Following the story “The Epic of Gilgamesh” we do not only read how Gilgamesh tries to obtain eternal life, but also find some clues which give us an idea about the present situation and the social and political issues in the time of Gilgamesh.
People had different professions like counselor, a person who is trained to give guidance; chamberlain, the historical meaning is an officer who managed the household of a monarch or noble; or sheriff, a person that might have had various administrative and judicial functions. I would consider these people as “members of skill”.
Beside these we also find “members of craft” like a servant, porter, boatman, carpenter, reed-worker, shipbuilder, and people working in a clay-pit. “the rich man was carrying the pitch, the poor man brought the … tackle”. This quotation gives approval that there were social differences; the rich man can afford to buy pitch the poor man is a handyman.
Also clothes and housing can reflect the social status of a person in that time. “let him wear royal robes, the dress fitting his dignity!” Uta-napishti who offers Gilgamesh this “more kingly garments” was wearing this kind of clothes and lived in a house with a bed-chamber and coal-oven, where his wife daily bakes fresh bread.
If poor or rich, also natural disasters were known in that time. People feared deluges, wild animals, famine, and plagues. Despite dealing with the issues of his time Gilgamesh tries to reach eternity! As for him, life could not have been that bad.
From your writing, I've really got the hints or clues how to read this old story,especially when you talk about their occupations or clothings.
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