Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an "epic," or

Epic poetry

• "epic" is a heroic narrative, or story, usually in poetic verse
  • from Greek epikos, for "heroic poetry", from epos for a word, story, prophecy
    • from PIE *wekw- for "to speak"
• epics generally address questions of human origins, mortality and gods
  • and focus on a "hero" protaganist who must overcome challenges with feats of strength or wit
• ancient epics, such as Gilgamesh or those of the Greek Homer, were transmitted orally long before they were put in written form
  • oral story-telling frequently uses verse and rhymes in order to assist memorization