A Celestial Reimagining of the World’s Oldest Story
This new interpretation of the Epic of Gilgamesh unites the great myth told on Earth with its parallel story unfolded by the stars and planets of the night sky.
This work reveals how the constellations of stars that we witness today were actually defined and venerated by the Mesopotamian people who recorded and constructed the story of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, who ruled his people nearly 5000 years ago.
This new research reveals how the Gilgamesh myth – finalised in 1300 BCE - actually is a record of Sumerian history, tracking major events from around 3100 BCE through to 1800 BCE when the last dynasty fell and the Babylonian empire rose to power.
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Both editions were published in September 2025. Beautifully designed with over seventy high-resolution images.
Reviews and Testimonials
The book—divided into three distinct sections—is not an easy read, and I suspect it will resonate most with readers who have a background in history, archaeology, or astronomy. That said, the second section is, in my view, a real gem and can justifiably be described as groundbreaking.
I was particularly fascinated by how Geert reveals a thousands-year-old story of Gilgamesh within the stars. What might appear to most as a random scattering of shiny dots in the night sky is, through his interpretation, transformed into a story unfolding like a theatre performance—not over the course of a single night, but across months. He shows how the movement of the stars brings the myth to life, with each “actor” taking its place on the celestial stage.
Seeing those stars clustered into recognisable shapes of the main characters, ships, and monsters is truly breathtaking. I’ll definitely be looking forward to seeing it all brought to the screen. - O.VM, London
Mr. Van Aarsen’s new book is a very original take on the meanings and information hidden within the Epic of Gilgamesh. He explains his ideas clearly and makes thought-provoking connections between the earth-based story of Gilgamesh and a version of the same story played out in the night sky. It’s like a dramatic form of astrology with characters performing different roles. It’s not something I’ve seen or read about before and certainly left me thinking. DD, Norfolk
