The Epic of Gilgamesh | the great flood, the search for immortality, and the start of literature

[@troytradup]

I totally think you should act out all your reviews, Ben. I've read the Stephen Mitchell translation, which fills in the blank spots, and liked it quite a bit, although I feel there's something more definitive out there. I should try the Penguin.

[@somebenfen]

Someone else recommended that version, I'll check it out!

[@troytradup]

@@somebenfen Not sure if it's the same in the UK but the American edition is printed in an odd color ink which both fascinates me and sort of hurts my old eyes. 👀

[@Toastwig]

I think this may be my favourite video of yours. Funny and informative!

[@somebenfen]

Thank you!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

This was SO fun to watch & really brought this intimidating book alive for me 😊😊

[@somebenfen]

That's great to hear, thank you!

[@alexandravladmets]

It´s really not that intimidating. You can read it as a fairytale if you wish or go deeper into things.🙂 After all, it was a very popular tale that talks about some of our oldest myths and ideas, so it was meant to be understood by all🙂

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

@@alexandravladmets , I LOVE this feedback. Thank you. I'm seeing this in a different light.

[@alexandravladmets]

@@thelefthandedreader6632 Oh, cool. You can read it online yoo, but not sure what versions are up there. So get a copy with you know, paper n stuff, it´s so much nicer :)

[@deblawrence8341]

You are such a good story teller! Have you ever narrated for audiobooks? You'd be great at that!!

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! I'd love to do that ☺️

[@_maack]

Ben does history, love it!

[@somebenfen]

🤓🤓

[@Sopranistineberhard]

Amazing! Loved it! Adored the reenactment montage! More please! ❤

[@somebenfen]

Thanks for watching 😊😊

[@HannahsBooks]

I was thinking about Anne Carson when I first recently reread George's translation--not that his absences have the same kind of poetic power that hers do. I SO hope you keep up this Foundations series!

[@goblinwizard735]

Hands down this is my favorite telling of Gilgamesh.

[@somebenfen]

😁

[@OhioEddieBlack]

Too bad more BookTubers don't have drama degrees; your action shots are hilarious

[@somebenfen]

😁🤓

[@yenasung]

Standing o, throwing roses at your feet 👏🏻👏🏻🌹💐👏🏻👏🏻 Amazing yt format variation of your absolutely amazing tiktoks. My heartiest WELL DONE 💖

[@somebenfen]

Awww thank you!! 🥰

[@curioushmm9027]

i read gilgamesh for the first time a couple of years ago in a translation by stephen mitchell, which i liked, and i was delighted with this wonderfully dramatic revisit...i do want to read 'the buried book' now...and please yes..a series like this would be great.

[@somebenfen]

Will need to look up Stephen Mitchell's. Thank you!

[@curioushmm9027]

@@somebenfen 😀

[@RachelBaker-bl9ve]

Great video! I can’t stop laughing. 😂

[@somebenfen]

Thank you!

[@unsainted0]

Keep these videos coming!! really enjoyed this ☺️

[@somebenfen]

Thank you!

[@juliereadsherbookshelf]

A bit off topic, but that picture in the background of a smiley face book wishing you happy Easter is a true masterpiece. Gilgamesh has been on my list for a while, but I find myself more interested in the story of how it got discovered and translated. Enjoyed this round up of semi history semi book review!

[@somebenfen]

Aw thank you! Yeah that card is the masterwork of my niece 😁😄

[@andreluissoriano]

I’m happy to have stumbled into this channel! You’re funny while still giving the information that I look for reviews.

[@glass-yuzu]

Love the life in this video ! Really kept me watching haha

[@somebenfen]

Aw I'm glad! Thank you!

[@cayt23]

I love you, you are my new favourite person. But seriously, you are amazing and inspiring, and make a gorgeous redhead. 💜

[@somebenfen]

Haha thank you!

[@tonybennett4159]

Fascinating. I've always loved the Sumerian room in the British museum. As a class project I filled cardboard tubes with plaster of Paris then got the kids to carve their own cylinder seals which they then rolled in clay. They kept the fired results as a keepsake. Great fun! You might be interested to know that Bohuslav Martinu composed an oratorio called The Epic of Gilgamesh. it's pretty good. Now I must get around to reading the book which I've been meaning to do for absolute ages.

[@somebenfen]

I definitely want to visit the British museum again! And no I haven't heard of that oratorio... Will have a Google later. Thanks!

[@wandguardnoodle]

OMG the reenactment. So good. The expressions. Also, homoerotic dreams, you say? xD

[@somebenfen]

;)

[@BooksUnstitched]

Omg i used to watch your channel years ago and just rediscovered it (i’m not on booktube any more)… hope u good 😄

[@danielasereno3099]

Excellent video. I must admit, I have heard of it but didn't know anything else. I am much more intrigued now. Love the passion you have when you share your reading. Looking forward to your next foray and whatever that may bring! Take care ❤

[@somebenfen]

Thanks so much! 😃😊

[@danielasereno3099]

Anytime! I'm genuinely happy when you pop up on my feed...not meaning to sound weird 😀

[@DebMcDonald]

Yes, please do more of these! 🙏

[@somebenfen]

☺️

[@hedgiecc]

Lovely video! I read Gilgamesh last year - I was impressed with its blend of innocent naivety and subtle sophistication. Didn't know about the Damrosch book, will check it out.

[@somebenfen]

Oh it's great, I recommend it! And thanks for watching :)

[@Susan-lv2ee]

Thank you , enjoyed this a lot 💞 , very well done ! I just ordered my copy of "Das Gilgamesch-Epos" ( I am from Germany) and am looking forward to reading it as soon as it arrives. More of that stuff, please 😊

[@somebenfen]

Oh amazing! I hope you enjoy it!

[@Leebearify]

My goodness 2 of my very favorite books !! I love them also and have a couple more that I will hunt down that I think you will find 'foundational'. So you 'may' get some odd book suggestions from me...... my latest was about Linear B. Do you know it ? Also 'foundational' I believe more Rosetta stone than Gilgamesh however. I also read somewhere that there are currently a lot of boxes residing in the BOM of stones that Smith sent home but BOM refuses to allow to be translated. Have you heard about that? Please remember, my friend, not to eat the figs.

[@somebenfen]

I heard that there's about half a million of these tablets round the world and only about 10% have been translated but not that some.were being refused translation! And always give recommendations, love them!

[@gabbydematteis451]

pls do more of these! x

[@goldkeyguidancetarot]

Loved this Ben! Thank you!❤

[@somebenfen]

Thank YOU ☺️ 🥰

[@michellevanpelt8270]

Love ya work! 😁

[@somebenfen]

Thank you 😊

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

Ben, before I continue looking through the videos, have you read and talked about here Ulysses? I’m thinking of diving in and would probably benefit from your thoughts..

[@somebenfen]

I've never read any Joyce! Was thinking I might try dubliners before the BIG one. If you read it first I might need your help!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

@@somebenfen , Funny you should say The Dubliners because I noticed I own it the other day & it's a James Joyce. I wondered...should I go there first. I'm curious. I think i'm going to read the 1st chapter of The Dubliners...I'll let you know what I think.

[@Wontoofree-k4n]

The cutaways were inspired 😂

[@DesiCochraneOnline]

Fire the Canon!

[@somebenfen]

😉☺️