 | When Heroes Love: The Ambiguity of Eros in the Stories of Gilgamesh and David Subjects: Gilgamesh; David King of Israel; Homosexuality in literature; Homosexuality in the Bible; Jonathan (Biblical character); Bible. O.T. Samuel -- Criticism interpretation etc; Susan Ackerman offers close, original readings of the homoerotic imagery and language found in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the biblical story of David and Jonathan. Ackerman focuses on the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu and David and Jonathan. Ackerman cautions against applying modern conceptions of homosexuality in understanding the nature of these relationships; instead, she analyzes the stories of David and Gilgamesh in terms of the sexual relations and gender roles prevalent at the time. Susan Ackerman is professor of religion and women's and gender studies at Dartmouth College and chair of the Department of Religion. She is the author of Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical Israel and Under Every Green Tree: Popular Religion in Sixth-Century Judah . |
