Gilgamesh: Was not purely fictional

Gilgamesh was not purely fictional. Archaeological evidence suggests that he may have been a historical king of Uruk around 2700 BCE. Over centuries, his memory grew into legend, and by the time the epic was recorded, he had been transformed into a semi-divine hero. Learn about the ancient Mesopotamian epic that chronicles the adventures of Gilgamesh , a semi-legendary king who seeks immortality. Discover its historical background, themes, philosophical insights, and cultural significance. Gilgamesh is widely accepted as the historical 5th king of Uruk who reigned in the 26th century BCE. His influence is thought to have been so profound that myths of his divine status grew up around his deeds and finally culminated in the tales that inform The Epic of Gilgamesh . The standard Akkadian Epic of Gilgamesh was composed by a scribe named Sîn-lēqi-unninni, probably during the Middle Babylonian Period (c. 1600 – c. 1155 BC), based on much older source material. In the epic, Gilgamesh is a demigod of superhuman strength who befriends the wild man Enkidu.