GilgameshGilgameshBabylonian Mythology

Long time ago, in Uruk, there is a king named Gilgamesh. He was very rude to his people. The gods were mad at him so they made a powerful man with clay to fight against him. His name is Unkidu.

Gilgamesh knew the power of Enkidu. The king tried to distract him, so he commanded a beautiful woman, Shamhat, to seduce Enkidu. Enkidu fell in love and forgot his mission gradually.

One day, Shamhat took Enkidu to Uruk, he was angered from what Gilgamesh did and set up a fight against him.

After a furious fight, no one could beat the other and they became friends. Gilgamesh promised not to oppress his people and Enkidu protects Uruk with Gilgamesh together.

The two men dicided to find woods for their people. They entered the cedar forest. On their way, they killed Humbaba, the guardian of the cedar forest.

Few days later, Gilgamesh rejects the advances of the goddess Ishtar. She was angry and brought Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven to Uruk, despite the gods object to it. The vicious bull set up fire to Uruk and killed many people.

Once again, the two bravers defeated the bull and save Uruk. The people were happy, but Enkidu realized that since they've killed the Cedar forest Guardian and the Bull of heaven, someone will be in trouble.

Ishtar was angry about the bull's death and tried to revange. She gave deadly disease to Enkidu and within twelve days, he died. Gilgamesh was so sad about his friend's death. Alsough, he was fearful of his own death, so he set out a journey to find the way to be immortal.

He traveled to the underworld. There, he met Urshanabi the ferry man who helped Gilgamesh build a boat and cross the water of death.

Gilgamesh found Utnapishtim, the only man who had given the power to become immortal. He told Gilgamesh that there is a boxthorn-like plant in the deep ocean. Before Gilgamesh set up to find the herb, Utnapistim told him that nobody can go against the common fate of human.

Gilgamesh dived into the sea and found the herb. During the returning, Gilgamesh was too exhausted that he jumped into the water for a bath and leaved the plant on the bank. Unfortunately, a serpent saw the plant and swallowed it. With a big sense of distressed, Gilgamesh returned to Uruk and realized that it’s impossible to against the human fate.