What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about the Mesopotamian Culture?

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This story is very indicative of the environment of Mesopotamia. I say this because the violent, unpredictable, and harsh nature of the gods reflects the unpredictable and sometimes devastating floods of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Just as the gods in the Epic of Gilgamesh were able to decide the fate of King Gilgamesh, the flooding of these two rivers could result in abundant harvest one year, yet bring drought and starvation the next.

From this story, we also find out that the Mesopotamians had a rather murky and uncertain afterlife, where they were neither punished nor rewarded. The Epic of Gilgamesh might also be interpreted as an explanation to why Mesopotamian people did not have immortality (because Gilgamesh failed to secure this right for his people).
 
that gilgamesh and enkidu had serious homoerotic tendencies, the gods were a bunch of mean human-like bastards, and that the things we humans create like our culture and civilization will last for a while and is the closest thing to immortality that we will get. oh yeah, and that floods usually kill everybody on earth except one righteous man with a big ass boat and he usually looks like t-pain or andy samberg.
 
about their beliefs and ideas and values about religion and life and death and gods and rulers etc.
 
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