Here's why:
* Age: It dates back to around 2100 BCE, written on clay tablets in cuneiform script.
* Content: It's a tale of a powerful king, Gilgamesh, who seeks immortality after the death of his friend Enkidu. This epic poem explores themes of friendship, mortality, and the search for meaning in life, themes that resonate even today.
* Cultural Significance: It's one of the earliest known examples of a literary epic and provides insights into the beliefs and values of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
Of course, other ancient stories exist, such as Egyptian tales like the Pyramid Texts, but The Epic of Gilgamesh stands out for its literary quality and its enduring influence on storytelling.