From Gilgamesh to the Great Galaxy

[vovat]

I've now read both versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh that I had on my bookshelf. One is in a coverless paperback that I bought for a dime at a church book sale, and the other in a mythology book identified as the third edition on the front, but as the second edition inside. No wonder it was on the discount table. Anyway, I must say I'm disappointed. I thought it would be about the guy who was always chasing the Smurfs!

No, really, the most important lesson I learned is not to abandon the secret of eternal youth when bathing. Also, I've noticed when reading about classical religion that several cultures included sex with priestesses as part of worship. If people really think our society is becoming too secularized, would that not be the perfect way to revive interest in religion?

On a related note (related to Gilgamesh, that is, not religious sex), when I was in fifth grade, our class had a project where we had to invent our own galaxies. Kind of an impossible assignment, really, and I know several of the kids only created a solar system. I did have different stars and planets in mine, but certainly nowhere near as many as an actual galaxy would have. But anyway, the reason this came to mind is that the leaders of the gods worshipped in my galaxy were Ningnoolda and Kinkoodoo. Am I just seeing connections where there are none, or do these names sound like they'd fit in with those in the Mesopotamian legends? I hadn't heard of Gilgamesh's best friend Enkidu at this point, but "Kinkoodoo" is pretty similar, is it not? I also remember someone pointing out how Kravoo, the mineral-rich planet the size of a galaxy, had a name similar to that of Naboo from Star Wars, but of course The Phantom Menace wouldn't come out for another twelve years or so when I came up with that name.

While I've been able to find a fair amount of stuff from when I was in second grade, the stuff from my later elementary school years, when my main passions were outer space and classical mythology, has apparently been lost. I do remember a fair amount of it, though. Ask me sometime about Froomosongs, or Tweeadadot, or Minnephraphtolopolar. Or don't, because I'm sure no one but me really cares.

Comments

I've now read both versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh that I had on my bookshelf.

[bec-87rb.livejournal.com]

I read one like 20 years ago but I can't remember the author/editor or anything. Good story. Those wiley semite kings.

Re: I've now read both versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh that I had on my bookshelf.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I've heard there are somewhat different versions and some gaps in the original tablets, which leads to some slight differences in printed versions. As for the ones I read, the mythology book tends to avoid mentioning sex, while the coverless book totally left out the part about Utnapishtim's reed hut, which bethje had told me about earlier.

Re: I've now read both versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh that I had on my bookshelf.

[bec-87rb.livejournal.com]

Can you leave out the sex, when the religion of the region was partly, at least, about the healing civilizing magic of having sex with a priestess. I thought his little buddy was "tamed" by a priestress, or maybe I misremember.

Re: I've now read both versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh that I had on my bookshelf.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's true, and the fact that this was glossed over is something that someone complained about in a review of the book. There are a few other myths that I recall reading in other versions that mentioned things like Loki's testicles and Osiris' member, but were cleaner in this book. It did mention Guinevere's infidelity with Lancelot, though, since you can't really tell the story without that part.

[shadarko.livejournal.com]

man I wish I had learned that lesson when I was younger, I would have avoided so many issues, namely all my rapid religious sex I had back then.


I've said to much.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Contrary to popular belief, sex with vestal virgins will not keep a person young. Nor will bathing in their blood.

[revme.livejournal.com]

Man, someone needs to write the Epic of Gargamel. If they haven't already.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I've heard that Gargamel was trying to turn the Smurfs into gold, which is kind of morbid for a show that I was watching when I was like, three. If mammonism was his sole motivation, though, doesn't it seem like the trouble he was always having with the Smurfs would eventually lead him to switch to robbing banks or mugging old ladies instead?

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

But what's the fun in that?

[revme.livejournal.com]

It seemed that sometimes it was the gold thing, and other times, he just wanted to eat them. It's kinda weird, but perhaps they're not only an alchemy ingredient, but also made out of steak.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Maybe he was going to "turn them into gold" metaphorically by cooking them and serving them at a fancy restaurant. And we all know that stuff served at expensive restaurants doesn't actually have to taste good.