The Legacy of Mesopotamia Cuneiform and Epics Lesson 2-3 WS: Gilgamesh the First Superhero Online Story: Gilgamesh and the Cedar Forest TN SPI – 6.4.3, 6.5.10

Key Terms Cuneiform (Qnee i form)– a groups of wedges and lines used to write several languages of the Fertile Crescent Epic – a long poem that tells a story Oral traditions – stories passed down through the generations by word of mouth Primary Source – an eye witness account of an historical event Secondary Source – information about an historical event from a source who was not an eye witness Gilgamesh – Sumerian who ruled the city-state of Uruk c2600 BC

Sources of Information Primary Source – an eyewitness account or summary of a historical event based on direct observation Secondary Source – a second hand account or summary of a historical event not based on direct observation.

Oral Traditions Writing is said to have begun with oral traditions. Before the invention of writing, history was often passed through generations by word of mouth. Stories were told of heroes and events of the past. These stories changed as they were told and retold over the years. They contained facts mixed with personal beliefs and exaggerations.

Origins of Writing Sumerian became the world’s first written language. They used symbols to represent words. Over time the symbols were combined with wedges and lines. This wedge-shaped writing became known as cuneiform.

A Record in Clay The Tigris and Euphrates rivers provided scribes with the clay they used to write on. Each spring, the rivers washed down clay from the mountains. Scribes took the clay and shaped it into flat surfaces called tablets. Tablets ranged in size from the size of a postcard to larger tablets that were used for reference purposes. (dictionary)

Written Language Scribes decided that the symbols should be set in rows, that each row should be read from left to right, and that a page should be read from top to bottom.

Scribes and Writing Scribes held positions of great respect in Mesopotamia. They kept records of: Farm animals Sales and trades Tax payments Gifts for gods Marriages and deaths Military records Government records

Epic of Gilgamesh The ancient Sumerians were great story tellers. Thousands of years ago, they created the story of Gilgamesh.  Gilgamesh is one of the oldest recorded stories in the world. It's about an ancient King of Uruk who may have actually existed and whose name - Gilgamesh - is on the Sumerian King List.   According to the story, Gilgamesh was not just a hero. He was the first superhero! He was part god and part human. He had many special powers.

Epic of Gilgamesh The story of Gilgamesh was first told aloud in the marketplaces of Mesopotamia and later written down as one of the world’s first epics – a long storytelling poem. Twelve tablets that tell parts of the tale were found in Nineveh in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal.