Epic of Gilgamesh

Close-up of cuneiform tablet

See images of some of the original tablets. Learn about the history of writing. Hear parts of the epic read in the original Akkadian.

Flood Tablet 

Look at the artifact from A History of the World in 100 Objects, then listen to the BBC show about this tablet and the history of writing.

Kovacs translation of The Epic of Gilgamesh

You may find it helpful to first read a summary of the narrative, then read the actual text in translation.

Listen to Gilgamesh

This site, maintained by SOAS, University of London, enables you to listen to a number of texts in Akkadian.

Recently Discovered Tablet

A tablet from the Gilgamesh epic was acquired by the Suleymaniyah Museum in 2011. This story shows how current events affect the study of history.