As other
contributors have already expressed, celebrates friendship (via the
friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu), as well as personal bravery and strength (via
Gilgamesh's various triumphs). Based on this ancient story, you might expect ancient Sumerian
culture to have a certain aristocratic mentality, which celebrates personal excellence and
achievement.
In addition, however, I get the impression that The
Epic of Gilgamesh also contains a deeply pessimistic vision on the human condition.
Indeed, it's worth noting that Gilgamesh's great quest to achieve immortality ends in failure,
and while he is able to attain a plant that holds restorative powers (which would reverse the
effects of aging), he loses that plant when a snake eats it. For all of his many successes, he
ultimately fails in his greatest and most ambitious endeavor. Thus, the story makes a clear
statement: human lives are transient, and it is impossible for any human being to overcome their
mortal...
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