The Gilgamesh Epic
The Gilgamesh Epic is a narrative poem that explores the life of Gilgamesh, ruler of Uruk in ancient Sumerian times. After his passing many years ago, around 2500 BC, the tale was first transmitted verbally. Later in the 19th century, it was found that the Mesopotamians had inscribed it on the tablets. Gilgamesh was different and far more powerful than any other man in the city; in a sense, he could be considered both a man and a deity. Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother because the epic shows that he exploited the city dwellers, sexually abused the women, and overused the young men. (Kavaos 1.59-64).
The Creation of Enkidu
His behavior annoyed his subjects who then cried to their gods asking for help. Then god of the sky Anu, heard them and instructed goddess Aruru to create another powerful human being who would rival him. The gods created Enkidu and placed him into the woods to take care of the wild animals but instead Shamhat, a prostitute from the civilized city, lures him and drives him out of the forest. The epic demonstrates how Enkidu through the influence of Gilgamesh, became a failure and disappointment to gods and the Uruk people, despite their great hope in him to save them from the king`s oppression. (Kavaos 1.59-64).
The Story Revolves Around Enkidu
The story revolves around Enkidu who lived in the midst of the forest, uncivilized and whose work was to work to care for animals that were the only friends around him. His presence in the woods signified the under-civilization in the world beyond the gleaming walls of Uruk. Although the gods made him a wild creature, he had a mission of saving the people in the city against the violent hands of king Gilgamesh. The gods had to separate him from the rest of the civilized people so has to strengthen and prepare him for the fight ahead. However, Enkidu failed in his trial when a prostitute from the city tempts him. Shamhat in the story symbolizes immorality in the civilized world; she entices Enkidu to sleep with her. Everything changed the moment he agreed to have sex, his mind opens and decided to move in with Shamhat. King Gilgamesh was a strong man and despite being wise and physically beautiful, he intensely oppressed his subjects; he sexually abused women including wives of his warriors, he overworked the young men and used forced labor to accomplish his projects "Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother" (Kavaos 1.59-64). People were exhausted with him and had to ask for a savior and Enkidu was created to match him out. Given that Enkidu had already disappointed the gods by having sex with a prostitute, he lost in the fight against Gilgamesh. They, however, became great friends ever and began to carry much of the duties together. "Becoming aware of himself, he sought a friend" (Jackson 1.194-204). Their friendship symbolizes unit between the civilized domain and the uncivilized world and revealed a change in Gilgamesh kingship.
The Invasion of the Cedar Forest
The days went on well until when they planned to invade the Cedar Forest, guarded by a terrifying monster known as Humbaba. The demon was a devoted servant of the god of earth, air and wind called Enlil whom he worked under his authority. Upon the advice from the king`s council of elders and the help of Shamash the god of sun, Enkidu and Gilgamesh managed to kill the Humbaba. They stole the unforbidden tallest trees, pushed them through gates and constructed a raft that enabled them to float back to Uruk while carrying the head of the dangerous ogre. On their way back, they approached by the Ishtar the goddess of love whom when rejected by Gilgamesh, she asked for the Bull of Heaven from her father Anu. Gilgamesh killed the Bull; the gods became frustrated and killed Enkidu as a price for their transgression. "Six days and seven nights I mourned over him and would not allow him to be buried until a maggot fell out of his nose" (Pau and Tracy 10.61-72). Gilgamesh mourn bitterly over the death of his dear friend but he was gone nothing could bring him back. Gilgamesh travelled long distance to look for a solution of death from Utnapishtim; he did not want to die so he sought all means to become immortal but did not succeed.
The Powers of the Gods
In summary, occurrences in the story revealed the powers of the gods over human beings; the gods had the authority to control everything on earth, they decided what is right for human beings. Disobeying the gods in the ancient world had a great price and painful to pay. The role of human kinds was to follow what the gods guided them to do without questioning and sought for their help in case calamities befall them.
Works Cited
Jackson, Danny P. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Second edi. Washington D.C.: Bolchazy Carducci Publishers, 2005. Print.
Kavaos, Maureen Gallery. The Epic of Gilgamesh. First Edit. California: Stanford University Press, 1989. Print.
Pau, Pruyser, and Luke Tracy. “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” American Imago 39.2 73–93. Print.
