The "Epic of Gilgamesh"
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an extremely long story written by an anonymous person that lived over 3,700 years ago. The earliest fragments of Sumerian Gilgamesh poems are from around 2000 BCE. These poems were individual and were later combined to make the full epic. The earliest combination of the poems to create the epic dates back to around 1800 BCE by a man named Sin-lequi-unninni.
This epic tells of the heroic exploits of the ruler of Uruk (Gilgamesh). Gilgamesh is two-thirds god and one-third man. Not content with his power, he journeys to the ends of the world and beyond in search for eternal life. It is suggested that this epic was originally an oral tradition, in which speakers had to tell the entire story by memory. Over the years, however, the story has been written down so that it was no longer required to memorize it.
(Rodrigo Rovner)
This epic tells of the heroic exploits of the ruler of Uruk (Gilgamesh). Gilgamesh is two-thirds god and one-third man. Not content with his power, he journeys to the ends of the world and beyond in search for eternal life. It is suggested that this epic was originally an oral tradition, in which speakers had to tell the entire story by memory. Over the years, however, the story has been written down so that it was no longer required to memorize it.
(Rodrigo Rovner)
Rig Veda
The Rig Veda is a collection of over 1,000 hymns, which contain mythology of the Hindu Gods, and is considered to be one of the foundations of the Hindu Religion. There are a total of four Vedas: The Sama Veda (which is the "knowledge of chants" or a set of basic hymns recited at sacrifices), the Yajur Veda (which is the "knowledge of rights" which is basically a book on how to make sacrifices), the Athara Veda (which represents knowledge given by the sage "Athara"), and finally the Rid Veda (which is the oldest Veda and was written by Aryans from about 1300-1000 BCE).
Although all Vedas are important, the Rig is the major one because it is directed toward the Hindu Gods. The content withing these hymns include blessings, praises, sacrifices, and curses. The major way in which the Aryans praised their gods was through these hymns. This Rig Veda was also, interestingly, used in the development of the caste system. for many ages, the four Vedas were passed on for generations orally, meaning people had to memorize the hymns and recite them throughout the generations. The form we have the Vedas today were written down in about 300 BCE. (Rodrigo Rovner)
Although all Vedas are important, the Rig is the major one because it is directed toward the Hindu Gods. The content withing these hymns include blessings, praises, sacrifices, and curses. The major way in which the Aryans praised their gods was through these hymns. This Rig Veda was also, interestingly, used in the development of the caste system. for many ages, the four Vedas were passed on for generations orally, meaning people had to memorize the hymns and recite them throughout the generations. The form we have the Vedas today were written down in about 300 BCE. (Rodrigo Rovner)
The Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text that was first used in 1550 BCE. This book was composed of magical spells and formulas written and illustrated on papyrus. This book can be thought of as the deceased's guidebook to a happy afterlife. This text was written on different qualities of papyri: you could get the finest quality of papyri with money or you could simply buy one off the rack and fill in your name.
The text in the book was written and intended to be read by the deceased ones during their journey into the underworld to enable them to overcome obstacles and not lose their way. It did this by revealing routes, teaching passwords, and giving clues that would allow the deceased to navigate around hazards. It is said that this book would grant the protection and help of the gods while declaring the deceased one's identity with he gods. (Rodrigo Rovner)
The text in the book was written and intended to be read by the deceased ones during their journey into the underworld to enable them to overcome obstacles and not lose their way. It did this by revealing routes, teaching passwords, and giving clues that would allow the deceased to navigate around hazards. It is said that this book would grant the protection and help of the gods while declaring the deceased one's identity with he gods. (Rodrigo Rovner)