History YMMV / TheEpicOfGilgamesh

** While Gilgamesh's habit of raping other is viewed as a bad thing, the folk of ancient Uruk apparently only consider this "immature" as opposed to [[MoralEventHorizon irredeemably monstrous]].

** By our standards, a head of state who regularly rapes people would be an [[MoralEventHorizon irredeemable monster]], but the folk of the ancient city of Uruk would apparently only consider this "immature." [[DownplayedTrope At least they still considered it bad behavior.]]

--->'''Anu''': You made him, O Aruru; now create his equal; let it be as like him as his own reflection, his second self; stormy heart for stormy heart. Let them contend together and leave Uruk in quiet.[[note]](N. K. Sanders' translation)[[/note]]
** GirlOfMyDreams--before they even meet, Gilgamesh dreams of Enkidu. In the dream, he's drawn to Enkidu "as though to a woman."[[note]](N. K. Sanders translation yet again)[[/note]]

--->'''Ninsun''': This star of heaven which descended like a meteor from the sky; which you tried to lift, but found too heavy, when you tried to move it it would not budge, and so you brought it to my feet; I made it for you, a goad and spur, and you were drawn as though to a woman. This is the strong comrade, the one who brings help to his friend in his need. He is the strongest of wild creatures, the stuff of Anu; born in the grass-lands and the wild hills reared him; when you see him you will be glad; you will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you. This is the meaning of the dream.[[note]]([[RuleOfThree For the third time,]] N. K. Sanders translation)[[/note]]

* MemeticBadass: Gilgamesh himself s still viewed this way by some.

--->'''Ninsun''': This star of heaven which descended like a meteor from the sky; which you tried to lift, but found too heavy, when you tried to move it it would not budge, and so you brought it to my feet; I made it for you, a goad and spur, and you were drawn as though to a woman. This is the strong comrade, the one who brings help to his friend in his need. He is the strongest of wild creatures, the stuff of Anu; born in the grass-lands and the wild hills reared him; when you see him you will be glad; you will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you. This is the meaning of the dream.[[note]](For the third time, N. K. Sanders translation)[[/note]]

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. [[CaptainObviousAesop While this may seem obvious to a modern audience]], Mesopotamian Kings were considered to be favored by the gods (if not outright [[SemiDivine divinely-descended]]) and served as religious leaders, with the common perception (as expressed by various characters in the Epic) being that Kings must therefore be ''inherently'' wise and dignified. Gilgamesh's childishness and irreverence thus serve as something of a cautionary tale, warning the common people to beware of bad Kings and reminding the ruling class to be humble and respect the Gods.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. [[CaptainObviousAesop While this may seem obvious to a modern audience]], Mesopotamian Kings were considered to be favored by the gods (if not outright [[SemiDivine divinely-descended]]) and served as religious leaders, with the common perception (as expressed by various characters in the Epic) being that Kings are inherently wise and dignified. Gilgamesh's childishness and irreverence thus serve as something of a cautionary tale, warning the common people to beware of bad Kings and reminding the ruling class to be humble and respect the Gods.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. [[CaptainObviousAesop While this may seem obvious to a modern audience]], Mesopotamian Kings were considered to be favored by the gods (if not outright [[SemiDivine divinely-descended]]) and served as religious leaders, with the common perception (as expressed by various characters in the Epic) being that Kings are inherently wise and dignified. Gilgamesh's childishness and irreverence thus serve as something of a cautionary tale, reminding the common people to beware of bad Kings and the ruling class to stay humble and respect the Gods.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. [[CaptainObviousAesop While this would seem obvious to us today]], Mesopotamian Kings were considered to be favored by the gods (if not outright [[SemiDivine divinely-descended]]) and served as religious leaders, with the common perception (as expressed by various characters in the Epic) being that Kings are inherently wise and dignified. Gilgamesh's childishness and irreverence thus serve as something of a cautionary tale, reminding the common people to beware of bad Kings and the ruling class to stay humble and respect the Gods.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. [[CaptainObviousAesop While this would seem obvious to us today]], Mesopotamian Kings were considered to be favored by the gods (if not outright [[SemiDivine divinely-descended]]) and served as religious leaders, with the common attitude (expressed repeatedly in the text) being that Kings are inherently wise and dignified. Gilgamesh's childishness and irreverence thus serve as something of a cautionary tale, reminding the common people to beware of bad Kings and the ruling class to stay humble and respect the Gods.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. [[CaptainObviousAesop While this would seem obvious to us today]], Mesopotamian Kings were considered to be favored by the gods (if not outright [[SemiDivine divinely-descended]]) and served as religious leaders, with wisdom and dignity being viewed by many as inherent traits. Gilgamesh's childishness and irreverence thus serve as something of a cautionary tale, reminding the common people to beware of bad Kings and the ruling class to stay humble and respect the Gods.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. [[CaptainObviousAesop While this would seem obvious to us today]], many characters in the text speak of kings in such as way that indicates that TheGoodKing was the standard and assumed norm in their culture, and that they acted as a religious leader in addition to a political one. Thus, the actual contemporary Sumerians would likely greatly appreciate this additional insight.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. (While this would seem obvious to us today, many characters in the text speak of kings in such as way that indicates that TheGoodKing was the standard and assumed norm in their culture, and that they acted as a religious leader in addition to a political one. Thus, the actual contemporary Sumerians would likely greatly appreciate this additional insight.)

-->'''Anu''': You made him, O Aruru; now create his equal; let it be as like him as his own reflection, his second self; stormy heart for stormy heart. Let them contend together and leave Uruk in quiet.[[note]](N. K. Sanders' translation)[[/note]]

-->'''Ninsun''': This star of heaven which descended like a meteor from the sky; which you tried to lift, but found too heavy, when you tried to move it it would not budge, and so you brought it to my feet; I made it for you, a goad and spur, and you were drawn as though to a woman. This is the strong comrade, the one who brings help to his friend in his need. He is the strongest of wild creatures, the stuff of Anu; born in the grass-lands and the wild hills reared him; when you see him you will be glad; you will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you. This is the meaning of the dream.[[note]](For the third time, N. K. Sanders translation)[[/note]]

* MisaimedFandom: The Sumerians of the time actually considered a MortalityPhobia to be a sign of immaturity, thus this story is actually meant to be about what would have been considered a ManChild at the time who learns to grow up, and possibly also to show that even [[BigGood kings]] can have deep character flaws they need to overcome. Thus all this celebration of Gilgamesh as the first Epic Hero on a Heroic Quest is missing the point.

** NarmCharm: Who ''doesn't'' want to use that line on someone now?

* MemeticBadass: The sole reason why the story survives today. We wouldn't have so many tablets if they weren't being made and put all over Mesopotamia just to tell everyone how badass Gilgamesh was. He was not a good or wise man as we understand it today, but boy was he strong and bold. In a meta sense, Gilgamesh ''has'' become immortal and survives to this day. Recall that ''this is actually the very first form of immortality Gilgamesh attempted to attain'', via the slaying of Humbaba.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even Kings can have glaring character flaws to be overcome. (While this would seem obvious to us today, many characters in the text speak of kings in such as way that indicates that TheGoodKing was the standard and assumed norm in their culture, and that they acted as a spiritual leader in addition to a governmental one. Thus, the actual contemporary Sumerians would likely greatly appreciate this additional insight.)

** In-universe example: Uruk has an ancient custom by which [[DroitDuSeigneur the king has the right to sleep with any newly married bride before the groom]], but judging by the reactions of the citizens, either this custom was already considered outdated at the time of writing, or else Gilgamesh is abusing it to excess.

** In-universe example: Uruk has an ancient custom by which [[DroitDuSeigneur the king has the right to sleep with any newly married bride before the groom]], but judging by the reactions of the citizens, this custom is either considered outdated, or else Gilgamesh is abusing it to excess.

** ManlyTears was not seen the same way as it is now, as crying itself was an inherently masculine thing to them.

* MisaimedFandom: The Sumerians of the time actually considered a MortalityPhobia to be a sign of immaturity, thus this story is actually meant to be about what would have been considered a ManChild at the time who learns to grow up, and possibly also to show that even kings can have deep character flaws they need to overcome. Thus all this celebration of Gilgamesh as the first Epic Hero on a Heroic Quest is missing the point.

* MisaimedFandom: The Sumerians of the time actually considered a MortalityPhobia to be a sign of immaturity, thus this story is actually meant to be about what would have been considered a ManChild at the time who learns to grow up. Thus all this celebration of Gilgamesh as the first Epic Hero on a Heroic Quest is missing the point.

* MisaimedFandom: The Sumerians of the time actually considered a MortalityPhobia to be a sing of immaturity, thus this story is actually meant to be about what would have been considered a ManChild at the time who learns to grow up. Thus all this celebration of Gilgamesh as the first Epic Hero on a Heroic Quest is missing the point.

** The tendency to paint Shamhat as a harlot and seductress. In the story, her sexual encounter with Enkidu humanizes him. Her week-long tryst with Enkidu isn't a fall, but the first event that ''raises'' him above the level of an animal.