Das Gilgamesch-Epos

i don't even care that this story is gay. even if the relationship was less explicitly compared to that of soulmates or married couples i would still love it? for me the story doesn't become boring in the second half; that's the most interesting part of the story. gilgamesh doing anything he can to achieve immortality and ulitimately finding out that it's hopeless – that's why i even started to read it. If you are looking for a gay romance go read a gay romance novel. It's honestly on you (or whoever falsely advertised this poem to you) if you are disappointed by the relationship in the story.

I did not give him up for burial, until a maggot fell from his nostril

This DOES show a deep love between the two characters, and great grief on gilgamesh's part. I've also seen someone saying "he doesn't even pursue immortality for his dead lover". I wouldn't like it if he did. His lover and the first guy to be his equal in strength dies randomly. It makes him think, for the first time, about his own mortality and he is terrified. That's way more realistic and timeless.

The case of my friend Enkidu [was too much for me to bear,] so on a distant path [I roam the wild.] [(For) I,] how could I stay silent? How could I stay quiet? My friend, whom I love, has turned to clay, my friend Enkidu, [whom I love, has turned to clay.] [Shall] not I be like him and also lie down, never to rise again, through all [eternity?]

Okay so... (I actually read a french translation that has nothing to do with this one, this is so I don't have to create a new book file.)

I read an excerpt of the epic in the baedan journal and it sounded pretty cool. I love how it's basically an ancient adventure time bromance. Hear me out: the gods created the second guy as a rival for the first one, but they end up together. They insist a lot on second's luscious, womanly hair. Sure, the sex scenes are straight, but imho some passages might have been gay sex mistranslated. Also there's a long scene where first guy holds dying second guy's hand and cries so much.

I admit the second half after the second guy's death kinda lost me. It's all about gaining immortality, boring. And not even for your departed lover.

Okay, and although I am getting queer vibes throughout, I have suspicions I might be partially confused by plain antiquity misogyny where women aren't even deemed full persons (only gal is the courtesan and most she does is having sex. Oh and wait there's the mom but yeah. Not that great either huh).

Apart from the torrid battle scene, what I found most interesting was the backstory of Enkidu as a "wild child" and the way his entrapment into civilisation was portrayed. Basically, Gilgamesh sends a woman to have sex with him (and give him alcohol and bread) and after that, he can't live with animals anymore. Baedan makes the point that they are imposing gender on Enkidu and thus removing him from the wilderness.

Anyway, it was cool.