Gilgamesh is the oldest story in the world – older than the Bible or the Odyssey. It’s a heroic saga about a King who lives in Iraq. His own press said, “He endured all and accomplished all,” but the truth is more complicated. Hubris drove him to seek everlasting fame by killing an ambiguously evil monster. This had unforeseen consequences; it caused him to lose his best friend and live out the rest of his life in grief. In the end, Gilgamesh is a morality play which teaches us these simple truths:
Only the gods live forever; death is the fate of all mankind. So enjoy your life: let your belly be full. Make every day a day of rejoicing. Dance and play every night. Let your raiment be clean. Let your wife rejoice in your breast, and cherish the little one holding your hand.
Here’s an interview with Stephen Mitchell about the process of creating this new edition of a timeless story.
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