Graphic Gilgamesh

Many versions of Gilgamesh have begun arriving in the mail. We just received "The Graphic Canon," a 500-page anthology (1st of 3 projected volumes) of excerpts from illustrated versions of "the world's greatest literature." A selection from Gareth Hinds' "Odyssey" is included (the Cyclops episode, aptly).

"The Graphic Canon" opens with Kevin Dixon's version of Gilgamesh. Apparently he has been self-producing these over recent years. The style looks a bit like a cross between R. Crumb's "Genesis" and Elzie Crisler Segar's "Popeye" comic strip: black and white ink, with fluidly energetic lines. Intriguingly, the translation he uses is by Kent Dixon -- yes, that's a relation, his father. Dixon père clarifies that his is technically a "rendition," that is to say, a version that he has crafted drawing upon dozens existing translations in multiple language, with some introductory knowledge of the original cuneiform script.

Gilgamesh, our next odyssey

Our next odyssey will take us even further back in time, to the oldest extant epic: the Mesopotamian story of Gilgamesh. Not surprisingly, it's another heroic quest narrative. Yet this one involves a violence-prone demigod, and ends on a rather more sombre note, as Gilgamesh comes to terms with his mortality. Here's a decent introduction to the poem, including a brief video:

http://www.learner.org/courses/worldlit/gilgamesh/

The cuneiform tablet that includes the Gilgamesh flood narrative (which the Genesis account of Noah seems to emulate) is held in the British Museum. In 1872, the assistant who identified this text, George Smith, became so excited by his discovery that he "jumped up and rushed about the room in a great state of excitement, and, to the astonishment of those present, began to undress himself." You can listen to BM Director Neil MacGregor describe this tablet, part of the marvelous program "A History of the World in 100 Objects."

As with the Homeric poems, there are a number of illustrated adaptations for children. We've ordered Ludmila Zeman's "Gilgamesh Trilogy" as well as other versions to consult. Last spring Miss E. found it thought-provoking to ask our crew to compare different literary and artistic approaches to retelling the same story; we hope to do the same this fall with this similarly pliable narrative. 

One scholar, Theodore Ziolkowski, reflects upon the 20th-century revival of interest in this epic: 

"In sum, in almost a hundred manifestations of literature, art, music, and popular culture, the epic of Gilgamesh constitutes a finely tuned seismograph that registers many of the major intellectual, social, and moral upheavals of the past hundred years: from the religious controversies of the early twentieth century, by way of the search for eternal spiritual values transcending the decline of Western civilization following two world wars, to the struggle for recognition among previously marginalized groups, notably gays and feminists, and eventually to environmental concerns for planet Earth. This fascinating history of reception culminated most recently in a revival of what is believed to be the epic’s original religious impetus and its radical politicization by other writers. In any case, wherever one looks today, and in the most varied manifestations, Gilgamesh is very much among us."