Final answer:
The Epic of Gilgamesh was likely passed down through oral tradition before being written down around 2100 BCE. It describes the adventures of a partly-divine king named Gilgamesh. The story originated in ancient Mesopotamia around 2700 BCE and was later adapted and extended by the Sumerians and Akkadians.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world's earliest examples of epic literature, was likely passed down through oral tradition from generation to generation. The story originated around 2700 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia, but the written parts didn't appear until around 2100 BCE. During this time, the Sumerians lived alongside the Akkadians, and their cultures adapted and extended the Sumero-Akkadian heritage. The Epic of Gilgamesh itself describes the adventures of a partly-divine king of the city of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and his friend Enkidu.