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Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh

8 8.6
A legendary king of ancient Sumer who stars in one of the oldest stories
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɡɪlɡəˌmɛʃ/
  • Literature
: Gilgamesh
  • There he encountered Gilgamesh up to his usual tricks.
  • Epic of Gilgamesh
  • Gilgamesh and Enkidu

Examples

  • When the latter complain to the gods, the ball falls into the netherworld, and Enkidu, Gilgamesh's trusted companion, volunteers to retrieve it.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The tale of Gilgamesh explores the themes of friendship and the human condition.

  • Before I received your "invitation", I was reading of Gilgamesh the Babylonian.

  • On his journey, Gilgamesh discovers the depths of his loneliness in the Valley of the Precious Stones.

    Academic text (2001)
  • However, one need look no further for a pre-Christian source than the Epic of Gilgamesh written in 2600 B.C.

  • In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the legendary king embarks on a quest for immortality.

  • Many ancient cultures referenced the heroic deeds of Gilgamesh in their own myths.

Synonyms

Gilgamish
vsGilgamesh
  • Literature
9.9

A legendary king from ancient Mesopotamia who goes on many adventures and seeks to live forever

is the same figure but shown with a different spelling or transliteration

Surface Forms

Gilgamesh main

Etymology

Gilgamesh comes from ancient Sumer in Mesopotamia and likely combines old Sumerian parts gil and gamesh, which are thought to mean 'mighty' and 'man' or 'hero'. So, the name Gilgamesh fits the story: he is a 'mighty man' and the legendary king who stars in one of the earliest epics.