Enkidu

**Enkidu** was a legendary human in The Epic of Gilgamesh. He was the best friend of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk.

## Overview

Enkidu was a wild man created by the gods to be as powerful as Gilgamesh in order to counter him. However, after a confrontation, the two became friends. He was very caring of him and consoled him when he was unsure of the meaning of his his dreams. The two eventually killed two of the gods' great creations, Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, so the gods unanimously decided that Enkidu would die. At his death, he lamented that he did not die in battle, since his slow death gave him nothing at all.

## Legends Summarized

### The Epic of Gilgamesh

After some petitioning from the citizens of Uruk who were being abused by Gilgamesh, the gods decided to create Enkidu as a rival to Gilgamesh. He was put in the wild with the animals and began causing problems for the local hunters. To remediate the situation, the hunters brought the prostitute Shamhat to Enkidu to "civilize" him. They have sex for a week, and Enkidu learns how to be civilized, at which point they continued having sex for another week.

Shamhat eventually told Enkidu of Gilgamesh's actions, so he decided to go fight him in a 1v1. As he and Shamhat entered Uruk, the people gazed in astonishment. When Gilgamesh approached the most recent newlywed's home, Enkidu stopped him and challenged him to battle. The two fought; when they finished, the two kissed and became brothers for life. Enkidu was then introduced to Gilgamesh's mother, the goddess Ninsun

After Gilgamesh decided to go out and kill Humbaba in the Forest of Cedar, Enkidu tried to dissuade him from the quest. After failing to do so, he decided to accompany him instead. During their journey, Enkidu consoled Gilgamesh when he had dreams by assuring him that they were good omens. The two finally confronted Humbaba and slayed him, taking the cedar wood with them. Later, after Gilgamesh rejected Ishtar, she released the Bull of Heaven to wreak havoc on Earth as revenge. Enkidu and Gilgamesh made quick work of it, however, and then sacrificed it and partied.

That night, Enkidu had a dream. In it, the gods decided that one of the two must die for killing both Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. Despite some initial reluctance, every god decided that Enkidu was the more expendable of the two. He woke up heartbroken, knowing his fate was sealed. He went to Shamash to curse everything he had learned from civilization and Shamhat. Shamash then lightly scolded him, telling him of all that he had received, especially his relationship with Gilgamesh. Now calmed down, Enkidu asked that Shamhat be blessed to be the greatest, most promiscuous prostitute ever.

Enkidu later had a second dream: he was dragged into the underworld by a lion-bird-man and processed before the gods of the underworld. He woke up sick and deteriorated over the next twelve days. As he died, he said he regretted not dying in battle, since his slow death gave him nothing. He then died, and Gilgamesh built a statue and made many sacrifices in his honor.

## Physical Appearance

Enkidu was tall and strong. He also had long hair and a beard as well as green eyes and fangs.

## Links

* Legends Summarized: The Epic of Gilgamesh