The Epic of Gilgamesh

Anonymous

18 pages 36-minute read

Anonymous

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Fiction | Poem | Adult

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Gilgamesh is the mighty king of ancient Uruk, possessing superhuman strength due to his semi-divine nature. Early in his reign, he operates as an unchecked tyrant, taking whatever he desires from his citizens, including claiming the virginity of new brides. His excessive energy and arrogance prompt the gods to create a wild man to act as his equal. Upon meeting his match, his focus shifts from terrorizing his own people to seeking legendary glory by hunting monsters in distant lands.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Enkidu

Son of Ninsun

Employer of Shamhat

Target of Ishtar

Opponent of Humbaba

Seeker of Utnapishtim

Protected by Shamash

Advised by Shiduri

Created by the gods in response to the desperate prayers of Uruk's suffering citizens, Enkidu is a wild man designed to counterbalance the powerful king. He initially lives peacefully with animals, completely unaware of human civilization or speech. After experiencing intimacy with a priestess, he gains human understanding but loses his connection to the animal kingdom, prompting him to travel to the city and challenge the king's abuses.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Gilgamesh

Civilized by Shamhat

Adopted son of Ninsun

Discovered by Trapper

Opponent of Humbaba

Comforted by Shamash

Supporting Characters

Shamhat is a priestess from Uruk whom the king dispatches into the wild with a specific assignment. Her task is to seduce and civilize a feral man, thereby severing his bond with the local animals. Her intimacy successfully transforms his mind, granting him human comprehension and a sudden desire for friendship.

Key Relationships

Civilizer of Enkidu

Subordinate to Gilgamesh

Ninsun is a goddess and the mother of the king of Uruk. She cares deeply for her son's well-being despite his dangerous, prideful ambitions. When he decides to travel to the Cedar Forest, she formally adopts his companion to ensure the two men watch over each other.

Key Relationships

Mother of Gilgamesh

Adoptive mother of Enkidu

Utnapishtim is a former mortal king of the city Shuruppak who survived a catastrophic global flood. As a reward for saving human and animal life by building a massive ship, the gods granted him eternal life. He lives in deep isolation across a dangerous ocean, holding the secrets to eternal life that terrified mortals desperately seek.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Gilgamesh

Husband of Utnapishtim's Wife

Chosen survivor of Ea

Humbaba is a fearsome monster tasked with guarding the distant Cedar Forest. He is a formidable adversary whose very roar causes even mighty warriors to freeze in terror. He fiercely defends his territory against invaders seeking legendary fame.

Key Relationships

Enemy of Gilgamesh

Enemy of Enkidu

Ishtar is a powerful goddess who becomes physically infatuated with the king of Uruk. She immediately attempts to seduce him and expects total compliance. When he rejects her advances, her infatuation violently turns to outrage, and she demands devastating retribution to soothe her wounded pride.

Key Relationships

Spurned suitor of Gilgamesh

Master of Bull of Heaven

Shamash is the sky god who takes an active, helpful interest in the heroes' endeavors. He provides crucial divine assistance during combat against fearsome monsters. He also intervenes directly to offer comfort and reason to mortals in distress.

Key Relationships

Divine helper of Gilgamesh

Divine comforter of Enkidu

Shiduri runs a tavern near the edge of the world. When she meets a grieving traveler seeking eternal life, she attempts to redirect his focus. She encourages him to abandon his impossible quest and instead embrace the simple joys of mortal life, such as clean clothes, good food, and family.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Gilgamesh

Director to Urshanabi

Urshanabi is a ferryman who travels across the deadly ocean separating the mortal world from the realm of the immortals. He relies on a crew to operate his vessel, and he must instruct his passengers on how to survive the dangerous crossing when his normal methods are disrupted.

Key Relationships

Guide to Gilgamesh

Commander of Stone Men

The unnamed wife of the flood survivor shares his eternal life at the edge of the world. She demonstrates deep pity for the exhausted traveler who arrives at their home. She insists on providing the traveler with a parting gift to ease his arduous journey back to civilization.

Key Relationships

Wife of Utnapishtim

Host to Gilgamesh

The Bull of Heaven is a massive, supernatural beast unleashed upon the mortal realm. It serves as a devastating instrument of divine vengeance, destroying the landscape until it is confronted by the kingdom's protectors.

Key Relationships

Weapon of Ishtar

Opponent of Gilgamesh

Ea is a clever god who disagrees with the divine council's unanimous decision to wipe out humanity with a massive flood. To circumvent the strict rules of the gods, he quietly passes a warning to a mortal king, allowing humanity and animal life to survive the impending cataclysm.

Key Relationships

Divine warner of Utnapishtim

The Scorpion Woman stands watch at the treacherous tunnel where the sun travels at night. She observes the profound despair driving a mortal traveler who approaches her post. Recognizing his urgency, she grants him passage and warns him to run fast before the sun returns.

Key Relationships

Guard permitting Gilgamesh

Partner of Scorpion Man

The Scorpion Man is a supernatural guardian stationed at the edge of the known world. He controls access to the dark passage that runs through the earth, confronting travelers who attempt to navigate the treacherous route.

Key Relationships

Partner of Scorpion Woman

Guard observing Gilgamesh

The trapper is a regular human making his living by hunting in the wilderness. He is the very first person to spot a feral human running with the local wildlife, and he swiftly brings news of this strange being back to civilization.

Key Relationships

Discoverer of Enkidu

The Stone Men are supernatural beings who serve as the crew for the ferryman crossing the deadly ocean. They are essential for navigating the dangerous waters that separate the mortal realm from the land of the immortals.

Key Relationships

Crew for Urshanabi

Opponent of Gilgamesh