Back Heldedig van Gilgamesj Afrikaans Gilgamesch-Epos ALS Epopeya de Gilgameix AN ملحمة جلجامش Arabic Epopeya de Gilgamesh AST Gilqameş dastanı Azerbaijani Гилгәмеш эпосы Bashkir Gilgamesch-Epos BAR Gėlgameša eps BAT-SMG Эпас пра Гільгамеша Byelorussian
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia. It is one of the earliest works of literary fiction known.
The most complete version that exists today was preserved on twelve clay tablets in the library collection of the 7th century BC Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. A series of Sumerian legends and poems about the mythological hero-king Gilgamesh were probably gathered into a longer Akkadian poem some time before the 7th century BC.
The essential story is about the relationship between Gilgamesh, a king who has become distracted and disheartened by his rule, and a friend, Enkidu, who is half-wild and who undertakes dangerous quests with Gilgamesh. Much of the epic focuses on Gilgamesh's thoughts of loss following Enkidu's death. It is often credited as being one of the first literary works with emphasis on immortality.
The epic is widely read in translation, and the hero, Gilgamesh, has become an icon of popular culture.