The reading i picked was Gilgamesh “ The coming of Enkidu” because it depicts the importance of creating Enkidu, and it shows how the power of women involved during this time to make this happen. What i think the author was trying to communicate is the importance of women during this time. As we know, Gilgamesh is the most powerful in Uruk due to him being a Tyrant but the women play a bigger role of power by Aruru creating Enkidu to give Gilgamesh an equal and Shamhat being responsible to tame Enkidu to make him civilized.The importance of the women’s power is to plant seeds of evolvement for the future of Uruk’s society which was put at the halt due to Gilgamesh.

The passage that jumped out at me was ‘[ The mother of Gilgamesh] was clever and wise, well versed in everything she said to her son”. The reason this particular part jumped out at me is because it seems as if she my have helped in possibly the coming of Enkidu by in a way saying to her son of him needing to have an equal. I also feel it shows the relationship dynamic between a mother and a son which were son’s listens to their mother’s due to them having wisdom.

What i think this document was telling abou this time and place is that without the help of a woman, the leadership that is left to a man would not sustain a future. Although men especially in ancient times are rulers in power and also the forefront, women hold power behind the scenes.

What i would like to know more of is to see if they possibly can find the missing pieces to the tablets of Gilgamesh to see if the story of Gilgamesh changes in anyway.

The reading I chose was THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH Tablet VI. Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven because not only was Gilgamesh's beauty mentioned again, but the consequences of him being a lady's man was shown in this text. The goddess Ishtar asked for his hand in marriage and was rejected which caused a sour outburst. Due to her being depicted as more humanlike, her emotions had gotten the best of her and she wanted revenge because not only was she rejected, but also disrespected by Gilgamesh. Him and Enkidu teamed up to fight the bull and kill it but in the end Gilgamesh was praised highly. The author was trying to highlight the difference between a God like Gilgamesh and Ishtar through use of emotion and how it consumed her because she might've not been used to rejection. This supports the idea of her not having a successful love life due to her abusing her power and punishing all of her previous lovers. I want to find out more about her and her successes as a powerful goddess.

From this week’s readings, I chose “Tablet II: The Taming of Enkidu.” This passage intrigued me, particularly the depiction of women. For example, the line, "She stripped and clothed him in part of her garment; the other part she put on herself" (p. 70), stands out. Traditionally, women have been seen as nurturing and caring figures. Even though the character here is labeled a harlot, the nurturing quality persists in her actions.

I believe the author uses this portrayal to suggest that such nurturing traits are inherent to women, regardless of societal labels. This passage indicates that, despite their limited rights, women were given a degree of respect and trust. For instance, when Enkidu chooses to follow Shamhat to Uruk-the-town-square , he places his trust in her guidance rather than striking out on his own. This choice reflects a lack of egotism among men of that era, as they were open to being led by women.

This reading Supports the idea that women were often categorized as either harlots or good wives, a theme that resonates with the poems we studied in class.

The reading that I picked was “Tablet II. The Taming of Enkidu”. This reading interested me because of how it was talked about in class. It dives into how men and women shape each other as human beings. The line “Her words he heard, her speech found favor: the counsel of a woman struck home in his heart” perfectly portrays this since Enkidu became a different person when he met Shamhat. The author was trying to communicate that women held lots of wisdom since Enkidu had become a man after spending time with Shamhat. Going back to what was said in class, it was stated that Shamhat basically civilized him. This reading supports the basic acts of relationships. Not only romantic ones but overall regular relationships between people. Humans need to work together to better themselves and this reading shows that in a romantic way. I would like to find out if any other leaders in ancient time were shaped in a similar way, whether it be by a friend or parents or partner.

I picked *The Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet I: The Coming of Enkidu* because I was interested in learning more about one of the world’s oldest stories and its themes of friendship and humanity. The detail that jumped out at me was the description of Enkidu, a wild man created by the gods, living with animals and disconnected from civilization. This passage seemed to highlight the contrast between nature and civilization, with Enkidu representing the wild and Gilgamesh representing the developed world. I think the author was trying to communicate the importance of balance between the natural world and human society. The story shows how Enkidu is transformed by being brought into the city and how his friendship with Gilgamesh changes both of them. This suggests that relationships and human connections are central to the meaning of life, even for someone as powerful as Gilgamesh. This document tells us that the time and place it comes from, ancient Mesopotamia, valued cities, kingship, and civilization, while still recognizing the power and mystery of nature. It also reflects the belief in gods who intervene directly in human affairs, creating beings like Enkidu to influence the course of events. Compared to other readings about ancient Mesopotamia, this story supports the idea that kingship was seen as divinely guided but also highlights the limits of power. I’d like to learn more about how these themes of friendship and balance between civilization and nature were viewed in other ancient cultures, and how these ideas shaped Mesopotamian beliefs about leadership and the gods.

The reading I chose was tablet 1 The coming of Enkidu. This reading interest me because I always enjoy the making of a character that is created to challenge the tyrant. What stood out to me was the approach taken to humanize Enkidu. Repeated sex for six days and seven nights with a shamhat made him no longer recognizable to his herd. Once the intercourse was complete he looked to his herd and when they locked eyes they begin to run away from him symbolizing that he is no longer a wild man. The author is trying to communicate the importance and power of Enkidu by even having Gilgamesh the tyrant dream of him before he is created. This tablet teaches us about the importance of women in all walks of society. From the women who prayed for an answer to stop Gilgamesh to the harlet that met Enkidu in the woods and civilized him, this story shows the power of women. The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient story that fits the narrative of the times. Gods being involved with the daily life of people and also being angry as well as punishing the population for anything. I really enjoy analyzing the role women played in these times in history and I hope to learn more.

• Which reading did you pick? If there’s a reason it interested you, what was it? For this week response paper I chose to write about Tablet 4 “Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven”. Each tablet was interesting but this one stood out more to me because even though Ishtar is a God but inhibits human behaviors. When I say human behavior I mean her anger on how she reacted to how Gilgamesh viewed her. She is filled with lust for the men’s she encounters and the bratty tantrum behavior she displayed to her father Anu to get the Bull of Heaven. 
• What passage or detail in particular jumped out at you as you read through it? The passage where she went to go speak to her father Anu showed me the type of person she was;which is childish due to getting upset on Gilgamesh turning her down. She’s inconsiderate and selfish because in the passage with her speaking to her father Anu she basically threaten to destroy the human world if her father didn’t give her the Bull of Heaven. 
• What do you think the author was trying to communicate? In one opinion after reading this particular tablet the author was showing how the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu was able to destroy the Bull. Also as mention before I feel like the author wanted to show how Ishtar behavior was and the type of God she was. 
• In your opinion, what is this document telling us about the time and place it comes from? This document seem to around the Mesopotamian time and during this time the document showed how the people viewed their Gods. How the God were wrathful and would punish their people during any inconvenience they faced. 
• What about this document seems to relate to, support, or even contradict our other readings about this time and place? A God that was opposite compared to Ishtar and Gilgamesh was Gilgamesh mother Ninsun because she was considered a guidance for her son and she was never spoke about in an ill-mannered. 

The reading I picked from this week was “Tablet I. The Coming of Enkidu”. The reason I picked this reading was merely because it was the first one. I thought it was a good starting point so I could understand the tablets from the beginning. 

One detail that stood out from this passage was when the author says “She did for the man the work of a woman” .by reading this the first impression you get is that this sentence by the author is disrespectful to women by implying that women from this period were only good for sex. What the author really meant by this was that this women made this strong wild man vulnerable, made him feel cared, and loved. 

I think what This document is trying to show us in this period these rulers and kings thought they were gods. They wanted to display their power to their citizens to be worship, respected and to never think of betraying them or they would be consequences. In this passage is shown how Gilgamesh abused women and men by taking their brides on their first wedding night to show his people there was nothing he could not take or do. 

This document relates to the importance of women in ancient history as a woman changes Enkidu perspective and understand their value in their society. He understands that what his friend Gilgamesh is doing is wrong. He challenged him and made him see that they are of equal strength and his no god. This shows how women have way more valued for man than what their credited for. They give men wisdom and something to fight for and protect. 

I would like to find out more about what other things have women influenced men in ancient history. 

The reading I choose was " Gilgamesh ,Tablet 1 :The Coming of Enkidu", I thought it was quite interesting how the influence of a harlot can make a man civilized back into society. The detail that particular jumped out at me as I read through it, Was how Gilgamesh exercises his power to make sure no one would not try to step to his level or question his authority. I think the author was trying to communicate was how vicious and manipulative of man Gilgamesh was with very vivid descriptions. In my opinion was the document telling us that the relationship between the men were very dominant and was in the public eye and women did not have the same title or held on the same pedestal, as well not look at as just important which means the responsibility was very divided in society. Something that supports this document was when we expanded on it in our class discussion and spoke about tablet 6, and Ishtar basically ask Gilgamesh in marriage and refused the marriage proposal because if you compared Gilgamesh to Ishtar he would become ordinary compared to her. I would love to know what actually happens at the end.

I read The Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet II, and The Taming of Enkidu because it looks into the themes of civilization versus nature and the way in which the concept of friendship began to reshape Enkidu. That passage really nailed my attention because it reflects the tension between primal existence and the transformative power of human relationships. The taming of Enkidu through his contact with Shamhat is symbolic of the journey that human civilization would make into the structured life from the wild, a thematic occurrence that remains very relevant even in present times (George, 1999). What struck me the most while reading was how after spending time with Shamhat, Enkidu could no longer associate himself with animals. This moment captures that it is a price to pay for becoming domesticated, leaving behind a more natural and free life for one bound by laws, culture, and social pressures. Through such a transformation, the author suggests that civilization, while promising progress and companionship, takes its due. Taming Enkidu had served to illustrate how admission into society is weighed against the loss of the wild, instinctive self. The epic would seem to suggest that human progress, symbolized by cities, culture, and relationships, comes with certain costs: essentially freedom and a harmonious relationship with nature (George, 1999). This tension between civilization and nature, freedom and structure, runs throughout the story, and this is a high price to pay for human advancement.

Ancient societies mainly from Mesopotamia reveal their thoughts about community life and that of civilization in The Epic of Gilgamesh. The epic itself describes a time when strong cultural centers like Uruk were coming into being, verging on being an accomplishment beyond compare for mankind. This thus represents Mesopotamian values of law, order, and the roles of society and suggests that individuals in this culture appreciated human accomplishments in building structured social organizations but were equally aware of the losses these developments incurred.

Both works relate to basic beliefs concerning human progress and a structured society for the maintenance of justice and peace. While The Code of Hammurabi concentrates on law and governance, The Epic of Gilgamesh searches through the personal cost of such progress through the transformation of Enkidu. It is a theme that reinforces the wider Mesopotamian belief in the powers of human ingenuity and order, but it also introduces the suggestion of what may be lost in that process. I'd be interested in understanding how ancient Mesopotamians conceptualized the relationship between the human and natural worlds. The loss of the natural, wild self was a necessary but unfortunate consequence of civilization, or whether it was wholly embracing the superiority of the civilized world. Further research into the texts from that time period may reveal more about this balance of nature and civilization.

I chose the reading from Tablet VI, Ishtar & the Bull of Heaven. This one intrigued me because of the portrayal of the female goddess. I also enjoyed the teamwork of Gilgamesh and Enkidu during their fight with the bull. I was struck by Gilgamesh's rejection of Ishtar's proposal. Ishtar, portrayed as a beautiful and powerful being, was denied a partnership by Gilgamesh. Not only did he refuse her proposal, but he also insulted her, showing further disrespect towards her. I believe the author intended to convey the struggle between humans and the Gods. The gods are unpredictable and cannot be trusted, leading to mixed feelings among humans. Some worship the gods, while others disrespect them. This Tablet tells us that the people of ancient Mesopotamia believed deeply in a world governed by powerful, unpredictable Gods who interacted often with humanity. In this time, the people suffered if a God was ever disrespected or displeased. I feel that it is uncommon to stand up and confidently defy a God such as how Gilgamesh did. Many other readings show the people praising and worshipping the Gods. I would like to explore how different future readings will depict the various Gods from their perspectives.

Gerineldo Solano Rojas

For your online response this week, choose one of the primary source readings and write a post that includes the following:

The reading that I chose was Tablet I of The Epic of Gilgamesh, because it was the introduction of Enkidu, who played was a vital character who serves as a foil and companion to Gilgamesh. This chapter opens up with the description of Gilgamesh, who Is the king of Uruk, who is also part divine and part human. One striking detail from The Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet I is the transformation of Enkidu after his encounter with Shamhat. This passage emphasizes the theme of civilization versus nature, as Enkidu, once a wild man living freely with animals, loses his connection to the natural world after being seduced by Shamhat. The animals he once roamed with now flee from him, signifying his shift from a primal existence to a more civilized state. One of the main things that the author was trying to communicate was the power of civilization over nature. Enkidu transformation for a wild man to the civilization. Balance and harmony in leadership, by creating to counterbalance Gilgamesh’s excesses, the gods are emphasizing the need for balance in leadership and power. Overall, The Epic of Gilgamesh mirrors a period of rapid civilizational progress, highlighting the need for balance between nature and culture, divine authority, social order, and the transformative influence of human relationships in shaping society. One of the things I want to know more about is the role of Shamahat.

For my week two response, I have chosen tablet 4 of the Epic of Gilgamesh, "Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven." I have chosen this particular reading for its interesting depiction of the goddess Ishtar. What I mean by this is that the author of this epic portrays Ishtar with human traits. For example, after King Gilgamesh denies her proposal, her pride seems to have been attacked, so to speak. I note this particular event because pride is a mostly human trait that a divine being would not need. After being denied marriage, Ishtar immediately goes to her father, the sky god Anu to have King Gilgamesh killed as revenge, yet another (mostly) human trait. To me, the author is trying to portray the ancient Mesopotamian deities as being more like humans with supernatural powers than enlightened divine beings. This document shows how the ancient Mesopotamians had seen their gods as wrathful beings that should be feared just as much as worshipped. Something that contradicts this portrayal of the gods is the earlier portrayal of the kind and benevolent goddess Ninsun, the mother of King Gilgamesh who provides him with guidance.

For this week’s response I have chosen to analyze the sixth tablet of Gilgamesh, “Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven.” I chose this tablet because of the portrayal of the war and fertility goddess Ishtar, who I find to be the most compelling character in all of the primary sources. I also chose this source because of the interactions Ishtar has with the characters around her, including Gilgamesh and her father. At the start of the tablet we see Ishtar express her romantic interest in Gilgamesh after he returns from battle. The tablet reads “‘Your goats shall bear triplets, your ewes shall bear twins, your donkey when laden shall outpace any mule! Your horse shall gallop at the chariot in glory, /no ox shall match yours at the yoke!’/[Gilgamesh] opened his mouth to speak, [saying] to the Lady Ishtar: ‘[ And if indeed I] take you in marriage, /‘ …… body and clothing,/[whence would come] my food and my sustenance? [Would you feed me] bread that is fit for a god, [and pour me ale] that is fit for a king” These lines depict Ishtar expressing interest in Gilgamesh as well as his rejection of her advances. Gilgamesh reminds the goddess of her temperamental and flippant nature with her past lovers which is even further portrayed when Ishtar unleashes the bull of heaven on Uruk. These lines and the entirety of tablet 6 not only display the unreliability of the Sumerian pantheon but also Gilgamesh as a protagonist. Gilgamesh is a celebrated hero as a mortal, his glory and power is rooted in his mortality which would be stripped and overshadowed by a potential union to Ishtar. The rejection is just as much about Ishtar’s bad habits with lovers as it is about Gilgamesh. Based on this fairly negative portrayal of the goddess I would like to learn more about Ishtar. I also think that Ishtar being the goddess of war and fertility is interesting as these two can be connected through life, war being the loss of life while fertility the gift. I would like to see if Ishtar is strictly portrayed in the way she is in Gilgamesh or if other literature depicts her in a different way.

for week 2 I chose "gilgamesh the taming of enkindu" the reason why i chose this its because it was interesting knowing about this lady lusting men. what stood out to me was it said " Her words he heard, her speech found favour:P 66

the counsel of a woman struck home in his heart.

She stripped and clothed him in part of her garment,P 70

the other part she put on herself." that particular passage jumped out to me as i read it. In essence, the author appears to emphasize themes of emotional effect, closeness, and self-sacrifice. The woman's acts and words are depicted as deeply meaningful and transforming, indicating a strong bond between the characters. This section may investigate how personal guidance and acts of kindness can have a big impact on relationships and individual feelings.The paper depicts a time when personal connections, symbolic gestures, and gender roles played an important part in social interactions and relationships. It reflects a culture that places a high value on the power of personal guidance and the symbolic significance of gestures.This document's representation of a lady sharing her garment with a man provides a nuanced understanding of gender relations that can both support and contradict other historical interpretations. In the context of its period and location, such an act may represent a strong personal connection or respect, demonstrating a level of intimacy or equality . If modern texts mostly depict women in subordinate positions or emphasize strict gender boundaries, this document may stand out for depicting a more egalitarian or emotionally nuanced connection. In contrast, if the era was recognized for more flexible gender relations, the document would be consistent with larger trends. what i would like to know more is that what made her do these things?

I chose the first tablet The Coming of Enkidu. I picked this tablet because the poem begins by painting Gilgamesh as this heoric adventurer, performing great feats. However, it seems Gilgamesh’s greatness goes to his head and he begins to not just rule the people but oppress them. A passage that stood out to me was  

 ‘Yet he is the shepherd of Uruk-the-Sheepfold, 

Gilgamesh, [the guide of the] teeming [people.] 

Though he is their shepherd and their [protector,] 

powerful, pre-eminent, expert [and mighty,]90 

Gilgamesh lets no girl go free to her bride[groom.] ‘ 

This passage calls Gilgamesh the people’s shepherd. A shepherd protects his flock, he is called their protector, yet he does not protect them but terrorizes and brutalizes them.  Part of what the author was trying to communicate is the misery that the people can live under when they are ruled by a tyrant. And how that tyrant must beware the people rebelling. While the tyrant my rule the people, the gods rule the tyrant. This document is telling us about a culture from a time and place in which the strong ruled, the weak suffered, and the people’s only hope were the gods. Who themselves could be petty, selfish, and vindicative. It appears as though people expected to be exploited by the powerful but had hope for changing things. It is the “warrior’s daughter, the young man’s bride” that turn to the gods for help. The women represent the future, the men the present. The men accept their present situation with Gilgamesh and rely on him not always being ruler. The women wish to change the future and use the gods to send a message to future tyrants. This document supports the idea of the often harsh and brutal life of ancient city state residents living under a powerful tyrant. It highlights the masculine nature of rule and public life but how women attempt to protect the private life. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are both valued for their strength. It is a society that places a great deal of importance on a person’s physical strength. But they are a society that has seen enough to know what happens when that person only has strength and no humanity. Both men and women fill very few roles, and they are specific to gender. There seemed to be several sources that contributed to filling out the poem. How widespread was it during ancient times? Is it known around what time the poem was lost? When was it rediscovered? 

For week 2 I picked ‘Gilgamesh’, Tablet 2: The Taming of Enkidu. There's multiple reasons this reading was interesting for me, one the title was the taming sounds like something animal related. I also really like the number two and other even numbers so that impacted my choice too. A passage that jumped out to me was the first passage, I enjoyed how descriptive it was, but also how it kept me entertained captivated and explained points of Enkidu personality and life which is important, it had good grounding and speed. A line that stuck out to me was "the counsel of a woman struck home in his heart." This is because often times I feel in literature women are not seen as guides or people to consult as wisdom is often considered a "male tribute" so this was interesting. In a way I think that they talked positively about shamhat which for someone who was seen as a harolt is odd and I really want to explore that more. I think the author was trying to communicate a few keypoints would be exploring human nature, the only reason Enkidu had stepped outside his zone was for lusting tempations, another good point is that some people are willing to stop to no ends to accomplish what they believe is right, for example Enkidu attempting to stop the droit de seigneur practice, he is willing to possibly embarass himself for what he believes is right and this shows that he is able to build himself up and no longer be a character that is seen as a wild beast, he is civilized and reasonable now. In my opinion this document tells us about a time where religon was a large part of life, where Shamat was guided and guided others through the usage of it, we see this is ceremonies and the way people conduct themselves. It also tells us it comes during a time where women did not have much power, one where at least from what I could gather they were not allowed to choose who they had relations with even before getting married, women are somewhat objectified all throughout this and the tablets seem to have various stances on them. This document supports the idea that women have been seemed as a good wife or a harlot, either they were seemed to be pittied it seems the harlot was not throughout the story but she was given more free will which is a topic we discussed in class, overall I think this reading provided plenty of valuable information.