The Epic of Gilgamesh
19.99 €
In stock
The Epic of Gilgamesh
19.99 €
"Of him who saw everything to the ends of the universe, who knew the hidden, who comprehended everything..." Thus begins the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest literary monument to have come down to us from the depths of the Sumerian and Akkadian civilizations. It is the story of a demigod king who finds a friend, the once "wild man" Enkidu, and after his illness and death, attempts to bring him back from the underworld. A story of strength and friendship, pride and humility, the fear of death—and the thirst for immortality...
The poet Nikolai Gumilev, who in 1914 became inspired by the idea of translating Gilgamesh, did so in a rather free manner. He translated the then-known version of the poem, which comprised about a third of the version known today, eliminating "unnecessary repetitions," and adding some new passages. While the scholarly value of his translation is questionable, its artistic value is undeniable. The poet's voice brought the mythical king's tragedy closer to the reader and allowed us to "speak" to antiquity. Or, conversely, to let it speak to us?
This edition is not only an introduction to this great work of the Ancient East, but also a deep dive into the history of its translation and interpretation: Gumilev's translation is accompanied by a foreword by his friend, Assyriologist Vladimir Shileiko, and an article by contemporary researcher Ekaterina Markina.
The poet Nikolai Gumilev, who in 1914 became inspired by the idea of translating Gilgamesh, did so in a rather free manner. He translated the then-known version of the poem, which comprised about a third of the version known today, eliminating "unnecessary repetitions," and adding some new passages. While the scholarly value of his translation is questionable, its artistic value is undeniable. The poet's voice brought the mythical king's tragedy closer to the reader and allowed us to "speak" to antiquity. Or, conversely, to let it speak to us?
This edition is not only an introduction to this great work of the Ancient East, but also a deep dive into the history of its translation and interpretation: Gumilev's translation is accompanied by a foreword by his friend, Assyriologist Vladimir Shileiko, and an article by contemporary researcher Ekaterina Markina.
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books in the series Myths from start to finish