ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the theme of wisdom in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh’s identity and the narrative of the Epic of Gilgamesh are shaped by the king’s search for wisdom. The chapter provides a sense of the challenges involved in understanding ancient wisdom, and some context for the consideration of wisdom in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a narrative that glorifies civilisation as the pinnacle of human existence. The process of civilisation is not always smooth in the narrative, and the outcomes of civilisation are not presented in purely positive terms. The coupling of Enkidu and Shamhat is perhaps one of the best-known episodes of the Epic, and one which has been the focus of a great deal of scholarly attention. The attainment of wisdom is a central concern of the Epic of Gilgamesh, and there is great diversity to the types and sources of knowledge in the Epic.
