The Civilized and the Wild: Co-creation and Interdependence Thumbing through pages containing these beautiful images, my favourite remains the one of Gilgamesh’s mourning Enkidu’s passing. I don’t generally succumb to impulse purchases, but I knew from the first moment I saw them that I needed to get my hands on this series. They represent another path in which the Mesopotamian legend has been revitalized for modern times and made enjoyable for audiences of all ages. Gilgamesh and Enkidu: The original bromance.įinally, Anderson features the stunning artwork of Ludmila Zeman, a Czech-Canadian artist who won a Governor General Award for her Gilgamesh illustrations in a trilogy of children picture books. (More on this later) The Artwork of Ludmila Zeman 46)Īnderson perceptively points out that this rendition reinforces the notion that Enkidu served as a mirror for Gilgamesh, and it is through their companionship that the God King came to know himself and mature as an individual. How am I to know myself without you.” (p.
Out of the two version he quotes, I prefer the Hines version, taken from Gilgamesh: A Powerful New Version of the World’s First Epic: Next, Anderson takes a look at translations of the epic poem, in particular passages that speak of Gilgamesh mourning Enkidu’s death. Have a listen this rendering of Gilgamesh, performed by a modern-day troubadour: Gilgamesh, by Baba Brinkmanīrinkman’s modern twist on this oldest of tales exemplifies the enduring power of story and storyteller to entertain, captivate, and resonate. A Wild Man, Tarzan of the HighlandsĪnderson begins by featuring a contemporary take on the ancient poem performed by Baba Brinkman, a Canadian rap artist and scholar who has built a career connecting hip-hop with literary poetry. Anderson explores modern re-imaginings of the tale of Gilgamesh in music, translations, and art while highlighting the connections between nature and culture that lies at the heart of this Mesopotamian epic. With this quote and the tale of Gilgamesh and Enkidu still fresh in my mind, I came across a piece titled A Wild Man, Tarzan of the Highlands over at The AnthropoEccentric.
“More familiarity with our own mythology might help us to relate to theirs.” – Jean-Luc Picard, from last week’s piece on Darmok
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