Gilgamesh
Page designed by B.J. Garcia
Gilgamesh was a great Sumerian king who follows the hero archetype. He
is considered a hero and was honored and respected at the end of
his life. As an unusual birth he was brought into the world as two
thirds god and one third human. Along with this he had no family
meaning he had been abandoned by coming into the world with no warmth or
love. Early in his life he met a man named Enkidu whom he had great
hostility toward. As his call to adventure the two individuals
fight and to both of their surprise they see that neither one of them can
defeat the other. After this the two become extremely close friends.
It was as if Gilgamesh and Enkidu were both halves and when they came together
they formed a whole and complete life. It is said that Gilgamesh has
supernatural gifts however it is not specific and simply says that he has
special weapons. Gilgamesh proved himself along with Enkidu in battle
against the Humbaba, the Bull of Heaven. As a trophy Gilgamesh kept the Humbaba's
head. He and Enkidu returned, but not without a price.
The gods decide that Enkidu must die. A piece of Gilgamesh is killed when Enkidu dies. When this occurs
Gilgamesh falls. In the end Gilgamesh dies from nothing more than
old age but still lives on. He is greatly honored and respected after
his death.
The mask of Humbaba.
The
Assyro-Babylonian Mythology version of Gilgamesh
Read my myth, A Blanket of Smoke
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at BeeGeers@yahoo.com
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