The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known literary works from ancient Mesopotamia, and is considered to be one of humanity’s first epic tales. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, whose strength and arrogance worry the gods. To temper him, they create Enkidu, a wild man who becomes his friend and companion in adventure. Together, they performed heroic feats that inspired many later stories, including the Old Testament, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the Arthurian legends and Dante’s Divine Comedy. Personal illustration project.