Gilgamesh (mythology)

Gilgamesh is one of the most significant figures in ancient mythology, renowned as the protagonist of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known works of literary fiction. He was a king of the Sumerian city-state of Uruk, located in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). While historically, Gilgamesh may have been a real king who ruled sometime around 2900–2500 BCE, the character in mythology takes on a semi-divine nature, being two-thirds god and one-third human, according to the epic.
Gilgamesh’s mythological tales date back to early Sumerian poems that likely existed orally before being written down. He is listed in the Sumerian King List, which records rulers of ancient Mesopotamia, suggesting he was a historical figure. The epic itself, composed during the 2nd millennium BCE, brings together various earlier Sumerian legends about Gilgamesh.
== Biography ==
=== The Epic of Gilgamesh ===
The Epic of Gilgamesh is the best-known account of his adventures and remains one of the oldest surviving pieces of world literature. The story was preserved on clay tablets in Akkadian cuneiform script. The most complete version was found in the ruins of the Library of Ashurbanipal, the last great king of Assyria, in Nineveh.
The narrative follows Gilgamesh’s journey from a tyrannical and arrogant king to a wise and self-aware ruler. Some major themes of the epic include friendship, the human condition, the quest for immortality, and the inevitability of death.
=== Friendship with Enkidu ===
In the epic, Gilgamesh begins as a powerful but harsh ruler. The gods create Enkidu, a wild man, to challenge him. After a battle, the two become close friends. Together, they undertake dangerous quests, including slaying the guardian of the Cedar Forest, Humbaba, and killing the Bull of Heaven sent by the goddess Ishtar.
=== The Death of Enkidu ===
After these feats, the gods decide to punish Gilgamesh by taking the life of Enkidu. His death devastates Gilgamesh, sending him on a quest to find the secret of immortality and escape the fate of all humans.
=== The Search for Immortality ===
Gilgamesh’s journey leads him to Utnapishtim, a survivor of a great flood (similar to the biblical Noah), who was granted immortality by the gods. Utnapishtim shares the story of the flood but tells Gilgamesh that immortality is beyond human reach.
=== Return to Uruk ===
After failing to attain eternal life, Gilgamesh returns to Uruk, accepting his mortality. His final realization is that the legacy of his rule, the great city he has built, and his people will outlive him, offering a different kind of immortality.
== Gallery ==
Gilgamesh by artozi-d858iqt.jpg
Ancient epic s enduring legacy.jpg
File:Enkidu-wrestles-with-Gilgamesh.jpg.webp
File:Gilgamesh-the-king-of-Sumerian-city-of-Uruk.jpg.webp
File:SkinArt Gilgamesh Default.webp
Category:Mythology Heroes
Category:Mythical
Category:Soul Searchers
Category:Male
Category:Lawful Good
Category:Heroes from the Past
Category:Honorable
Category:Titular
Category:Fighters
Category:One-Man Army
Category:The Hero
Category:The Chosen One
Category:Famous
Category:Paragon
Category:Monster Slayers
Category:Monarchs
Category:Aristocrats
Category:Insecure
Category:Virtually Resourceful
Category:Truth-Seekers
Category:Role Models
Category:Legacy
Category:Legendary