraq Museum.

The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient story from Mesopotamia. It is one of the oldest stories ever written. It tells about a king named Gilgamesh who ruled a city called Uruk.

Gilgamesh had a special friend named Enkidu. They went on adventures together and learned about life and friendship. They traveled to a magical place called the Cedar Forest.

People still read about Gilgamesh today because it teaches us about old ideas and thoughts. The story has been shared in many languages and countries. It helps us understand what people long ago thought about heroes and life.

The story was found on old tablets many years ago. Explorers discovered them in a place called Nineveh. Today, we can read the story and learn from its wisdom.

Images

An ancient clay tablet from the 7th century BC, showing part of the Babylonian Flood Story from the Epic of Gilgamesh, housed in the British Museum.
An ancient Babylonian clay tablet telling part of the Epic of Gilgamesh, where the hero shares his dreams with his mother.
Portrait of George Smith, the assistant at the British Museum who deciphered the Babylonian Flood Story from the Epic of Gilgamesh.
An ancient clay tablet fragment from the Epic of Gilgamesh, showing early writing from Iraq.
An ancient clay tablet from Hattusa, Turkey, featuring cuneiform writing that tells part of the Epic of Gilgamesh, an important ancient story from around 1400 BCE.
An ancient clay tablet from the Epic of Gilgamesh, showing cuneiform writing from Mesopotamia.
An ancient Babylonian tablet showing cuneiform writing from the Epic of Gilgamesh, telling the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu's adventure in the cedar forest.
An ancient Babylonian clay tablet showing a schematic world map with cuneiform writing, on display at the British Museum.
An ancient Babylonian map showing their view of the world, including mythical places and cosmic elements from their mythology.

Related articles

Mesopotamia
Nineveh

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Epic of Gilgamesh, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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