Question

The Epic of Gilgamesh, written during the Mesopotamian civilisation, is one of the earliest stories written. Try and find out more such stories and share them in class.

Answer 1

1. The Mahabharata: It is one of the great ancient Indian epics. It tells the story of the conflict between the Pandavas and the Kauravas and contains important teachings about duty, justice and morality.
2. The Ramayana: This ancient Indian epic tells the story of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman. It describes Rama’s exile, the abduction of Sita and Rama’s struggle to rescue her.
3. The Iliad: This ancient Greek epic, traditionally attributed to Homer, describes events during the Trojan War. It tells about heroes, battles, courage and honour.
4. The Odyssey: Another ancient Greek epic attributed to Homer, it describes the long and difficult journey of Odysseus as he tries to return home after the Trojan War.
5. The Tale of Sinuhe: This is an ancient Egyptian story about a man named Sinuhe, who leaves Egypt and lives in foreign lands before eventually returning to his homeland.

These stories are important because they help us understand the beliefs, values, traditions, ideas and way of life of ancient civilisations.