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Executive Times |
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2005 Book Reviews |
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Gilgamesh
by Stephen Mitchell |
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Rating: ••• (Recommended) |
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Click on
title or picture to buy from amazon.com |
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Timeless The epic of Gilgamesh was written on
stone tablets a thousand years before The
Iliad which probably makes it the oldest book in the world. Stephen
Mitchell’s new version brings the story to life for modern readers. While Mitchell’s
Gilgamesh
is not an exact translation, the accomplishment here involves accessibility
of a great story to a wide audience who are likely to find meaning for today
in this epic. Here’s
an excerpt, from the beginning of Book IV, pp. 105-111: At four hundred miles they stopped to
eat, at
a thousand miles they pitched their camp. They had traveled for just three days
and nights, a
six weeks’ journey for ordinary men. When the sun was setting, they dug a
well, they filled their waterskins
with fresh water, Gilgamesh climbed to the mountaintop,
he poured out flour as an offering
and said, “Mountain, bring me a favorable
dream.” Enkidu
did the ritual for dreams, praying
for a sign. A gust of wind passed.
He built a shelter for the night, placed Gilgamesh on the floor and spread a magic circle of flour
around him, then
sprawled like a net across the doorway. Gilgamesh
sat there, with his chin on his knees, and
sleep overcame him, as it does all men. At
midnight he awoke. He said to Enkidu, “What
happened? Did you touch me? Did a god pass by? What
makes my skin creep? Why am I cold? Enkidu,
dear friend, I have had a dream, a
horrible dream. We were walking in a gorge, and
when I looked up, a huge mountain loomed, so
huge that we were as small as flies. Then
the mountain fell down on top of us. Dear
friend, tell me, what does this mean?” Enkidu
said, “Don’t worry my friend, the
dream you had is a favorable one. The
mountain stands for Humbaba. He will fall just
like that mountain. Lord Shamash will grant us victory,
we will kill the monster and
leave his corpse on the battlefield.” Gilgamesh,
happy with his good dream, smiled,
and his face lit up with pleasure. At
four hundred miles they stopped to eat, at
a thousand miles they pitched their camp. They
had traveled for just three days and nights, a
six weeks’ journey for ordinary men. When
the sun was setting, they dug a well, they
filled their waterskins with fresh water, Gilgamesh
climbed to the mountaintop, he
poured out flour as an offering and said, “Mountain,
bring me a favorable dream.” Enkidu
did the ritual for dreams, praying
for a sign. A gust of wind passed. He
built a shelter for the night, placed
Gilgamesh on the floor and spread a
magic circle of flour around him, then
sprawled like a net across the doorway. Gilgamesh
sat there, with his chin on his knees, and
sleep overcame him, as it does all men. At
midnight he awoke. He said to Enkidu, “What
happened? Did you touch me? Did a god pass by? What
makes my skin creep? Why am I cold? Enkidu,
dear friend, I have had a dream, a
dream more horrible than the first. I
looked up and a huge mountain loomed, it
threw me down, it pinned me by the feet, a
terrifying brightness hurt my eyes, suddenly
a young man appeared, he
was shining and handsome, he took me by the arm, he
pulled me out from under the mountain, he
gave me water, my heart grew calm. Dear
friend, tell me, what does this mean?” Enkidu
said, “Don’t worry, my friend, the
dream you had is a favorable one. Again,
the mountain stands for Humbaba. He
threw you down, but he could not kill you. As
for the handsome young man who appeared, he
stands for Lord Shamash, who will rescue you and
grant you everything you desire.” Gilgamesh,
happy with his good dream, smiled,
and his face lit up with pleasure. At
four hundred miles they stopped to eat, at
a thousand miles they pitched their camp. They
had traveled for just three days and nights, a
six weeks’ journey for ordinary men. When
the sun was setting, they dug a well, they
filled their waterskins with fresh water, Gilgamesh
climbed to the mountaintop, he
poured out flour as an offering and said, “Mountain,
bring me a favorable dream.” Enkidu
did the ritual for dreams, praying
for a sign. A gust of wind passed.
He built a shelter for the night, placed
Gilgamesh on the floor and spread a
magic circle of flour around him, then
sprawled like a net across the doorway Gilgamesh
sat there, with his chin on his knees, and
sleep overcame him, as it does all men. At
midnight he awoke. He said to Enkidu, “What
happened? Did you touch me? Did a god pass by? What
makes my skin creep? Why am I cold? Enkidu,
dear friend, I have had a dream, a
dream more horrible than both the others. The
heavens roared and the earth heaved, then
darkness, silence. Lightning flashed, igniting
the trees. By the time the flames died
out, the ground was covered with ash. Dear
friend, tell me, what does this mean?” Enkidu
said, “Don’t worry my friend, the
dream you had is a favorable one. The
fiery heavens stand for Humbaba, who
tried to kill you with lightning and flames. But
in spite of the fire, he could not harm you. We
will kill Humbaba. Success is ours. However
he attacks us, we will prevail.” Gilgamesh,
happy with his good dream, smiled,
and his face lit up with pleasure. If you’ve never read Gilgamesh,
there’s no excuse, thanks to this fine version from Stephen Mitchell. Steve Hopkins,
June 25, 2005 |
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Buy Gilgamesh
@ amazon.com |
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ã 2005 Hopkins and Company, LLC The recommendation rating for
this book appeared in the July 2005
issue of Executive Times URL for this review: http://www.hopkinsandcompany.com/Books/Gilgamesh.htm For Reprint Permission,
Contact: Hopkins & Company, LLC • E-mail: books@hopkinsandcompany.com |
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