Final answer:
Cuneiform, the writing system developed by the Mesopotamians, was instrumental in preserving the Epic of Gilgamesh. Recorded on durable baked clay tablets, these writings survived over millennia, allowing the epic to be studied and relished by future generations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technology of writing that the Mesopotamians developed, known as cuneiform, played a crucial role in preserving works such as the Epic of Gilgamesh. Cuneiform began as a system of pictographic symbols before evolving to include syllabic symbols representing sounds, which allowed for the recording of the spoken language and the creation of literature.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, recorded on clay tablets, highlights the capabilities of cuneiform as a durable medium for documentation. These tablets, once baked, became very resilient, ensuring the longevity of the texts inscribed upon them. The epic, detailing the partly-divine king Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu, has been preserved over millennia because of the durability of these tablets. This medium of writing was not only used for literature but also for recording laws, transactions, and religious texts, offering a detailed glimpse into the lives of ancient Mesopotamians.
Furthermore, the fact that numerous cuneiform tablets have been discovered by archaeologists demonstrates how well these artifacts have survived the test of time, allowing modern-day scholars to piece together and understand ancient Mesopotamian culture, myth, and history, including the adventures of Gilgamesh and Enkidu.