Long before Shakespeare, before Homer, and even before the Bible, there was The Epic of Gilgamesh—a thrilling adventure that has survived for over 4,000 years. This ancient Mesopotamian masterpiece, dating back to at least 2100 BCE, is widely considered the oldest known story in the world.

What Makes Gilgamesh’s Story Legendary?

At its core, The Epic of Gilgamesh is about friendship, heroism, and the search for meaning in life. It follows Gilgamesh, the mighty yet flawed King of Uruk, as he battles monsters, seeks immortality, and learns some harsh truths about being human.

A Bond Like No Other – Gilgamesh forms a powerful friendship with Enkidu, a wild man created by the gods to challenge him. But when Enkidu meets a tragic fate, everything changes.

The Quest for Eternal Life – Grief-stricken, Gilgamesh embarks on an obsessive journey to escape death, leading him to an ancient survivor of a Great Flood (a tale eerily similar to Noah’s Ark).

The Hardest Lesson – After his long and perilous journey, Gilgamesh ultimately learns that true immortality doesn’t come from living forever, but from the legacy one leaves behind.

Why Does This 4,000-Year-Old Tale Still Matter?

• It’s the first recorded epic poem in history, laying the foundation for all the hero stories that followed.

• It influenced later myths, including the Bible’s flood narrative and Greek mythology.

• It explores timeless human themes—friendship, ambition, loss, and the search for meaning—that still resonate today.

Is It Really the Oldest Story?

There are older religious texts and myths, like the Pyramid Texts of Egypt (c. 2400 BCE) and Sumerian creation stories, but The Epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest complete narrative with a central character, plot, and emotional depth—making it the world’s first true story as we understand them today.

And after 4,000 years, it still holds up. Not bad for history’s first bestseller!