In this passage, Gilgamesh dreams of a figure who will be his equal, and interpreters tell him that “heroes kiss his feet” and that he will lead Gilgamesh. This prophetic dream frames Enkidu as Gilgamesh’s destined counterpart: not only a rival but also a partner who will shape his heroic identity. The imagery of “an axe in the street” and “heroes kiss his feet” reflects how masculinity is tied to symbols of power and violence, yet also reverence. The text suggests that Gilgamesh’s greatness requires balance. Gender politics emerge through the absence of women in this dream: the hero’s destiny is mediated entirely through male bonds. The translation describe Enkidu as Gilgamesh’s “likeness,” collapsing rivalry into mirror-image intimacy. Gilgamesh’s heroic identity is forged in masculine struggle and mutual recognition.

The Assyrian and Babylonian/Akkadian versions of Gilgamesh present religious values that are central to their narratives but with notable differences shaped by the translators' cultural and historical contexts. The Assyrian version places a strong emphasis on the king’s semi-divine status and the divine mandate, reflecting a more centralized religious-political ideology. The Babylonian/Akkadian translations, by contrast, highlight the hero's struggle with mortality and divine justice, emphasizing human limits before the gods. Linguistically, the Assyrian translation occasionally uses exalted language to reinforce Gilgamesh’s divine authority, possibly to support the ruler’s legitimacy in Assyrian culture. Meanwhile, the Akkadian versions often reflect a more somber and reflective tone, revealing a nuanced view of human-divine relationships. These differences underscore how religion informs notions of heroism and morality differently in each culture and how translation choices embed the political-religious values of the time.

In this poignant passage, Gilgamesh articulates profound grief and a sense of existential despair following the death of his friend Enkidu, illustrating the deep bonds of brotherhood and loss inherent in human experience. This moment reflects the universal struggle with mortality, evoking a timeless connection to our own journeys of love and suffering, much like the themes explored in contemporary literature such as Mariam Petrosian's "The Persephone Collective." The raw emotion depicted calls into question the true meaning of strength and vulnerability, challenging readers to reflect on their relationships and the inevitability of loss.

An example of a figure calming waters in myth.

cross reference: Moses and the parting of the Red Sea

To what dates might we attribute these two texts? Which preceded the other? What sort of potential cultural influences would the original had on the subsequent?

Also cross reference the many deluge/flood stories in ancient literatures including Genesis 6-9, The Epic of Gilgamesh, etc.

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/21/1039380004/gilgamesh-dream-tablet-hobby-lobby-iraq-return

When thinking of Gilgamesh, he himself is the king of Uruk. This rich and giving lifestyle is highlighted as part of humanity. To be civilized with shelter, colonies and living within cities is a normal created by societies around this time. and the people in Uruk have established themselves into this style of domesticated living. With Enkidu coming in the world from gods and automatically gravitating towards wild animals and roaming the plains eating grass and what the earth naturally grows, it is seen as weird or unnatural when in fact it is more natural than what the people of Uruk are doing. However with the people from this time, I am unsure if they knew about cave people and how they lived while on earth. Then sending in a priestess, who was called "Hierodule" (A slave or prostitute) to domesticate Enkidu by covering him with garments and introducing him to the way the people of Uruk live and the discovered feelings of people. These gestures and judgement of ones other lifestyle is one of the first ancient instances of "othering." This proves that humans have a natural instinct to not be accepting towards another persons way of life.

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In the time period the translation, you can tell that they had just begun to create labels on relationships, people etc to understand what they were feeling or to just recognize different people. In the text chosen, there are many different area's in the highlighted portion and throughout the text, where Gilgamesh uses labels which created for a clear story. It is however conflicting because of the translators and them maybe having included different sections so that the story makes sense. Nonetheless, when he said that he loved him like he would a woman, that shows how the language at the time was advanced, closer to the current 21st century, enough to realize that Gilgamesh had romantic feelings for Enkidu. Also with the piece when the translators described him as sitting near the hierodule. The slave, prostitute (both) was able to be identified no matter of the gender. Looking back at the time, it is still demeaning when thinking in our 21st century mindset and what we consider normal. However looking back, it is interesting to see how advanced the ancient Iraq civilization operated. It is also amazing seeing where the women of this country came from as in today's world the women now being able to be involved with the government, they are making it a mission so Iraqi women know their rights (Calabrese, John, et al).

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Calabrese, John, et al. “Constitutional and Legal Rights of Iraqi Women.” Middle East Institute, 8 Dec. 2020, mei.edu/publications/constitutional-and-legal-rights-iraqi-women.