Gilgamesh's Ghost Story

Ancient Ghosts: The Tale of Gilgamesh and Enkidu In this week's Ghost Report, Lisa Morton delves into one of the earliest recorded ghost stories from the Sumerian tale of Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Nether World. She explores the relationship between the hero Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu, and Enkidu's ill-fated journey to retrieve lost sacred objects from the underworld. The episode discusses ancient beliefs in ghosts, specifically the edimmu, outlining the consequences of improper burials, how they could possess people, and the methods for exorcism practiced by the Sumerians and Babylonians. Join Lisa as she uncovers this fascinating piece of ghostly lore. 00:00 Introduction to This Week's Ghost Report 00:06 The Earliest Recorded Ghost Story: Gilgamesh and Enkidu 01:11 Beliefs in Ghosts: The Edimmu 01:30 The Wrath of the Edimmu 01:59 Exorcism Rituals for the Edimmu 02:12 Conclusion and Next Week's Teaser