There are eight sections in The Epic of Gilgamesh. “Gilgamesh King in Uruk” is the prologue to The Epic of Gilgamesh. In this prologue, Gilgamesh is described as a tyrannical king who does what he wants and has a perfect body and great strength that was given to him by the gods. When the gods created Gilgamesh, they made him two thirds god and one third man. Gilgamesh also built great walls and temples for Uruk. In the first section, “The Coming of Enkidu,” the story is about the gods creating an equal for Gilgamesh to befriend. The men of Uruk were complaining about Gilgamesh’s ruling, and the gods heard their cries and asked the goddess of creation, Aruru, to create an equal for Gilgamesh. Aruru created Enkidu who ate grass with the herbivores …show more content…
and drank water with the carnivores. A trapper saw Enkidu and was terrified of him, and journeyed to Uruk retrieved a harlot to make Enkidu sleep with her so the beasts will reject him. The harlot met with Enkidu, and slept with him for six days and seven nights, which caused the beasts to reject Enkidu. After being told about Gilgamesh, Enkidu wished to challenge Gilgamesh, and the harlot promises Enkidu that she will take him to meet Gilgamesh. Meanwhile, Gilgamesh has several prophetic dreams about the arrival of Enkidu which he asks his mother, the goddess Ninsun, to interpret. A man then meets with Enkidu and tells him that Gilgamesh has proclaimed that he will sleep with a bride before her husband. Enkidu goes to Uruk and challenges Gilgamesh. They fought and after Gilgamesh threw Enkidu, he proclaimed that Enkidu was as strong as he was and they became friends. In the second section, “The Forest Journey,” Gilgamesh and Enkidu journey to the Land of the Cedars to kill the giant, Humbaba, which protects the forest.
They make preparations by getting blessings from the councilors and Gilgamesh’s mother, Ninsun, and make weapons for the journey. They then head to the Cedar Forest where they encounter Humbaba. With the help of Shamash, the sun god, who gave them eight winds, they finally defeat Humbaba and cut off his head. They return to Uruk carrying his head. In the third section, “Ishtar and Gilgamesh, and the Death of Enkidu,” Ishtar asked Gilgamesh to marry her, but Gilgamesh refused. Ishtar grew angry and asked her father, the great god Anu, to give her the Bull of Heaven to destroy Gilgamesh. Anu gave her the Bull of Heaven after being threatened, and Ishtar set it free to cause destruction. Gilgamesh and Enkidu fought and killed the Bull of Heaven. After killing the Bull of Heaven, Enkidu had a dream that the gods said that either Enkidu or Gilgamesh must die. The gods choose Enkidu to die, and Enkidu became very sick. After twelve days of sickness, Enkidu died. Gilgamesh mourned his friends’ death and commissioned a statue be made in his friends likeness. He then left Uruk to seek a way to become …show more content…
immortal. In the fourth section, “The Search for Everlasting Life,” Gilgamesh seeks out Utnapishtim who is said to have become a god and found everlasting life.
He travels to the great mountains, Mashu, which houses the gods. He travels into the mountain and meets the goddess of wine, Siduri, who sees Gilgamesh and is frightened. He then speaks to her and asks her how to get to Utnapishtim. Siduri shows him Urshanabi who is the ferryman of Utnapishtim. Gilgamesh meets Urshanabi who then takes him across the Waters of Death to Utnapishtim. Upon meeting Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim tells him that immortality is for the gods, but he will tell Gilgamesh how he achieved immortality. In the fifth section, “the Story of the Flood”, Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh the story of his immortality. The gods gathered and agreed to exterminate mankind, but the wisdom god Ea warned Utnapishtim in a dream about the gods plan and told Utnapishtim to build a boat and save his family and kin, the craftsman, and all the animals. Then the flood came and killed all the other humans on the earth. On the seventh day, the storm stopped and the boat rested on the mountain. Enlil was enraged after learning that some human survived but was quickly chastised by Ea for causing the destruction of humans. Enlil then met Utnapishtim and his wife and granted them
immortality. In the sixth section, “The Return,” Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh that he had to stay awake for six days and seven nights in order to assemble the gods and get everlasting life. However, Gilgamesh did not succeed in staying awake for six days and seven nights, and Utnapishtim sends them back home. As they were leaving, Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh of a plant that will restore youth. Gilgamesh found the plant and picked it and then he and Urshanabi left for Uruk. On the way back, a serpent sees the plant and steals it for himself. Urshanabi and Gilgamesh continue their travels back to Uruk and upon arrival, Gilgamesh shows Urshanabi the glory of his city. In the last section, “The Death of Gilgamesh,” it is stated that the destiny that Enlil decreed for Gilgamesh was fulfilled. After Gilgamesh’s death, all the people made offerings to all the gods.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur. From the ancient Mesopotamia, the poem is set where modern day Iraq is today. Composed of five Sumerian poems about Bilgamesh, which is Sumerian for Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is two parts God and one part Man who is a hero. Gilgamesh encounters many challenges and situations during The Epic of Gilgamesh that cause him to evolve into a better king. Consequential, Gilgamesh recommences his position in Urk and evolves as an improved king.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, we see a significant transition or development of the main character as the story progresses. Throughout the epic, we see Gilgamesh act as a tyrant, fearless warrior, depressed man, a man filled with fear, and a man who has finally accepted his fate. The epic begins by describing Gilgamesh as a king who tyrannizes his people. “He will couple with the wife-to-be, he first of all, the bridegroom after” (pg 15). We see that Gilgamesh abuses his power as king and terrorizes the people. The people of Uruk plead the gods to ease Gilgamesh’s burden. The gods answered the prayers created an equal to match Gilgamesh. Enkidu a wild-born chimera, part animal and part man, would
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a historic story of the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. The story depicts the short lived friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The story begins as Shamat the harlot seduces Enkidu and convinces him to go to the city of Uruk and meet Gilgamesh. From that moment on, the two were very close. They planned a trip to the forest of cedars to defeat the monster known as Humbaba so that Gilgamesh could show his power to the citizens of Uruk. However, Enkidu tried “vainly to dissuade” (18) Gilgamesh in going to the forest. Despite Enkidu’s plead, the two continued on their voyage to the forest where Humbaba lives. Once they arrived, they found the monster and killed him.
Gilgamesh ignored many of these kingly duties and was eager to become heroic and godly. "The young men of Uruk he harries without warrant, Gilgamesh lets no son go free to his father. By day and by night his tyranny grows harsher" (George, Tablet I 67-69). The beginning of the epic depicts his kingship as tyrannical and immoral, which could go without question or complaint unless the gods will it. Although considered great for his many feats such as his great walls and military expeditions, his faults could not be questioned by the commoners, which show a flaw in Mesopotamian kingship. Therefore, the gods ask Anu to create a counterpart to Gilgamesh to balance his oppressive reign. "Let him be a match for the storm of his heart, let them vie with each other, so Uruk may be rested!" (Tablet I 97-98). Enkidu, Gilgamesh 's counterpart, was initially created as a wild, uncivilized man rather than a demigod king. His position was to serve as a person that would try to prevent Gilgamesh from becoming so lofty and boastful and to make him become mature and make rational decisions. This becomes evident in Enkidu 's first encounter with Gilgamesh at the wedding: "For the goddess of weddings the bed was laid out, Gilgamesh met with the maiden by night. Forward
The epic begins with the men of Uruk describing Gilgamesh as an overly aggressive ruler. "'Gilgamesh leaves no son to his father; day and night his outrageousness continues unrestrained; And he is the shepherd of Uruk, the enclosure; He is their shepherd, and yet he oppresses them. Strong, handsome, and wise. . . Gilgamesh leaves no virgin to her lover.'"(p.18, Line 23-27) The citizens respect him, but they resent his sexual and physical aggression, so they plead to the gods to alleviate some of their burden. The gods resolve to create an equal for Gilgamesh to tame him and keep him in line. This equal, Enkidu, has an immediate impact on Gilgamesh. When they first meet, both having never before met a man equal in stature, they brawl. "They grappled with each other, Snorting like bulls; They shattered the doorpost, that the wall shook."(p.32, lines 15-18) In giving Gilgamesh a real battle, Enkidu instantly changes him; having this equal gives Gilgamesh a sense of respect for another man. These two men fighting each other creates a serious mess, but they both end up without animosity toward the other.
Perhaps one of the main reasons the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a person to locate these themes in the story, and even less introspection to relate to them.
In the beginning of the book, Gilgamesh appears to be selfish. Gilgamesh’s “arrogance has no bounds by day or night” (62). Even though he is created by the Gods to be perfect, he misuses his powers and gifts for his own earthly pleasure. He has sexual intercourse with all the virgins of his city even if they are already engaged. Through all Gilgamesh’s imperfections and faults, he learns to change his amoral personality. The friendship of Enkidu helped to change his ways, for only Enkidu, who “is the strongest of wild creatures,” (66) is a match for Gilgamesh. Through this companionship with Enkidu, Gilgamesh starts to realize his incapabilities and need for his friend. When they fight Humbaba, they both give moral support to each other when the other is scared. Another event that changes Gilgamesh’s character is the death of Enkidu. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh goes through the suffering of losing a loved one. Gilgamesh experiences a pain, which no worldly pleasure can ease. By this experience Gilgamesh starts to understand his vulnerability toward death and pain. Losing his best friend causes Gilgamesh to be melancholic. At this point Gilgamesh is humbled by the fact that even he could not escape the wrath of death. Gilgamesh goes from this arrogant king to a lonely grieving person with fear of death in his heart.
Enkidu’s death evokes a disturbing thought in Gilgamesh. He finally realizes that he is mortal. He then goes about trying to find the key to immortality. Gilgamesh first seeks out Utnapishtim, the only human to gain immortality. When Gilgamesh cannot pass the test of staying awake for seven days, Utnapishtim then gives him the plant "Old Men Are Young Again." Despite this second opportunity, Gilgamesh is not triumphant in his search for immortality because a serpent eats the plant and Gilgamesh’s opportunity is lost forever. He does not realize that Enlil, the father of the gods, had already determined his destiny. It is clear from the events of the story that Gilgamesh was not to obtain everlasting life and it is no coincidence that all of his efforts fail in one way or another. This is another example of man’s lack of control where the gods are concerned
The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known stories, recounts the tale of the reckless King Gilgamesh and his adventures with his friend Enkidu, a natural man created by the gods from clay to humble and teach Gilgamesh to become a better ruler. Through Enkidu’s death, the once fearless Gilgamesh becomes fearful of his own inevitable demise and journeys to find immortality. However, by finding compassion for his humanity, he is able to come to terms with his mortality and continue living wholeheartedly as the ruler of Uruk. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh learns to accept his mortality by gaining compassion for himself.
Gilgamesh was two thirds of a god who possessed beauty, a gorgeous body, and great amounts of courage and strength that surpassed all other humans. His greatness was established through the wonderful walls he built around Uruk, a rampart, and a temple for Anu and Ishtar (Gilgamesh & Sandars, 61). Enkidu on the other hand was initially an uncivilized man created by the goddess of creation, Aruru. His appearance was strictly barbaric with his long hair and hairy body, whose innocent mind knew nothing of a civilized human culture (Gilgamesh et al., 62). He ate grass and lived among the other animals in the woods until a trapper spotted him while trying to catch his game and noted to his father that he “was the strongest man in the world [and] is like an immortal from heaven” (Gilgamesh et al., 62). The trapper indicated his feeling of inferiority to Enkidu in the woods as he says he is afraid of him. One could say that Enkidu rules the woods of the uncivilized just as Gilgamesh rules over the city of Uruk; over the civilized. Both men are characterized as powerful, strong men in their domain yet Gilgamesh is in fact stronger and more powerful than his brother, Enkidu whom he calls his servant, fore he is the king of Uruk and is two thirds god. Enkidu also dies halfway through the adventure the two have while Gilgamesh, who is afraid of death, goes on to find a way to live immortally. Though inferior to his king brother, Enkidu completes the other half of Gilgamesh: while Gilgamesh knows the ins and outs of the city he rules, he is not familiar with the woods or nature in the ways that Enkidu is. Though they are different from each other, they both hold parallels with one another by bringing out the best in each other, thus reasonabl...
We learn about ancient civilizations through literature, artifacts, and stories passed down from generation to generation. The Mesopotamian civilization is one of earth's earliest civilizations, and it's also one we know very little about. We can gather information about these people's way life, beliefs, and geographical location. The Epic of Gilgamesh, a literary work from this time period, shows us several important pieces of information that helps us understand this ancient civilization. This epic shows us the Mesopotamian peoples belief system, their views on death, and their description of the after life.
The beginning of the Epic finds Gilgamesh hunting immortality through the ways of old. He is trying to achieve everlasting life through the fertility of young virgins promised to another. This action by Gilgamesh caused the people of Uruk to call for the gods to restore the order which the traveler from abroad had destroyed (pg.62). From the sacred order of the goddess Aruru's mind Enkidu emerges from the profane wilderness (pg. 63). It is told that a trapper came "face to face" with the chaotic ways of Enkidu and was "frozen with fear". It is only through the love of one woman that order is brought to the life of Enkidu. He is then declared wise enough to challenge Gilgamesh and restore the order to "strong walled Uruk" (pg.65). So, when Gilgamesh is headed to the bridal bed to partake...
On page fifty-five Enkidu tells Gilgamesh what he dreams about. “Enkidu began to speak to Gilgamesh: …;... 'Enlil was wroth at celestial Shamash: "How like a comrade you marched with them daily! '"” Enkidu describes this dream, in great detail, of all the horrors of the underworld. Additionally, Enkidu describes how the gods are planning on bring Enkidu to his death, while Gilgamesh is to be spared. Enkidu is very sick at this point and is unable to do anything else, but lie on the bed. After twelve days, Enkidu dies on the bed. Gilgamesh is scared, at this point, and is afraid he might be next to die. In order to avoid death, Gilgamesh is persuaded on a journey to find immortality. Gilgamesh is later forced to live the rest of his life without being immortal. This dream is crucial to show how a main character, Enkidu, is being
Enkidu and Urshanabi serve as the threshold guardians by showing he needs to get past them and earn their trust throughout the story. Then, Shamash provides supernatural aid by helping him pass major obstacles. Gilgamesh enters the unexplored land when he goes into the cedar forest to destroy Humbaba and when he searches for the plant Utnapishtim told him about, and he faces a challenge when Utnapishtim tells him he must stay awake for six nights and seven days in order to become immortal. Finally, Gilgamesh undergoes his transformation when he decides he will give the plant to his people before himself, and once he returns to Uruk, he is proud of his city and passes his story on to others. Overall, Gilgamesh goes through all of the stages of the Sumerian archetype of a hero’s journey and is therefore considered an epic hero in Sumerian
The epic begins with Gilgamesh terrorizing the people of Uruk. They call out to the sky god Anu for help. In response Anu tells the goddess of creation, Aruru, to make an equal for Gilgamesh. Thus Aruru created Enkidu, a brute with the strength of dozens of wild animals. After being seduced by a harlot from the temple of love in Uruk, Enkidu loses his strength and wildness yet gains wisdom and understanding. The harlot offers to take him into Uruk where Gilgamesh lives, the only man worthy of Enkidu's friendship. After a brief brawl the two become devoted friends.