Like Homer's poems, Gilgamesh also seems to be a central document of its culture. Unlike Homer's epics, Gilgamesh is a somewhat disconnected story: a collection of episodes in the career of the hero, rather than a single unified action. Gilgamesh seems to have been a historical king of Uruk (a Sumerian city on the Euphrates) who, after his death, was turned into a legendary figure. ... They call on the gods, who create a rival: Enkidu, a kind of savage half-beast who terrorizes the farmers. After an encounter with a prostitute, Enkidu loses his wildness, goes to Uruk, and wrestles...

• Word Count: 236
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School