Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage review – an ancient epic is brilliantly translated
0 comments
- Points176
- Comments53
–Rank now
#6Peak rank
1Days on list
–Score · 7d
Oct 30, 2026First seen
On Hacker News
- Points
- 176
- Comments
- 53
- Submitted by
- benbreen
- Posted
- Oct 27, 2026
- Site
- theguardian.com
Story details from Hacker News ↗ · linked article on theguardian.com.
Trending history
Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage review – an ancient epic is brilliantly translated was first seen on Hacker News · Front page on Oct 30, 2026. Since then it has appeared in 49 checks on 1 different day. Its best position was #6 of 30, reached on Oct 30, 20:22 UTC. It dropped off the list after Oct 30, 20:22 UTC.
Rank history
Position on Hacker News · Front page at every check (lower is better).
Last 14 days
Best rank per day (UTC).
6
Oct 26today
Metric history
Platform metric as reported by Hacker News.
From the discussion
A few top-level comments from Hacker News, shortened. Read the full thread on Hacker News.
The reviewer, Philip Terry, is himself a very good, very clever poet. His "Dictator" is an absolutely brilliant translation into Globish, a simplified English designed for commerce. He reasons that cuneiform had a similar role in cross-language understanding. Terry refuses to use words outside Globish's 1500-word…
It was also interesting learning about the role of Poet Laureate, and the stipend. £5,750 per annum, and a barrel of Sherry; the latter being a tradition since 1630. I love these small slivers of old traditions that are kept up into the modern day.
A very funny and informative book review of Gilgamesh (based on Andrew George’s 2003 edition/translation) by a guest author was recently published at Astral Codex Ten: https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/your-book-review-the-epic-o... Recommended reading for anyone interested in knowing more about the work.
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Questions
Is Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage review – an ancient epic is brilliantly translated trending on Hacker News right now?
Not at the moment. It was last on the list on Oct 30, 20:22 UTC, after 1 day of trending.
What is the highest rank Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage review – an ancient epic is brilliantly translated reached?
#6 on Hacker News · Front page, on Oct 30, 20:22 UTC. Trendoday checks this list every 15 minutes.
How long has Gilgamesh by Simon Armitage review – an ancient epic is brilliantly translated been trending?
It was first seen on Oct 30, 2026 and has been on the list on 1 day (49 checks) since.
How much discussion did it get on Hacker News?
176 points and 53 comments; submitted by benbreen on Oct 27, 2026.