Problem
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, The Sumerians of Urek, a semitic people, proclaim themselves a "civilized" race whose temples reach into the sky, whose buildings are massive and intricate, and whose mastery of the plow and other mechanical devices enable a high standard of living. They look askance at the nomadic tribes that prowl the territories outside the boundaries of Sumer. To the Sumerians, a typical Amorite (nomadic semite) was:
A tent dweller buffeted by winds and rain; he knows not prayers.
With the weapon he makes the mountain his habitation;
Contentious to excess, he turns against the land, knows not to bend the knee,
Eats uncooked meat
• Has no house in his lifetime
• Is not brought to burial when he dies (from the Epic of Gilgamesh)
• What does this excerpt tell us about the Sumerians sense of themselves and of the Amorites (early Hebrews)?