The Epic of Gilgamesh is humanity's oldest known story—a journey of friendship, loss, and the eternal longing for immortality. In this faithful modern-English edition, the ancient text is rendered in clear, flowing prose that preserves the power and pathos of the original while inviting today's readers into the world of Uruk's mighty king. Gilgamesh, two-thirds god and one-third man, rules with arrogance until the gods create Enkidu, a wild man who becomes his equal and dearest friend. Together they face the monstrous Humbaba, defy the goddess Ishtar, and confront the Bull of Heaven. But when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is shattered and sets out on a desperate quest to unlock the secret of eternal life, meeting the flood-survivor Utnapishtim and discovering hard-won truths about what it means to be human. This edition includes an introduction, glossary, and key passages. Part of Timeless Classics.