Why the Epic of Gilgamesh still feels modern, from clay tablets to big themes
This preview, based only on the show notes, points to a lively introduction to the Epic of Gilgamesh with Greg Jenner, Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid, and Marjolein Robertson. Expect the poem’s story, its Mesopotamian roots, nineteenth-century rediscovery, and why its themes still resonate.
This episode looks like a smart entry point if you’re curious about one of the world’s oldest surviving literary works but don’t want a dry lecture. Based on the show notes, Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid and comedian Marjolein Robertson to explore the Epic of Gilgamesh as both a gripping story and a window into ancient Mesopotamian culture. The preview suggests you’ll get a retelling of the poem’s central arc: Gilgamesh begins as a tyrannical king of Uruk, then sets off on a transformative journey with Enkidu, his enemy-turned-friend. Along the way, the notes promise mythic scale—forest guardians, celestial bulls, angry gods, and a confrontation with death itself. What may make this especially appealing is the mix of literary and historical context. The notes say the episode covers how Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh were composed and retold over centuries, before a Babylonian scholar, Sîn-leqi-unninni, wrote the version that became standard. It also touches on the nineteenth-century rediscovery of the epic on cuneiform clay tablets from the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh. If you like history podcasts that connect ancient material to present-day questions, this seems likely to deliver. The notes highlight themes of companionship, community, environmental protection, and the intriguing question of whether Gilgamesh was purely legendary or based on a real king. One practical note: this is a radio edit, so listeners wanting the fullest version should look for the earlier full-length episode in the feed.
About this episode
<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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?</p><p>This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.</p><p>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</p>