There exists a collection of Sumerian mythological literature about a war between Enmerkar, king of Uruk, and the city-state of Aratta, written around the 20th century BCE. But did you know that this cycle features a man named Lugalbanda, who suffered from epilepsy? He was also Gilgamesh's dad. - ThreadSky

dragonstormstudios.ca • 19 days ago

There exists a collection of Sumerian mythological literature about a war between Enmerkar, king of Uruk, and the city-state of Aratta, written around the 20th century BCE.

But did you know that this cycle features a man named Lugalbanda, who suffered from epilepsy? He was also Gilgamesh's dad.

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dragonstormstudios.ca•19 days ago

In one of the stories of the cycle, Enmerkar launches a campaign against Aratta, described as rebelling against the sovereignty of Uruk. Enmerkar's army includes eight demigod brothers, captains of his sizable force; Lugalbanda is the youngest of them. While en route, he is struck with an illness.

dragonstormstudios.ca•19 days ago

Called Lugalbanda in the Mounain Cave, it goes like this: "When they had covered half the way, covered half the way, a sickness befell him there, (a) 'head sickness' befell him. He jerked like a snake dragged by its head with a reed; his mouth bit the dust, like a gazelle caught in a snare..."

bigg95973.bsky.social•19 days ago

It amazes me that these tablets were preserved

dragonstormstudios.ca•18 days ago

Yeah!! Plus, there were multiple copies found across city states so if one version is damaged it could be 'patched' through the others, and that's pretty typical for a lot of Mesopotamian literature.

dragonstormstudios.ca•19 days ago

"No longer could his hands return the hand grip, no longer could he lift his feet high. Neither king nor contingents could help him. In the great mountains, crowded together like a dustcloud over the ground, they said: "Let them bring him to [Uruk]". But they did not know how they could bring him."

dragonstormstudios.ca•19 days ago

""Let them bring him to Kulaba (Uruk)." But they did not know how they could bring him. As his teeth chattered in the cold places of the mountains, they brought him to a warm place there."

... a storehouse, they made him an arbour like a bird's nest.... dates, figs and various sorts of cheese..."

dragonstormstudios.ca•19 days ago

...they put sweetmeats suitable for the sick to eat, in baskets of dates, and they made him a home." The text continues with a description of the rich provisions they left him with.

Unable to stay with their brother, they made him comfortable, if he recovered he would eat and join them. If not-

dragonstormstudios.ca•19 days ago

When they had finished in Aratta they would come back and bring him home, and left their brother and hero in the cave, weeping for his loss. Ultimately Lugalbanda was ill for two and a half days before his pleas to the gods were answered and he recovered.

rendire.bsky.social•19 days ago

I was wrong. It was Enkidu who she said was rumored to be a werewolf. He was Gilgamesh's companion.

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