An outstanding epic of the Ancient World

Despite its conciseness, the proposed article attempts to consider all the main semantic aspects of an outstanding creation of ancient Eastern literature “The Epic of Gilgamesh”. The role of the presumed author, who managed to creatively summarize various mythological sources associated with the figure of the legendary Gilgamesh, is evaluated. The significance of the positive goal-setting acquired by the poem’s hero and the related acts of ascetic mission, motives of theomachy, and the search for immortality are emphasized. In conclusion, the characteristic features of the epic poetics of the tale are highlighted.