By Danny P. Jackson
Illustrated by Thom Kapheim

Description

The longing stretch toward the infinite . . . the reluctant embrace of the temporal. This is the eternal lot of mankind. This is The Epic of Gilgamesh. Our revised 2nd edition of mankind’s first epic features a lucid historical and cultural introduction by Dr. Robert D. Biggs, a new interpretive essay on the themes of Gilgamesh by Dr. James G. Keenan and their echoes in other literature, and the ancient world as well as original illustrations.

Though The Epic of Gilgamesh exists in several editions, this version has been undertaken with a very specific intent—to remain faithful to the source material while attempting to convey the poetic scope of a work that is both lusty and tender and that retains the ability to arouse compassion and empathy in all who follow Gilgamesh on his journey. This edition aims to reanimate the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu for all readers, bringing it new life through the addition of reader resources and a rendition that resounds with indelible poetic images.

The Bolchazy-Carducci edition of The Epic of Gilgamesh has gained impressive recognition in the publishing world. First, it was chosen by Prentice Hall for Literature of the Ancient World, vol. I (New York, 2000). Then fine art publisher D. G. GraubArt chose it for their lavishly illustrated Hebrew/English edition, The Epic of Gilgamesh: A Myth Revisited (Jerusalem and Wauconda, 2001). The Great Books Foundation has added the Jackson’s rendition of The Epic of Gilgamesh to its “Great Conversations” series (Chicago, 2004). Finally, in 2005 this book was republished in its entirety in Turkish.

Special Features

• Illustrated introduction by Dr. Robert D. Biggs of The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago
• Interpretive essay by Dr. James G. Keenan of Loyola University Chicago
• Highly engaging and readable English poetic rendition of The Epic of Gilgamesh
• Historical and literary overview
• 18 photographs and illustrations from the ancient world
• 15 original woodcut prints
• Glossary with pronunciation key
• Reviews and Comments

The Great Books Foundation has developed questions and discussion guidelines for The Epic of Gilgamesh.

Questions
1. Why is Enkidu created? (Tablet I, Column ii)

2. What does Enkidu gain and lose through his encounter with the temple girl? (Tablet I, Columns iv, v)

3. Why does Enkidu wrestle with Gilgamesh at Ishara’s doorway? (Tablet II, Columns iv, v)

4. Why does Enkidu counsel Gilgamesh to kill rather than show mercy to Humbaba? (Tablet V, Columns iv, vi)

5. What does Gilgamesh’s speech in response to Ishtar’s offer of herself reveal about him? (Tablet VI, Columns i, ii)

6. In Enkidu’s dream following the killing of the divine bull, what does the conversation between Anu, Enil, and Shamash indicate about the gods’ concept of justice? (Tablet VII, Column i)

7. Why does Enkidu die? (Tablet VII) Why does Gilgamesh claim that his own sorrow at the loss of Enkidu is shared by everything and everyone else? (Tablet VIII)

8. Why does Utnapishtim tell the story of the flood when Gilgamesh asks how he came to be immortal like the gods? (Tablet XI, Column i)

9. Who or what causes the flood and controls it? (Tablet XI, Columns i, ii, iii)

10. Why is Gilgamesh denied the gift of eternal life? (Tablet XI, Column vi)

For Further Reflection
1. What is Gilgamesh’s greatest achievement?

2. What does this story say about the connection between love and friendship?

3. In what ways, if any, does Gilgamesh mature in this story?

4. What role or roles in the story do the women characters play?

5. What does Gilgamesh learn from Utnapishtim?

Questions from GREAT CONVERSATIONS I, by the Great Books Foundation. Copyright (c) 2008 by the Great Books Foundation. Reprinted by permission of the Great Books Foundation.

Author Bios

Danny P. Jackson is a teacher of Greek and Latin with degrees in comparative literature and classical languages. Formerly a project editor for Prentice Hall, a freelance journalist, and a teacher of English and religion, he has done preliminary work on a poetic rendition of Enuma Elish, the world's first recorded creation story, also from the ancient Near Eastern milieu. Jackson’s work has appeared in The New York Times, National Catholic Reporter, English Journal, Phi Delta Kappan, Commonwealth, New Jersey Educational Review, Media & Methods, and Ocean County Times Observer. Robert D. Biggs is a professor of Assyriology with The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, editor of the Journal of Near Eastern Studies since 1971 and associate editor of The Assyrian Dictionary since 1964. He is widely published in the area of ancient Near Eastern studies; has translated cuneiform texts and inscriptions; and has participated in excavations of Near Eastern sites for The Oriental Institute, the Institute of Fine Arts of the Metropolitan Museum and the British Archaeological Expedition. James G. Keenan is a professor of Classics at Loyola University of Chicago. He is widely published in the area of Greek papyrology and Greek and Roman history and historiography.

Comments and Reviews

The Great Books Foundation has declared The Epic of Gilgamesh a classic...The Bolchazy-Carducci edition has been adopted by Great Books Foundation.

The Bolchazy-Carducci edition, more readable than its predecessors, makes it practicable. Students liked it, and for the professor it is one light bulb after another.

— Thomas N. Winter
University of Nebraska

I welcome this edition of The Epic of Gilgamesh for making accessible to modern readers the poetry and the drama, presented in heroic terms of life, love, friendship and, finally the recognition and acceptance of the ultimate reality of human existence. It is one of the great epic tales surviving from the ancient world of "The Land Between-the-Two-Rivers," Mesopotamia, and though incomplete, reflects an ancient range of human experience and emotion not so far removed from our own...

The epic states, "When the gods created mankind, they allotted death to mankind, keeping life eternal for themselves." Yet while death is inevitable, Jackson's lyrical and moving presentation gives renewed life to this wonderful tale of Gilgamesh.

— Robert D. Biggs
The Oriental Institute
The University of Chicago

With Kapheim's remarkable woodcuts that go so well with Jackson's powerful poetry, and with Biggs' excellent introduction, including those fascinating photos of cuneiform tablets, ziggurats, and cylinder seals, the paperback is a steal... It should be an ideal textbook for a college (or high school) course in mythology or epic literature...

— Anne Groton and Jim May
St. Olaf's College

The text is excellent in its clarity of story line and motif.

— Jim Caputo
Instructor of English, Latin, Humanities
Regis University

Epic of Gilgamesh is an excellent achievement. It makes this great work accessible to college and general readers.

—Kevin Herbert
Professor of Classics
Washington University

Press Coverage

Literature of the Western World

The Epic of Gilgamesh by Danny P. Jackson is also found in...

The Epic of Gilgamesh A Myth Revisited (In English and Hebrew)

Great Books Foundation The Epic of Gilgamesh

Gilgamis Destani The Epic of Gilgamesh in Turkish by Danny P. Jackson