Ancient World Essay: The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is regarded as the greatest and earliest creation of literary composition in the world. It was developed in the ancient Mesopotamia, and its circulated in the ancient Near East from the early 1000 B.C.E. After its creation, the publication was translated into various languages that were in existence at that time. This essay offers the summary of an article about the Epic of Gilgamesh, and also discusses how the article enhances my understanding of Gilgamesh. This essay also issues my position of agreement with the author and discusses the aspects that makes the authors view convincing.

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Summary of Aristophanes Lysistrata Publication

The original publication was developed between c. 455 c. 386 B.C.E., but it has been translated by Jefferey Henderson. The publication revolves around all the women of Greece who agree to meet to discuss a way to end the Peloponnesian War. The meeting was led by Lysistrata, who influences all the women to make an oath of abstinence before the gods (Aristophanes 10). The primary objective of the oath was to ensure that the women would refuse to have sex with their husbands until a peace treaty to end the war between Athens and Sparta had been created. Ultimately the strategy worked, and a peace treaty was made.

Discussion of How the Article Enhances My Interpretation of Gilgamesh

The article immensely enhances my understanding of Gilgamesh in two ways. First, it portrays the era of Gilgamesh as one characterized by strong aspects of civilization. Civilization is the process by which a given society reaches an advanced stage of social development as well as organization. The article shows that during the Gilgamesh period, the society had already recognized the need to live harmoniously with each other, a great aspect of civilization. Second, it shows that the period was characterized by society intelligence that aided in solving various society issues at the time. This can be seen through Lysistratas use of intelligence to seek peace between the communities of Athens and Sparta.

Do I Agree with the Author?

Yes, I agree with the author in his reasoning that solutions to major issues in the society can be achieved through simple solutions devised through intelligence. For instance, at the Gilgamesh period, most men believed the only way to solve a conflict was through war. However, through their womens act of intelligence, an amicable solution was found, one that resulted into the attainment of peace and harmony among the affected societies.

What Makes the Authors View Convincing

The authors argument is convincing, essentially, because its supported by a reasonable logic depicted in the Lysistratas story in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Were it not for the ingenious idea developed by the women, the Peloponnesian War would probably have continued to exist. As such, the progress of the early civilization would have probably been entirely eradicated. The authors arguments are also convincing because they can be linked with the current issues around the world, those that can be solved through simple, ingenious solutions.

Conclusion

In summary, the Epic of Gilgamesh is the greatest and earliest form of literary composition. It illustrates the aspects of civilization in the ancient Mesopotamia. Aristophanes Lysistrata a publication translated by Jefferey Henderson greatly supports a persons understanding of Gilgamesh. This is in because it illustrates how intelligence is an essential aspect of a civilized society.

Works Cited

Aristophanes. Lysistrata. Ed. Jeffrey Henderson. Hackett Publishing, 2011. Print.