ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ludlul bēl nēmeqi

Ludlul bēl nēmeqi is a very old story that was written in ancient Mesopotamia a long, long time ago. It tells the story of a man named Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan who was very, very sick.

Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan was a good person who always followed the rules and did what he was supposed to do. But even though he was a good person, he suddenly became very sick and couldn't figure out why.

In the story, Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan is really sad and confused because he doesn't understand why he's so sick. He decides to pray to the gods to ask for help.

After he prays, the gods send him a vision that helps him understand why he's sick. The vision reveals that he's been cursed by a bad spirit and that's why he's so sick.

But the story doesn't end there. Instead of feeling sorry for himself or just accepting his fate, Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan decides to take action. He goes on a journey to try and find a cure for his sickness.

Throughout his journey, he meets all sorts of different people and animals that teach him valuable lessons. And eventually, after a long and difficult journey, Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan finds a cure for his sickness and gets better.

At its core, ludlul bēl nēmeqi is a story about the power of perseverance and how even when things are tough, you should never give up. It shows us that even when we feel like we're cursed or that everything is going wrong, there's always a way to find a path forward if we just keep trying.
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