friendship quotes from the epic of gilgamesh

The companionship between Enkidu and the animals of the steppe is the first example of friendship. Loyalties and sacrifices to that friendship were disproportionate.įriendship is conveyed in more than one way in Gilgamesh. The friendship between the king Gilgamesh and the man of the steppe, Enkidu, was not a true and equal friendship. Everything is shared, loyalty to the friendship is equal, and the basis of the camaraderie is wholly altruistic. Lacking Gilgamesh’s arrogance, pride, Enkidu was tough and strong – a man of the jungle (Abusch).True friendship is egalitarian. Despite bearing resemblance to Gilgamesh, in character he was totally different. Enkidu was more like a star fallen down from heaven into the wild.

The Great Mother made him nothing like his brother. 'So that rushing winds meet rushing winds' (Zeman), that the two would meet, unite and live in mutual understanding and immense friendship. Besides Gilgamesh, the Great Gods, namely Ninhursag-Ki, have made a decision to create a “second” Gilgamesh. But he was also selfish, arrogant and never listened to any advice or order from his father. Of course, he did have some ground to make his statement: fair visage, handsomeness, physical power ad dare. The latter get spoilt enough and grows up to be into something called arrogance.

This makes Gilgamesh half-blood of divine birth. Part 1 Quotes When next he comes down to drink at the wells she will be there, stripped naked and when he sees her beckoning him he will embrace her, and then the wild beasts will reject him.įrom the epic, we find out that Gilgamesh is a son of a higher priest-king and a goddess. Below you will find the important quotes in The Epic of Gilgamesh related to the theme of Friendship, Love, and Sexuality. No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all, even the children yet the king should be a shepherd to his people.

Part 1 Quotes Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin for his amusement, his arrogance has no bounds by day or night. Many years ago through loss I learned that love is wrung from our inmost heart until only the loved one is and we are not.” Anonymous, The Epic of Gilgamesh. Anonymous, The Epic of Gilgamesh “Friendship is vowing toward immortality and does not know the passing away of beauty (Though take care!) because it aims for the spirit. In this sense, both stories have far-reaching implications for understanding the role of women and men in societies. The relationship between Eve and Adam is similar to that between Enkidu and the harlot. The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Book of Genesis remain the two most cited stories of creation in classic literature. Masculinity and Feminism in The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Book of Genesis.

Friendship quotes from the epic of gilgamesh