Deck 16: Mesopotamia: the Epic of Gilgamesh

Question 1

Syncretism is the term for ________________.

A) bringing together events from two or more myths and adding connections to make the new myth believable
B) comparing myths of the ancient Greeks and Mesopotamians
C) melding the characteristics of old and new gods, often using both the old and new names
D) translating a myth from an older language into a newer one

Answer 1

C

Question 2

From the selection below, choose the only one that is NOT a belief of Mesopotamian society reflected in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

A) Lasting achievements are the only way one can attain a kind of immortality.
B) A hero develops through both successes and failures.
C) A man has responsibilities to his king, but not his family.
D) The king and the ruling class have very specific responsibilities to the gods and society.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Mesopotamian gods were _____________________, reflecting both positive and negative human behavior traits.

A) immanent
B) transcendent
C) humanistic
D) anthropomorphic

Answer 3

D

Question 4

______________________ is the king of the cedar forest conquered by Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

A) Ut-napishtim
B) Humbaba
C) Enlil
D) Ninsun

Question 5

Gilgamesh is semidivine, and not immortal, because ___________________.

A) his mother, Ninsun, is a goddess
B) his father is a god
C) he comes from a very special family
D) he is the king of Uruk

Question 6

The significance of the plant of Youth Regained is that it ____________________.

A) makes its owner young again
B) has made Utnapishtim forever young
C) will bring Enkidu back to life
D) allows Gilgamesh to succeed in his quest for eternal life

Question 7

When Gilgamesh comes to the passage between the mountains which guard the rising and setting sun on his quest for eternal life, the scorpion monsters guarding the passage fit Joseph Campbell's designation ________________.

A) In the Belly of the Whale
B) Crossing the Threshold
C) Apotheosis
D) Supernatural Aid

Question 8

Gilgamesh meets ________________, a goddess of brewing and wisdom, who gives him advice.

A) Ishtar
B) Anu
C) Ninsun
D) Siduri

Question 9

___________________, the goddess of creation, is called upon to create a companion for Gilgamesh.

A) Ninurta
B) Aruru
C) Anu
D) Ereshkigal

Question 10

Ishtar sends ___________________ against Gilgamesh because he has insulted and rejected her.

A) Enlil
B) the Bull of Heaven
C) Shamash
D) Ereshkigal

Question 11

Enkidu learns what will happen to him in the land of the dead through ___________________.

A) an announcement by Shamash
B) the Trapper
C) a dream
D) Gilgamesh

Question 12

Gilgamesh learns a secret, that the gods decided to make a __________________.

A) flood
B) fire
C) draft
D) plan

Question 13

The wedge-shaped type of writing found on the "Gilgamesh" clay tablets is called _________________________.

Question 14

Gilgamesh was king of __________________.

Question 15

Through his friendship with ________________, Gilgamesh eventually becomes a worthy king of his people.

Question 16

The gods often heard complaints that Gilgamesh was_____________________

Question 17

_____________ is the harlot who teaches Enkidu civilized ways.

Question 18

_________________ interprets Gilgamesh's troubling dreams for him.

Question 19

When Gilgamesh insults Ishtar, she asks Anu, her father, to give her _____________ to destroy Gilgamesh.

Question 20

When he realizes he is going to die, Enkidu curses the harlot for teaching him civilized ways, but after a conversation with ____________________, he changes his mind and blesses her.

Question 21

Siduri tells Gilgamesh to find _______________ if he insists on crossing the waters of death to find Utnapishtim.

Question 22

Like Noah, ____________________ loads his family, animals, and provisions for a new life into a boat built as a result of a warning before the flood.

Question 23

________________________ snatches from Gilgamesh the plant that restores youth.