A New Translation of the Ancient Epic
A poem for the ages, freshly and accessibly translated by an international rising star, bringing together scholarly precision and poetic grace
A poem for the ages, freshly and accessibly translated by an international rising star, bringing together scholarly precision and poetic grace
 
“Sophus Helle’s new translation . [is] a thrilling, enchanting, desperate thing to read.”—Nina MacLaughlin, Boston Globe
 
“Looks to be the last word on this Babylonian masterpiece.”—Michael Dirda, Washington Post
 
Gilgamesh is a Babylonian story about love between men, loss and grief, the confrontation with death; the destruction of nature; insomnia and restlessness, finding peace in one’s community, the voice of women, the folly of gods, heroes, and monsters—and more. Translating directly from the Akkadian, Sophus Helle offers a literary translation that reproduces the original epic’s poetic effects, including its succinct clarity and enchanting cadence. Millennia after its composition, Gilgamesh continues to speak to us in myriad ways.