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Journals / Journal of Applied Tourism Research / 2026 / Cilt: 7 Sayı: 1

Gastronomic Elements in Ancient Mesopotamian Culture: A Qualitative Examination of the Epic of Gilgamesh

Antik Mezopotamya Kültüründe Gastronomik Unsurlar: Gılgamış Destanı Üzerine Nitel Bir İnceleme

Ayşenur Erten Maraz(BEYKOZ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0004-4668-330X
Zehra Kaya(BEYKOZ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-1361-9879
Pages
63–84
Publication Date
2026-06-27
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings reveal that fundamental food items such as bread, beer, wine, meat, fish, dates, honey, and oil are extensively represented throughout the text across three semantic layers: as sources of nourishment, as markers of civilization and social status, and as integral components of religious ritual.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to examine the gastronomic elements in the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known written literary texts in human history, within their cultural, symbolic, and historical contexts.
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Key Findings & Data:Inductive coding and comparative semantic techniques were applied to five different Turkish translations of the Epic of Gilgamesh (Ramazanoğlu, 2000; Jackson, 2005; Maden, 2015; Çığ, 2002; Adalı, 2009).
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings reveal that fundamental food items such as bread, beer, wine, meat, fish, dates, honey, and oil are extensively represented throughout the text across three semantic layers: as sources of nourishment, as markers of civilization and social status, and as integral components of religious ritual.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2000 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Gılgamış Destanı · Mezopotamya Mutfağı · Gastronomik Unsurlar

Abstract

This study aims to examine the gastronomic elements in the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known written literary texts in human history, within their cultural, symbolic, and historical contexts. The research adopts a qualitative design employing document analysis as its primary methodological approach. Inductive coding and comparative semantic techniques were applied to five different Turkish translations of the Epic of Gilgamesh (Ramazanoğlu, 2000; Jackson, 2005; Maden, 2015; Çığ, 2002; Adalı, 2009). Gastronomic elements recurring across multiple translations were prioritized; expressions unique to a single translation were evaluated separately. The findings reveal that fundamental food items such as bread, beer, wine, meat, fish, dates, honey, and oil are extensively represented throughout the text across three semantic layers: as sources of nourishment, as markers of civilization and social status, and as integral components of religious ritual. Drawing on food anthropology frameworks—particularly Lévi-Strauss's raw/cooked dichotomy and Douglas's food-as-symbol theory—the study advances the theoretical understanding of Mesopotamian gastronomy. It concludes that the Epic of Gilgamesh serves as a primary source for understanding Mesopotamian culinary culture and provides valuable insights for gastronomy tourism and cultural heritage studies.

Özet

Bu çalışma, insanlık tarihinin bilinen en eski yazılı edebi metinlerinden biri olan Gılgamış Destanı'nda yer alan gastronomik unsurları kültürel, sembolik ve tarihsel bağlamlarıyla incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, nitel araştırma yöntemi çerçevesinde doküman analizi yaklaşımıyla yürütülmüş; destanın beş farklı Türkçe çevirisi (Ramazanoğlu, 2000; Jackson, 2005; Maden, 2015; Çığ, 2002; Adalı, 2009) üzerinden tümevarımsal kodlama ve karşılaştırmalı anlambilim teknikleri uygulanmıştır. Analiz sürecinde, birden fazla çeviride yinelenen gastronomik ögelere odaklanılmış; tek çeviride kalan ifadeler ayrıca değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, destanda ekmek, bira, şarap, et, balık, hurma, bal ve yağ gibi temel besin ögelerinin yoğun biçimde yer aldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Söz konusu unsurlar; beslenme işlevi, medeniyet ve toplumsal statü göstergesi ile dinî ritüelin aracı olmak üzere en az üç anlam katmanında işlev görmektedir. Çalışma, Lévi-Strauss'un çiğ/pişmiş karşıtlığı ve Douglas'ın yemek-simgesi kuramı gibi yemek antropolojisi perspektiflerini Mezopotamya bağlamına uyarlayarak kuramsal katkı sunmayı hedeflemektedir. Sonuç olarak Gılgamış Destanı'nın Mezopotamya mutfak kültürünü anlamada birincil kaynak niteliği taşıdığı ve gastronomi turizmi ile kültürel miras araştırmaları açısından önemli çıkarımlar sunduğu belirlenmiştir.

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Cite This Article

Maraz, A. E., Kaya, Z. (2026). Gastronomic Elements in Ancient Mesopotamian Culture: A Qualitative Examination of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Journal of Applied Tourism Research, Cilt: 7 Sayı: 1, 63–84. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20928299

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