Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh was one of the earliest figures in human history to stand at the intersection between fact and myth. While he was the semi-divine protagonist of The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of humanity’s oldest surviving literary epics, he was also a real-world Sumerian king. In this post, we’ll find out exactly how Gilgamesh rose to become a god-king of Sumer.

First, let’s look at the historical background behind Gilgamesh’s reign. In the fertile region of ancient Mesopotamia, Sumerian city-states such as Uruk and Ur flourished. They had complex political structures and larger-than-life architecture. Being a king of cities like these was seen as a sacred duty. Rulers were expected to maintain order, defend their people, and honour the gods who had entrusted them with such authority. This was why the Mesopotamian kings often became revered, their reputations growing long after their deaths.

Gilgamesh, himself, appeared in the Sumerian King List as the fifth ruler of Uruk’s First Dynasty. His reign was roughly circa 2700 BCE. There are also other records in the early Sumerian texts that corroborate this. He was the king of Uruk, one of the world’s first major cities. Uruk was known for its monumental temples and thriving population. It was the centre of political, economic, and religious life in ancient Mesopotamia. So, it was hardly surprising that a king of such a thriving city would go on to be immortalised in myth and memory.

One of the earliest known Gilgamesh myths is the tale of Gilgamesh and Agga, which depicts a conflict between Uruk and Kish. It is important to note that while the narrative is not a historical chronicle, both kings do appear in the Sumerian King List, and some scholars even believe the story was representative of an early conflict between Uruk and Kish. In the tale, Kish demanded labourers from Uruk. Fearing war with Kish, the city elders of Uruk advised submission. Gilgamesh, however, chose to resist. He rallied his armies within Uruk and bolstered the city’s defences. He eventually confronted King Agga, and the conflict ended with Gilgamesh’s triumph.

Another myth told of how Gilgamesh confronted the formidable divine guardian, Humbaba, in search of fame. Despite warnings about Humbaba’s immense strength, Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu set out on the perilous journey to the Cedar Forest. They reached the forest and battled the monster. With the assistance of divine winds, Gilgamesh managed to kill Humbaba. He returned to Uruk with the sacred cedar as a trophy of his great deed.

Not long after he returned home, the goddess Inanna (later known as Ishtar) attempted to seduce Gilgamesh. He refused her advances, reminding Inanna of the fates of her previous lovers. Insulted, she persuaded her father, Anu, to unleash the Bull of Heaven upon Uruk. The monster brought devastation and destruction to the city. Gilgamesh and Enkidu confronted the Bull. After a fierce struggle, they defeated it. Their victory, however, incurred the wrath of the gods, who decided that one of the heroes must pay for the death of such a divine creature. They choose to punish Enkidu. He soon fell ill. After days of suffering, Enkidu died. Gilgamesh was devastated. He mourned bitterly for his friend, refusing to accept the finality of death. This makes him fear his own mortality.

Gilgamesh eventually left Uruk and set out on a long, dangerous quest to find Utnapishtim, the only mortal to have been granted eternal life. Gilgamesh hoped Utnapishtim would reveal the secret of escaping death. However, Utnapishtim explained that Gilgamesh’s quest had been for nothing; eternal life was a gift from the gods and not something humans could ever attain on their own. It is important to note that while Gilgamesh was two-thirds god, he was still one-third human, which meant he could never attain immortality. Sorrow-stricken, Gilgamesh returned to Uruk. There, he ruled for many years, until he finally died of old age.

Gilgamesh was a king whose rule left a lasting impression on the political landscape of early Mesopotamia. So much so that, over the centuries that followed, stories about his life evolved into a rich tapestry of legend. So, even though Gilgamesh could not escape death in his lifetime, his story will live forever in mythology.