Gilgeam the Horse-Eater: Difference between revisions

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===Gilgeam's Ascent===

[[File:Malwiya_Minaret_(30553349415).jpg|thumb|Photograph of Gilgeam's Ascent near the city of Etana]]

Gilgeam's Ascent is a shrine dedicated to Gilgeam's own climb of Mount Urum at the end of his life. It is believed to have been built in 128 BC during the reign of King Pu-Nergal with royal funding. Its likely that during Pu-Nergal's reign and that of his immediate successors, Gilgeam's Ascent was used for human sacrifice. Pu-Nergal is recorded ~~has~~ believing that sacrificing animals was impure and did not show proper reverence to Gilgeam. By sacrificing the hearts of people, Gilgeam's own halved heart would one day be restored to its original size. Pu-Nergal's view was not challenged during his lifetime, leading up to the sacrifices of slaves and political enemies. Pu-Nergal's great-grandson Pu-Zuzu repudiated his ancestor's practice and posthumously condemned him to be reburied in an unmarked grave for his sin.

Gilgeam's Ascent is a shrine dedicated to Gilgeam's own climb of Mount Urum at the end of his life. It is believed to have been built in 128 BC during the reign of King Pu-Nergal with royal funding. Its likely that during Pu-Nergal's reign and that of his immediate successors, Gilgeam's Ascent was used for human sacrifice. Pu-Nergal is recorded as believing that sacrificing animals was impure and did not show proper reverence to Gilgeam. By sacrificing the hearts of people, Gilgeam's own halved heart would one day be restored to its original size. Pu-Nergal's view was not challenged during his lifetime, leading up to the sacrifices of slaves and political enemies. Pu-Nergal's great-grandson Pu-Zuzu repudiated his ancestor's practice and posthumously condemned him to be reburied in an unmarked grave for his sin.

The shrine is 52 meters (171 ft) tall and 33 meters (108 ft) wide and is surrounded by a spiral staircase, there is a small shrine at the top with a short pillar in the middle atop which sits a flame beacon. Pilgrims ascend the 785 steps late at night and pray near the beacon until the sun comes up before descending. In this manner they mimic and honor Gilgeam's moonlit climb up Mount Urum to commune with the gods.

The shrine is 52 meters (171 ft) tall and 33 meters (108 ft) wide and is surrounded by a spiral staircase, there is a small shrine at the top with a short pillar in the middle atop which sits a flame beacon. Pilgrims ascend the 785 steps late at night and pray near the beacon until the sun comes up before descending. In this manner they mimic and honor Gilgeam's moonlit climb up Mount Urum to commune with the gods. Making the ascent is not without its risks for pilgrims, the spiral staircase has no railing, when it rains the steps are slippery and some have eroded and crumbled away. The steep climb is taxing on even healthy individuals, older pilgrims have been known to die partway through the ascent and several people have fallen from the staircase to their deaths.

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 ===Gilgeam's Ascent===
 [[File:Malwiya_Minaret_(30553349415).jpg|thumb|Photograph of Gilgeam's Ascent near the city of Etana]]
-Gilgeam's Ascent is a shrine dedicated to Gilgeam's own climb of Mount Urum at the end of his life. It is believed to have been built in 128 BC during the reign of King Pu-Nergal with royal funding. Its likely that during Pu-Nergal's reign and that of his immediate successors, Gilgeam's Ascent was used for human sacrifice. Pu-Nergal is recorded has believing that sacrificing animals was impure and did not show proper reverence to Gilgeam. By sacrificing the hearts of people, Gilgeam's own halved heart would one day be restored to its original size. Pu-Nergal's view was not challenged during his lifetime, leading up to the sacrifices of slaves and political enemies. Pu-Nergal's great-grandson Pu-Zuzu repudiated his ancestor's practice and posthumously condemned him to be reburied in an unmarked grave for his sin.
+Gilgeam's Ascent is a shrine dedicated to Gilgeam's own climb of Mount Urum at the end of his life. It is believed to have been built in 128 BC during the reign of King Pu-Nergal with royal funding. Its likely that during Pu-Nergal's reign and that of his immediate successors, Gilgeam's Ascent was used for human sacrifice. Pu-Nergal is recorded as believing that sacrificing animals was impure and did not show proper reverence to Gilgeam. By sacrificing the hearts of people, Gilgeam's own halved heart would one day be restored to its original size. Pu-Nergal's view was not challenged during his lifetime, leading up to the sacrifices of slaves and political enemies. Pu-Nergal's great-grandson Pu-Zuzu repudiated his ancestor's practice and posthumously condemned him to be reburied in an unmarked grave for his sin.
-The shrine is 52 meters (171 ft) tall and 33 meters (108 ft) wide and is surrounded by a spiral staircase, there is a small shrine at the top with a short pillar in the middle atop which sits a flame beacon. Pilgrims ascend the 785 steps late at night and pray near the beacon until the sun comes up before descending. In this manner they mimic and honor Gilgeam's moonlit climb up Mount Urum to commune with the gods.
+The shrine is 52 meters (171 ft) tall and 33 meters (108 ft) wide and is surrounded by a spiral staircase, there is a small shrine at the top with a short pillar in the middle atop which sits a flame beacon. Pilgrims ascend the 785 steps late at night and pray near the beacon until the sun comes up before descending. In this manner they mimic and honor Gilgeam's moonlit climb up Mount Urum to commune with the gods. Making the ascent is not without its risks for pilgrims, the spiral staircase has no railing, when it rains the steps are slippery and some have eroded and crumbled away. The steep climb is taxing on even healthy individuals, older pilgrims  have been known to die partway through the ascent and several people have fallen from the staircase to their deaths.

Gilgeam the Horse-Eater: Difference between revisions

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