Gilgamesh, Ruth, Psalms, Nights: Key Questions Answered
Key Questions on Gilgamesh, Ruth, Psalms, and More
Gilgamesh’s Quest for Immortality
Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality begins after the death of his friend Enkidu. He fears his own mortality and seeks to regain the strength the gods had granted him, which they were now taking away as punishment.
Aruru’s Creation of Enkidu
Aruru created Enkidu to challenge Gilgamesh and diminish his power. The people complained about Gilgamesh’s arrogance and his treatment of women.
The Divine Flood
The flood was sent because mankind’s depravity had reached a point where evil permeated every aspect of their being. Their actions and thoughts were wholly corrupted.
God’s Pact After the Flood
After the flood, God made a pact with humanity, promising never to send another flood or anything similar to destroy humankind.
The Book of Ruth
The Book of Ruth tells the story of life during the time of the chieftains. It narrates events with prose and parallelism, depicting God’s presence on Earth.
Ruth’s Relation to King David
Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David.
Humanity’s Role in the Universe (According to the Psalms)
According to the Psalms, human beings are a divine creation made by God to live on Earth, endowed with glory and majesty.
The Psalms: Instruments and Purpose
The Psalms are part of the Christian Old Testament, originally sung with instruments, primarily the harp.
The Thousand and One Nights
The story revolves around an Emperor who, dissatisfied with women, takes a new one each night and kills her in the morning. One woman captivates him by telling a story and prolonging it over many nights.
Summary of The Fisherman and the Jinnee
A fisherman discovers a metal vessel and releases a Jinnee who threatens to kill him due to centuries of imprisonment. The fisherman tricks the Jinnee back into the vessel and throws it back into the sea.
Analysis of Poems in the Rubaiyat
These poems emphasize living in the present moment and appreciating life with joy, despite hardships. They highlight the importance of love, wisdom, food, and religion.
Analysis of African Poems: Relation to Culture
African poems often consist of proverbs related to everyday situations, using short, wise sentences. Similar proverbs are used in cultures like Venezuela to reflect on specific situations.
Why Gilgamesh’s Wife Cooked Bread Daily
The wife cooked seven loaves of bread, one for each day Gilgamesh slept, to prove that he had indeed slept for seven days.
Comparison of African Poems to Other Cultures
African poems are mostly composed of proverbs that are related to day to day situations. It uses short, one line sentences in form of proverb to cast a light of wisdom. In Venezuela we can hear people refer to a specific situation using a proverb such as any of these.
Why Gilgamesh’s Wife Cooked Bread Daily (Repeated)
She cooked 7 breads one each day because her husband asked her to cook one every day he slept to give proof that he actually slept 7 days.