The Legend of Inkadu

The Sumerians themselves were, as we all know, an interesting people. They are held by their advocate historians to be the creators of the world's first real civilization. The anonymous Akkadian author was working with materials not unlike what the mythic characters of the Hebrews, Greeks, Christians, Romans, and Muslims are for us. He probably converted Inkadu in the servant into Inkadu, the friend and equal. It also created openings for a bit of comedy, not unlike that which Sancho offers Cervantes.