written c. 2100–1200 BCEReputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Epic of Gilgamesh
On the timeline · around written c. 2100–1200 BCE ·
What happened
Sumerian poems about the hero-king Gilgamesh were gradually woven into a single epic. It follows Gilgamesh's quest for immortality and includes a great flood story strikingly similar to the later biblical account of Noah.
Why it matters
The Epic of Gilgamesh is the world's oldest surviving great work of literature — a meditation on friendship, loss and mortality written thousands of years ago.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. The Epic of Gilgamesh · Reputable source
- British Museum. The Flood Tablet, Epic of Gilgamesh · Reputable source