Episode one of our book club podcast WESTERN CANONBALL features The Epic of Gilgamesh and some scandalous skinny dipping by Enkidu. Gilgamesh features an antihero who offends gods, slays giants, and offensively steals the wives of everyone in the kingdom. This podcast is basically a group of us meeting at my house for dinner about once a month, sharing a meal, and talking about a book we’ve read together.

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Liner notes:

• the Ishtar Gate (actually from Babylon) in the Pergamon museum in Berlin.
• They do also have items from Uruk including several temple facades.
• The Pergamon museum also displays a large collection Gilgamesh epic tablets including the deluge tablet.
• Here’s the link to the kittens (currently down because the kittens destroyed the camera)
• I’d also point to research on Shamhat,  sex in ancient temples, “harimtu” from which we get “harem,” and critical commentary on the text.