Gilgamesh in Pop Culture and Entertainment
Literature
Gilgamesh the King and To the Land of the Living by Robert Silverberg. Silverberg also contributed works of short fiction concerning Gilgamesh to the Heroes in Hell shared world series of Bangsian fantasy.
Never Grow Old by Brian Trent is a 2007 novelization of the complete Gilgamesh Epic. The book’s title is a reference to the legendary plant which grants immortality.
In Gilgamesh: the Lot of Man, Diaries of an Immortal by Richard Weaver, the reader follows the journey of the proud warrior-king Gilgamesh as he battles against armies, kings, gods and the one force to which all humans must eventually succumb, death.
appeared, in color, on the back covers of issues 22-26 of Campbell’s Bacchus magazine.
Music
Tourniquet’s 2000 album Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm has a song called “The Tomb of Gilgamesh” which speaks of man’s desire for immortality.
The name of Japanese rock band Girugamesh is derived from the name Gilgamesh.
A song called “The Mesopotamians” by They Might Be Giants references Gilgamesh.
The song “Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy” by Mr. Bungle references Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, choral work by the Czech composer Bohuslav Martin?.
Gilgamesh, an opera by Serbian composer Rudolf Brucci based on the Epic.
Gilgamesh (1971-72) is an opera by Per Nψrgεrd based on the epic.
Film
“This Unnameable Little Broom” (1985) by the Quay Brothers is an animated short based on the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh (1990) by Socμetas Raffaello Sanzio
Gilgamesh, by the film director Roger Christian (Pre-production).
Radio
Gilgamesh, 1.5 hour adaptation as a radio play on BBC Radio 3, first broadcast 11 June 2006 [1]
Video Games
SquareEnix’s Final Fantasy series has featured Gilgamesh in a number of titles. His first appearance was in the game Final Fantasy V. He would later reappear in Final Fantasy VIII as a Summon, and in Final Fantasy XII as an optional boss. He was later added as an optional boss fight to the Game Boy Advance versions of the first Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy VI. He also made appearances in Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XI. Albeit, in very different forms. Final Fantasy XII’s version is accompanied by a wolf-companion Enkidu. Instead of searching for eternal life, FFXII’s Gilgamesh seeks battle after battle with diverse swordsmen and claims the weapons of his defeated opponents. His musical theme, which has become quite popular with fans, is titled “The Battle on the Big Bridge” by Nobuo Uematsu.
Sid Meier’s turn-based strategy games, Civilization (series), references the world leader of Sumeria, Gilgamesh, in several (but not all) versions.
Children’s Literature adaptations
While far from being a child’s story, The Epic of Gilgamesh and related Gilgamesh stories, have been adapted to Children’s Literature:
Gilgamesh. (1967). Written and illustrated by Bernarda Bryson. Henry Holt & Co. ISBN 0030556104. 1st edition is out of print.
Gilgamesh: Man’s First Story (2005). Written and illustrated by Bernarda Bryson Shahn. Whole Spirit Press ISBN 1-892857-01-4 2nd edition reissue.
Gilgamesh the King (1991). Written and illustrated by Ludmila Zeman. Tundra Books.
