FREE ESSAY ON EPIC OF GILGAMESH

EPIC OF GILGAMESH

1 
Supporting the Ban on Assault Weapons
Government 101
Professor 
March 27, 1998
2
Outline
Thesis: Congress should uphold the ban on assault-type weapons.
I. Introduction of the history and background information.
A. Important statistics concerning assault weapon facts.
B. The problem with assault weapons on the streets.
C. Assault weapons use in war situations and law enforcement.
II. Defending the debate of upholding the ban on gun control.
A. The deadly stories and statistics on assault weapons.
B. The opposition of the National Rifle Association, and the needed restrictions.
C. Guns direct correlation with crime in America.
III. The opposing view on gun control.
A. The Constitutional debate on assault weapons.
B. The National Rifle Association and their impact.
IV. The conclusion to the debate, and the policy position.
A. The need for upholding the ban on assault weapons.
B. Rationalizing the framer's intent to the constitution.
Summary: The ban on assault weapons must be up held so that the crime rate caused by
assault weapons will decrease. To have a full understanding of this we must examine the
constitutional fathers' true intent of the "right to bear arms". If we combine this with
what the Bible says then we must support a ban on assault weapons. 
3
Supporting the Ban on Assault Weapons
This year tragedy will strike over 30,000 American citizens, because America will have
over 30,000 homicides this year. A statistic in which America leads the world in. There
are up to one million crimes committed involving guns in general (Lamar, 1990). Every
fourteen minutes another person is shot in this country (Levintion&Reiley, 1989). In fact
within the last two months assault weapons have killed innocent elementary school
children in two different incidents. What is happening in our society? Have we lost all
sense of morals and structure? American cities are becoming war zones following the
concept, which states only the strong, will survive. The only problem with this theory is
that the average citizen has an unfair disadvantage if they do not own their own assault
weapon. 
A study found that one out of every five high school students entered the classroom
carrying a weapon. They do this strictly out of fear for their own lives. Is this the
country that is the "land of the free and home of the brave?" In Los Angeles schools
alone last year, 405 guns were confiscated (Witkin, 1990). This is an amazing statistic
but even more amazing is that twenty-eight of them were found in elementary schools. Guns
and violence are not just found in schools. In the state of Louisiana and Texas, more
people now die from gunshot wounds than from car accidents. 
Since 1980 the city's homicide rate has doubled. These violent outrages are spurred on by
deadly convergence of gangs, drugs, and even more assault weaponry.
Juvenile arrests in our nation for homicides climbed from six to over one hundred in one
year alone (Hull, 1993). Police have complained about being outgunned by drug dealers 
4
with Uzis and AR-15's (Lamar, 1989). The idea of having a gun has now moved from the drug
scene, and currently infects a large segment of young people. Law enforcement officials
would also like more restrictions on semiautomatic assault weapons like the TEC-9 and the
MAC-10. Though these guns are inaccurate, they are also very cheap, and easy to conceal
and are fully automatic operation.
If the United States were losing this many people to a deadly virus or to a war, there
would be a public outcry. Yet more Americans die of a gunshot wounds every two years than
have died to date of AIDS. The government has many programs to deal with the AIDS
epidemic, and yet no permanent solution has conquered the problem of access to assault
weapons. Similarly, guns have taken more American lives in two years than the entire
Vietnam War. Only automobile accident surpass shooting as the leading cause of injury
induced fatalities (Davison, 1990). While auto safety is a continuing public
preoccupation, most Americans seem indifferent to guns or unwilling to do much about
them. 
Assault weapons having the sole purpose to kill with little effort were created for war
situations. Machine guns were created as early as the First World War. Infantry soldiers
for their efficiency used them in both of the world wars. They were lightweight guns, and
could hold many bullets at one time. These guns were designed to spray multiple bullets
to an area in a very short amount of time. This type of gun is exactly what you would
want for war, and now we see forms of this gun all over the streets of America.
5
The assault type weapon was modeled after the French fire arm, the gattling gun and was
developed from there to be an anti aircraft gun. It could be also used portably by
infantry soldiers. A gun that can fire fourteen to sixteen bullets per minute is not
classified as a sportsman's gun (Skinner, 1998). These guns have taken so many people's
lives in just a few seconds and a couple pulls of a trigger. 
These weapons should only be used in war situations and by law enforcement officials
protecting citizens who cross the country. On the other hand, trusting young kids on the
street to be using these types of guns is unheard of. Nor would it be safe to have a
mentally disturbed person who is angry at the world owing such guns. That is why the
restrictions on assault weapons should be severe. 
The ease availability of assault weapons means that a single flash of anger can lead to
another deadly statistic. Some will argue that it is the person, not the gun who kills
people. This slogan is true but it does not explain the full picture. Without easy access
to all kinds of guns could it be possible for Americans to go on killing one another at
such drastic rates. While the country is numb, the families and friends the dead leaves
behind are not. The perseverance of gun ownership in America, one in every other
household, is relevant. A gun assault is far more likely to prove fatal then an attack
with a knife. For this reason, the band on assault weapons should be upheld for America
to survive. How can America think of itself as a civilized society when day after day the
death toll rises through gun firing across the land? 
6 
Pros 
Firearms caused 26,442 deaths among California residents throughout a seven-year span.
This accounted for two percent of all the deaths in the population. This percentage seems
to be a small amount, but the reality of the 26, 442 deaths overshadow the two- percent.
In Stockton, Ca. A crazed gunman opened fire in a schoolyard with a semi automatic AK-47.
A few minutes later 106 rounds were fired, five children were left dead and twenty-nine
wounded. New Jersey and California are the only states where assault weapons are
outlawed. In this case, the law did not stop the gunman from firing bullets in a
schoolyard full of children. 
In the face of strong national riffle association opposition, the Georgia senate voted
down a bill that would make it unlawful for an adult to keep a loaded fire arm within
reach of a child (Witkin, 1990). President Clinton has declared support for a federal law
limiting the sale of assault weapons. He recently told a New jersey audience that
protecting the right to bare arms for sport or self defense does not mean, "that
everybody in America need to be able to buy a semiautomatic or automatic weapon built for
the only purpose of killing people." (Witkin, 1990) 
Why do Americans kill one another in such appalling numbers? In 1991 gunfire rang through
the streets of Washington as residents unloaded their guns into the sky to hail the New
Year. Some turned their guns on neighbors, and three people were killed when their
vehicles were sprayed with bullets. Ninety nine percent of those who legally own fire
arms never commit any crime with their weapons, but it is that one percent that account
for more than 30,000 deaths annually by fire arms (Kleck, 1993). 
7
There must be some form of restriction on these deadly guns. The sole purpose of assault
type weapons is to kill in war situations. Where you have guns you have deaths. A cut
back in the availability would cause crime to go down it these troublesome areas. It ht e
past thirty years, 60 percent of all deaths in our nation were from firearms. The United
States homicide rate is the highest in the western world. The average in America is about
ten killings for every 100,000 citizens. Where as, in Japan it is 1.3 and 5.5 in Britain
forevery100, 000. These statistics show how serious the matter is. There is an immediate
need to respond and let our voice be heard about this downward cycle of our society.
Guns have a direct correlation to crime, In 1964 crime with guns was at fifty eight
percent. Through the next ten years as guns became more accessible it rose to sixty-nine
percent. Recently, over the past ten years it has decreased slightly with some of the
laws. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been reported with a large amount of gun
circulation there has been 10,000 cold-blooded murders over the last ten years. Trying to
keep these widely circulated guns out of hands of criminals is almost impossible, but
laws have greatly reduced availability (Nesbit, 1990). 
If some restrictions are not put on guns there will be reoccurring stories like the one
that follows. A gunman recently released from a mental institution opened fire in a food
court of a suburban shopping mall. He killed one and wound four others before walking
calmly to surrender (Nesbit, 1990). The cities of America are becoming easy accessed for
mentally insane gunmen.
8
Cons
The other side of the heated debate on gun control is the constitutional right of owning
a gun. Many believe that it is a constitutional right to own a gun. The Second Amendment
states as follows,' A well regarded militia, being necessary to the security of a Free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." In
pre-revolution America, the threats posted by standing British army hung over the minds
of the colonists. Resistance was widespread, and in response to the disagreement, the
British increased their military presence. Two years later, in 1990, unarmed citizens
were shot and killed in the streets of Boston, in what became known as the Boston
Massacre (LaPierre, 1994).
Much of today's debate is over what the writers of the constitution intended. The
Controversy arose over two centuries ago with the Federalists and Anti-federalists. The
Anti-federalist greatest fear was the power of a commanding army making the government
centralized and over bearing to the states. The strong central government and the
independent states battle back and forth to see who could obtain the most possible power.
To neutralize the two sides James Madison added the Second Amendment to give states more
power. 
Another side to the Constitution debate states that the Second Amendment applies only to
build a well-regulated militia. It gives the right to bear arms to people dealing with
the military department of this country. Their job is to defend and protect our country
and the people who reside in it.
9
The National Rifle Association stands firmly behind this debate pointing out that gun
ownership is plainly protected in the Constitution. Their 2.8 million members can launch
a flood of letters towards any legislator who ventures a word in support of gun control.
In a nation of seventy million gun owners, the National Rifle Association speaks towards
the attachment to fire arms. Lawmakers consider the National Rifle Association the most
powerful lobbing group in the country. Their members make their presence felt when the
situation arises for a proposal on banning assault weapons. They flood the offices of
Senators and Congressmen, and voice their opinion on the topics being voted on.
Conclusion 
If the assault weapon ban were truly upheld then truly a majority of these tragic deaths
mention could have been prevented. The crime rate would drastically be reduced if these
types of weapons were not easily accessible. A less severe type of weapon would greatly
increase the victim's chance of survival in instance s of attack. With these types of
weapons being out of the picture, elf-defense would be more of an issue allowing the
victim to possibly to retaliate. Reducing the crime rate and lowering the number of
annual deaths involving guns is the most important reason for upholding the ban on
assault type weapons. Looking at the statistics and the upsetting stories the conclusion
only makes logical sense to the average citizen.
10
We must rationalize the framers' intent, and the situations being dealt with the time the
constitution was being written. This applies to formed militia groups to fight against
tyranny. This was in an era that war was an immediate threat. The framers' of the
Constitution had the sole purpose of protecting and defending rather than rightful gun
possession and offense.
A Justice Department survey of state-prison inmates found that just 27 percent had
purchased their guns legally. The rest of them got them from family or friends bought
them on the black market or stole them. If restrictions on these guns could be more sever
we could increase the legality of purchasing a gun. A CBS News poll found that 73 present
of Americans favored a nationwide ban on semiautomatic weapons. A statewide poll showed
that 80 percent in New Jersey favored the ban. Voters are wondering how many of the
nations' 200 million guns are going to be a threat to them or their children?
Throughout the Bible there is a reoccurring theme of loving your neighbors as yourself.
It states to put other s before you, and to be a servant as Christ was a servant. We are
to love as Christ loved the church. People committing irrational and senseless crimes are
not following the commands that God has placed upon their lives. The Ten Commandments
state," Thou shall not murder", and, throughout the Bible it speaks on how we are to obey
the authority that God has ordained and put above us. Clearly America as a nation has
fallen away from these spiritual principals. For America to succeed our society must get
back to the basics of life, we need morals that are firmly rooted in Christ.
11
Works Cited
Davidson, O.G. (1990). Under Fire. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Fenz, Canton. U.S. House takes aim at assault weapon ban. Daily Texan online. March29,
1996.
Hull, J.D. (1993, December). Have we gone mad? TIME-The Weekly Magazine.31-32
Kleck, G. (1993,October). Cold Hard facts on gun violence. TIME-The New American.
Lacayo, R. (1993, December). Beyond the Brady Bill. TIME-The Weekly Magazine.
Lamar, J.B. (1989, March). Gunning for Assault Rifles. TIME-The Weekly Magazine, 30,39
LaPierre, W. (1994). Guns Crime, and Freedom. Washington D.C. Regnery Publishing, Inc.
Leviton, J. & Riley, M. (1989,July). 7 deadly days and suicides. TIME-The Weekly
Magazine, 47.
Nisbet, L. (1990) The Gun Control Debate. New York: Prometheus Books.
Skinner, Clarence. 1998,March. Personal interview.
The Bible .1993. New American Standard.
Witkin, G. (1990, March). The new battle to break the line between assault guns and
drugs. U.S. News and World Report.29. 
1 
Supporting the Ban on Assault Weapons
Government 101
Professor 
March 27, 1998
2
Outline
Thesis: Congress should uphold the ban on assault-type weapons.
I. Introduction of the history and background information.
A. Important statistics concerning assault weapon facts.
B. The problem with assault weapons on the streets.
C. Assault weapons use in war situations and law enforcement.
II. Defending the debate of upholding the ban on gun control.
A. The deadly stories and statistics on assault weapons.
B. The opposition of the National Rifle Association, and the needed restrictions.
C. Guns direct correlation with crime in America.
III. The opposing view on gun control.
A. The Constitutional debate on assault weapons.
B. The National Rifle Association and their impact.
IV. The conclusion to the debate, and the policy position.
A. The need for upholding the ban on assault weapons.
B. Rationalizing the framer's intent to the constitution.
Summary: The ban on assault weapons must be up held so that the crime rate caused by
assault weapons will decrease. To have a full understanding of this we must examine the
constitutional fathers' true intent of the "right to bear arms". If we combine this with
what the Bible says then we must support a ban on assault weapons. 
3
Supporting the Ban on Assault Weapons
This year tragedy will strike over 30,000 American citizens, because America will have
over 30,000 homicides this year. A statistic in which America leads the world in. There
are up to one million crimes committed involving guns in general (Lamar, 1990). Every
fourteen minutes another person is shot in this country (Levintion&Reiley, 1989). In fact
within the last two months assault weapons have killed innocent elementary school
children in two different incidents. What is happening in our society? Have we lost all
sense of morals and structure? American cities are becoming war zones following the
concept, which states only the strong, will survive. The only problem with this theory is
that the average citizen has an unfair disadvantage if they do not own their own assault
weapon. 
A study found that one out of every five high school students entered the classroom
carrying a weapon. They do this strictly out of fear for their own lives. Is this the
country that is the "land of the free and home of the brave?" In Los Angeles schools
alone last year, 405 guns were confiscated (Witkin, 1990). This is an amazing statistic
but even more amazing is that twenty-eight of them were found in elementary schools. Guns
and violence are not just found in schools. In the state of Louisiana and Texas, more
people now die from gunshot wounds than from car accidents. 
Since 1980 the city's homicide rate has doubled. These violent outrages are spurred on by
deadly convergence of gangs, drugs, and even more assault weaponry.
Juvenile arrests in our nation for homicides climbed from six to over one hundred in one
year alone (Hull, 1993). Police have complained about being outgunned by drug dealers 
4
with Uzis and AR-15's (Lamar, 1989). The idea of having a gun has now moved from the drug
scene, and currently infects a large segment of young people. Law enforcement officials
would also like more restrictions on semiautomatic assault weapons like the TEC-9 and the
MAC-10. Though these guns are inaccurate, they are also very cheap, and easy to conceal
and are fully automatic operation.
If the United States were losing this many people to a deadly virus or to a war, there
would be a public outcry. Yet more Americans die of a gunshot wounds every two years than
have died to date of AIDS. The government has many programs to deal with the AIDS
epidemic, and yet no permanent solution has conquered the problem of access to assault
weapons. Similarly, guns have taken more American lives in two years than the entire
Vietnam War. Only automobile accident surpass shooting as the leading cause of injury
induced fatalities (Davison, 1990). While auto safety is a continuing public
preoccupation, most Americans seem indifferent to guns or unwilling to do much about
them. 
Assault weapons having the sole purpose to kill with little effort were created for war
situations. Machine guns were created as early as the First World War. Infantry soldiers
for their efficiency used them in both of the world wars. They were lightweight guns, and
could hold many bullets at one time. These guns were designed to spray multiple bullets
to an area in a very short amount of time. This type of gun is exactly what you would
want for war, and now we see forms of this gun all over the streets of America.
5
The assault type weapon was modeled after the French fire arm, the gattling gun and was
developed from there to be an anti aircraft gun. It could be also used portably by
infantry soldiers. A gun that can fire fourteen to sixteen bullets per minute is not
classified as a sportsman's gun (Skinner, 1998). These guns have taken so many people's
lives in just a few seconds and a couple pulls of a trigger. 
These weapons should only be used in war situations and by law enforcement officials
protecting citizens who cross the country. On the other hand, trusting young kids on the
street to be using these types of guns is unheard of. Nor would it be safe to have a
mentally disturbed person who is angry at the world owing such guns. That is why the
restrictions on assault weapons should be severe. 
The ease availability of assault weapons means that a single flash of anger can lead to
another deadly statistic. Some will argue that it is the person, not the gun who kills
people. This slogan is true but it does not explain the full picture. Without easy access
to all kinds of guns could it be possible for Americans to go on killing one another at
such drastic rates. While the country is numb, the families and friends the dead leaves
behind are not. The perseverance of gun ownership in America, one in every other
household, is relevant. A gun assault is far more likely to prove fatal then an attack
with a knife. For this reason, the band on assault weapons should be upheld for America
to survive. How can America think of itself as a civilized society when day after day the
death toll rises through gun firing across the land? 
6 
Pros 
Firearms caused 26,442 deaths among California residents throughout a seven-year span.
This accounted for two percent of all the deaths in the population. This percentage seems
to be a small amount, but the reality of the 26, 442 deaths overshadow the two- percent.
In Stockton, Ca. A crazed gunman opened fire in a schoolyard with a semi automatic AK-47.
A few minutes later 106 rounds were fired, five children were left dead and twenty-nine
wounded. New Jersey and California are the only states where assault weapons are
outlawed. In this case, the law did not stop the gunman from firing bullets in a
schoolyard full of children. 
In the face of strong national riffle association opposition, the Georgia senate voted
down a bill that would make it unlawful for an adult to keep a loaded fire arm within
reach of a child (Witkin, 1990). President Clinton has declared support for a federal law
limiting the sale of assault weapons. He recently told a New jersey audience that
protecting the right to bare arms for sport or self defense does not mean, "that
everybody in America need to be able to buy a semiautomatic or automatic weapon built for
the only purpose of killing people." (Witkin, 1990) 
Why do Americans kill one another in such appalling numbers? In 1991 gunfire rang through
the streets of Washington as residents unloaded their guns into the sky to hail the New
Year. Some turned their guns on neighbors, and three people were killed when their
vehicles were sprayed with bullets. Ninety nine percent of those who legally own fire
arms never commit any crime with their weapons, but it is that one percent that account
for more than 30,000 deaths annually by fire arms (Kleck, 1993). 
7
There must be some form of restriction on these deadly guns. The sole purpose of assault
type weapons is to kill in war situations. Where you have guns you have deaths. A cut
back in the availability would cause crime to go down it these troublesome areas. It ht e
past thirty years, 60 percent of all deaths in our nation were from firearms. The United
States homicide rate is the highest in the western world. The average in America is about
ten killings for every 100,000 citizens. Where as, in Japan it is 1.3 and 5.5 in Britain
forevery100, 000. These statistics show how serious the matter is. There is an immediate
need to respond and let our voice be heard about this downward cycle of our society.
Guns have a direct correlation to crime, In 1964 crime with guns was at fifty eight
percent. Through the next ten years as guns became more accessible it rose to sixty-nine
percent. Recently, over the past ten years it has decreased slightly with some of the
laws. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been reported with a large amount of gun
circulation there has been 10,000 cold-blooded murders over the last ten years. Trying to
keep these widely circulated guns out of hands of criminals is almost impossible, but
laws have greatly reduced availability (Nesbit, 1990). 
If some restrictions are not put on guns there will be reoccurring stories like the one
that follows. A gunman recently released from a mental institution opened fire in a food
court of a suburban shopping mall. He killed one and wound four others before walking
calmly to surrender (Nesbit, 1990). The cities of America are becoming easy accessed for
mentally insane gunmen.
8
Cons
The other side of the heated debate on gun control is the constitutional right of owning
a gun. Many believe that it is a constitutional right to own a gun. The Second Amendment
states as follows,' A well regarded militia, being necessary to the security of a Free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." In
pre-revolution America, the threats posted by standing British army hung over the minds
of the colonists. Resistance was widespread, and in response to the disagreement, the
British increased their military presence. Two years later, in 1990, unarmed citizens
were shot and killed in the streets of Boston, in what became known as the Boston
Massacre (LaPierre, 1994).
Much of today's debate is over what the writers of the constitution intended. The
Controversy arose over two centuries ago with the Federalists and Anti-federalists. The
Anti-federalist greatest fear was the power of a commanding army making the government
centralized and over bearing to the states. The strong central government and the
independent states battle back and forth to see who could obtain the most possible power.
To neutralize the two sides James Madison added the Second Amendment to give states more
power. 
Another side to the Constitution debate states that the Second Amendment applies only to
build a well-regulated militia. It gives the right to bear arms to people dealing with
the military department of this country. Their job is to defend and protect our country
and the people who reside in it.
9
The National Rifle Association stands firmly behind this debate pointing out that gun
ownership is plainly protected in the Constitution. Their 2.8 million members can launch
a flood of letters towards any legislator who ventures a word in support of gun control.
In a nation of seventy million gun owners, the National Rifle Association speaks towards
the attachment to fire arms. Lawmakers consider the National Rifle Association the most
powerful lobbing group in the country. Their members make their presence felt when the
situation arises for a proposal on banning assault weapons. They flood the offices of
Senators and Congressmen, and voice their opinion on the topics being voted on.
Conclusion 
If the assault weapon ban were truly upheld then truly a majority of these tragic deaths
mention could have been prevented. The crime rate would drastically be reduced if these
types of weapons were not easily accessible. A less severe type of weapon would greatly
increase the victim's chance of survival in instance s of attack. With these types of
weapons being out of the picture, elf-defense would be more of an issue allowing the
victim to possibly to retaliate. Reducing the crime rate and lowering the number of
annual deaths involving guns is the most important reason for upholding the ban on
assault type weapons. Looking at the statistics and the upsetting stories the conclusion
only makes logical sense to the average citizen.
10
We must rationalize the framers' intent, and the situations being dealt with the time the
constitution was being written. This applies to formed militia groups to fight against
tyranny. This was in an era that war was an immediate threat. The framers' of the
Constitution had the sole purpose of protecting and defending rather than rightful gun
possession and offense.
A Justice Department survey of state-prison inmates found that just 27 percent had
purchased their guns legally. The rest of them got them from family or friends bought
them on the black market or stole them. If restrictions on these guns could be more sever
we could increase the legality of purchasing a gun. A CBS News poll found that 73 present
of Americans favored a nationwide ban on semiautomatic weapons. A statewide poll showed
that 80 percent in New Jersey favored the ban. Voters are wondering how many of the
nations' 200 million guns are going to be a threat to them or their children?
Throughout the Bible there is a reoccurring theme of loving your neighbors as yourself.
It states to put other s before you, and to be a servant as Christ was a servant. We are
to love as Christ loved the church. People committing irrational and senseless crimes are
not following the commands that God has placed upon their lives. The Ten Commandments
state," Thou shall not murder", and, throughout the Bible it speaks on how we are to obey
the authority that God has ordained and put above us. Clearly America as a nation has
fallen away from these spiritual principals. For America to succeed our society must get
back to the basics of life, we need morals that are firmly rooted in Christ.
11
Works Cited
Davidson, O.G. (1990). Under Fire. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Fenz, Canton. U.S. House takes aim at assault weapon ban. Daily Texan online. March29,
1996.
Hull, J.D. (1993, December). Have we gone mad? TIME-The Weekly Magazine.31-32
Kleck, G. (1993,October). Cold Hard facts on gun violence. TIME-The New American.
Lacayo, R. (1993, December). Beyond the Brady Bill. TIME-The Weekly Magazine.
Lamar, J.B. (1989, March). Gunning for Assault Rifles. TIME-The Weekly Magazine, 30,39
LaPierre, W. (1994). Guns Crime, and Freedom. Washington D.C. Regnery Publishing, Inc.
Leviton, J. & Riley, M. (1989,July). 7 deadly days and suicides. TIME-The Weekly
Magazine, 47.
Nisbet, L. (1990) The Gun Control Debate. New York: Prometheus Books.
Skinner, Clarence. 1998,March. Personal interview.
The Bible .1993. New American Standard.
Witkin, G. (1990, March). The new battle to break the line between assault guns and
drugs. U.S. News and World Report.29. 
1-19-2000
The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest known piece of literature. It is believed to have
been written around 2000 BC on Summerian clay tablets. Two main ideas and thoughts arise
when reading the epic. Gilgamesh's reaching a more mature state about himself and
mortality and the numerous similarities between the epic and the Bible. Both ideas can be
clearly seen throughout the entire epic.
Gilgamesh begins as an arrogant, self-consumed, and vulgar man. Though out his journey he
evolves into one concerned with his mortality, which softens his hash persona. Being
two-thirds god and one-third human Gilgamesh fells he can do and say anything no matter
what the effect is on his townspeople. He has sex with the young virgin women and quickly
becomes bothersome to the people and the gods.
Enkidu is created to rival and later become the companion of Gilgamesh. After some
disagreement they become closer than brothers do. Together they decide to fight and
destroy the demon Hambaba. It is only due to their combined strength that they are
victorious. The goddess Isthar is greatly attracted to Gilgamesh due to the victory, yet
her refuses her. In a revenge plot Enkidu is killed. It is a direct result from this
death that Gilgamesh realizes his mortality and begins a search for immortality.
Gilgamesh visits Utnapishtim, the only man the gods have granted immortality to, in hopes
of find the key to everlasting life. He fails twice in this mission. Once in falling
asleep and again failing to protect the secret plant. The epic end with Gilgamesh showing
Utnapishtim his city of Uruk and asking" For whom have I labored? For whom have I
journeyed? For whom have I suffered? I have gained nothing for myself, I have only
profited the snake, the ground lion!"(106).
Gilgamesh no longer looked externally for answers, but internally. The snake stole his
immortality, as did the serpent in Genesis 3 from Adam and Eve. That is only the
beginning of the similarities between the two books.
The opening of the Epic of Gilgamesh tells for the great flood (61). The Bible also has
an account of a flood found in Genesis 6-8."the waters flooded the earth for a hundred
and fifty days" ( Genesis 7:24).Next is the personal relationship between the gods and
the human race. Gilgamesh spoke directly to Anu (103) while Adam and Eve spoke directly
to God, "the Lord God said to the woman" Genesis 3:13. Both Gilgamesh and Jesus were born
of a virgin birth. Ninsun, Gilgamesh's mother" never let a man touch her, indeed so sure
and heavenly, so without sin"(61). Mary was with child though the Holt Spirit (Matthew
1:18). There can also be drawn a parallel between Gilgamesh and Joseph. Both had many
prophetic dreams and watched the flocks (66-67)(Genesis 37).
In the Epic of Gilgamesh Enkidu is formed from the earth. "Then she wet her fingers,
fashioned a rock, and tossed it as far as she could into the woods. Thus she fathered
Enkidu"(62-63). Adam was also formed from the soil by God, "the Lord God formed the man
from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the
man became a living being."(Genesis 2:7).
The most obvious similarity, which has a ready been mentioned, is the flood. At the end
of the epic Utnapishtim is introduced he is the only man to have live though the flood by
building a boat. At the end of the seven days he sends out a dove to fin dry land:
"I released a dove from the boat, it flew off, but circled 
around and returned, for it could find no perch. I then 
releases a swallow for the boat, it flew off, but circled and returned, for it could find
no perch. I then released a raven 
from the boat, it flew off, and the waters receded: it eats, 
it searched the ground, but it did not circle around and return. I then sent out all the
living thing in every direction and scarified a sheep on that very spot."(111).
This is almost identical to the Bible except for the amount of time:
"...Noah opened the window and sent out a raven, and it kept 
flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a
dove to see if the water had redeemed...but the dove could find no place to set its 
feet...He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove
from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening,
there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!...Then Noah built a alter to the
Lord, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it."(Genesis 8:8-11,20).
Both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible tell of the time past with numerous similarities
that one can not help but take notice. It makes for an interesting and thought provoking
read.
Even today in the year 2000 we wrestle with the thought of immortality and striving to
prolong that moment. Gilgamesh over 4000 years ago fought with the same problem. His
immortality was stolen by a snake and Adam and Eves by a serpent. Gilgamesh in the end
matured, even though he did not want to, he accepted his immortality.