Epic of Gilgamesh: myths and heroes in ancient Mesopotamia

54 snips

Mar 13, 2026

Guest

Marjolein Robertson

Guest

Moudhy Al-Rashid

Marjolein Robertson, a sharp-witted comedian and storyteller, and Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid, an Oxford historian of cuneiform and Mesopotamia, unpack the Epic of Gilgamesh. They trace the poem’s origins, debate whether Gilgamesh was real, follow his quests and friendships, and explore themes like companionship, mortality and environmental care. Lively banter meets deep historical decoding.

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ANECDOTE

Enkidu Is Civilized By Shamhat Over Seven Nights

Enkidu is created by the gods as Gilgamesh's equal and begins life wild among animals, later civilized by a temple woman named Shamhat through seven days and nights of sex.
The sexual seduction civilizes Enkidu; animals reject him afterward, marking his irreversible transformation into human society.

INSIGHT

Killing Humbaba Connects Myth To Real Forest Exploitation

Gilgamesh and Enkidu travel to the cedar forest to kill its guardian Humbaba, who defends the cedars appointed by Enlil; their victory provokes moral reflection about destroying sacred nature.
The cedar forests (Lebanon) were real prize timber sources, linking mythic action to historical resource extraction.

INSIGHT

Bull Of Heaven Episode Shows Divine Retribution And Petty Defiance

After Gilgamesh rejects Ishtar, she sends the Bull of Heaven; Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill it, cut out its heart and insult Ishtar by throwing the bull's penis at her — a petty, provocative act reflecting divine-human conflict.
The episode shows epic violence intertwined with ritualistic gestures and cosmic consequences (gods retaliate by sentencing Enkidu to death).

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Greg Jenner is joined in the ancient world by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid and comedian Marjolein Robertson to learn all about the famous Mesopotamian poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh. Sumerian poems about a legendary king called Gilgamesh began to be composed sometime in the third millennium, and were told and retold throughout Mesopotamia until a Babylonian scholar named Sîn-leqi-unninni wrote down what has become the standard version. The tale he recorded tells of a tyrannical king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and the transformative journey he takes with his enemy-turned-friend (and possibly more), Enkidu. In the 3100 lines of the poem, they fight forest guardians and celestial bulls, anger the gods, and even challenge death itself. In this episode, we retell the story of Gilgamesh, exploring the history of the epic’s composition, what it tells us about ancient Mesopotamian storytelling and beliefs, and how it was rediscovered in the nineteenth century, written in cuneiform on clay tablets housed in the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh. We also look at the themes of companionship, community and environmental protection that are still relevant today, and ask the question: is Gilgamesh just a legend, or was he based on a real king?

If you’re a fan of captivating myths and legends from the ancient world, heroic kings and impossible quests, and historians decoding ancient texts, you’ll love our episode on the Epic of Gilgamesh.

If you want more ancient history with Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid, listen to our episodes on the Babylonians and Cuneiform. And for more from Marjolein Robertson, check out our episode on Robert Bruce.

You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Katharine Russell Written by: Katharine Russell, Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett Senior Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: Philip Sellars