GoKawiilSimon Armitage publishes new translation of the Gilgamesh epic
Poet laureate Simon Armitage has released a new English translation of Gilgamesh, the roughly 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian epic about the king of Uruk and his companion Enkidu. In his introduction, Armitage highlights the poem's themes of sex work, ecological destruction and same-sex love, arguing for its continued relevance to modern readers.
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The release adds to Armitage's body of public writing as poet laureate, a role that has previously seen him mark royal occasions such as the coronation and the death of Elizabeth II. Framing an ancient text about a flawed king's abuses alongside his royal commissions could invite readers to draw contemporary parallels, though the review notes no laureate would directly critique the living monarchy.
- Simon Armitage has produced a new translation of the ancient epic Gilgamesh.
- The epic dates back at least 4,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia.
- Armitage's introduction stresses the poem's modern resonance around sex, ecology and same-sex love.
Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage (book) — This is the very book reviewed in the article—a fresh, vivid translation of one of humanity's oldest epics by a celebrated poet laureate. If you're intrigued by ancient myth, royal misdeeds, and the bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, this edition brings the story alive with modern lyrical force.
See Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage (book) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theguardian.com, 2026-10-27
Published there as: “Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage review – an ancient epic is brilliantly translated”
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