The Epic of Gilgamesh was codified on clay tablets around 700 BC, with the Standard Babylonian version compiled by the scribe Sîn-lēqi-unninni. This epic poem is one of the earliest works of literature, exploring themes of friendship, mortality, and the quest for immortality. Its preservation established a canonical text that has influenced countless literary traditions and continues to be studied for its historical and cultural significance.

The codification of the Epic of Gilgamesh on clay tablets around 700 BC established one of the earliest narrative arcs dealing with mortality. Its rediscovery in the 19th century profoundly influenced modernist poetry, inspiring translations that explored ancient work ethics and human striving.