The Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamesh
A book which attempts to reconstruct two ancient Sumerian stories from photographs of the stone tablets on which they were originally written: one story concerns an ancient account of a deluge (or flood) which destroyed much of civilization); the other concerns the exploits of the mythical Gilgamesh who takes a stand against Agga, the king of Kish. The epic also presents a striking portrayal of human limitations. Gilgamesh becomes arrogant with his success, and the people of Uruk call on the gods to deliver them from this tyrant. In response, the gods make Enkidu, the wild man, who is Gilgamesh’s equal in strength. Gilgamesh’s battle with Enkidu tempers his character, and the two embark on a series of adventures, leaving Uruk in peace. Some readers have interpreted this as an early recognition of the need to use power to limit power.
People:
- Author: Sir Ernest Alfred Wallis Budge
- Author: Gilgamesh
Collections:
The Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamesh, with an Account of the Royal Libraries of Ninevah (London: Harrison and Sons, 1920).
The text is in the public domain.
Copyright:
The text is in the public domain.
Formats:
| Format | Description | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Facsimile PDF | This is a facsimile or image-based PDF made from scans of the original book. | 3.7 MB |
Book Beowulf (original lang.)
Another epic tale.
Beowulf is one of the first literary masterpieces of the English language, written in Old English in the eleventh century. The story itself is thought to have been originally composed sometime between 700 and 750. Although certain places and events are indeed historical, the main character of the story, Beowulf, is thought to be a fictional, archetypal hero. It recounts the life of Prince Beowulf of the Scandinavian Geats, who fights various monsters, returns to his father’s kingdom a hero and soon becomes king himself, ruling for fifty years in peace until a frightful dragon appears. Once more Beowulf must fulfill his responsibilities, even unto his own destruction.