“Gilgamesh” is an ancient Mesopotamian epic that was popular for its time and still discussed about to this day. Dating back to 1600 BC, the historical King of Uruk, named Gilgamesh, was an unkind man who treated his people unfairly- stole wives, daughters, and sons. As a result, the gods of heaven begged to the God of Uruk to create a man who was a reflection of Gilgamesh, therefore, Enkidu was created. Enkidu and Gilgamesh did not get along at the beginning, but soon after, they became friends. Enkidu did not only provide friendship for the hated King of Uruk, but he also changed him for the better. Because of Enkidu’s companionship, Gilgamesh went from being self-conceding to loving others, arrogant to modest, and came to realize he was
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Gilgamesh states that the reason he wanted to fight and defeat the “ferocious giant” was because of the fame and glory that would follow. Enkidu replies with the dangers there are to fighting Humbaba and that Gilgamesh would get hurt. Gilgamesh, as arrogant as he was, denied his inevitable defeat and forced Enkidu to join him in battle. While during the battle, Gilgamesh realized he would not win without the help of Shamash, the God of the sun. Once getting help from Shamash and Humbaba surrendered, Gilgamesh changed his mind and did not want to kill Humbaba because he “was moved with compassion,” even though he knew he had won, thus, Gilgamesh becomes less arrogant and more …show more content…
On Enkidu’s death bed, “Gilgamesh had peeled off his clothes, he listened to [Enkidu’s] words and wept quick tears, Gilgamesh listened and his tears flowed,” (28). Once his friend died, he told the counsellors of Uruk about Enkidu, calling him “my hand’s strength, the sword in my belt, the shield before me,” (29) admitting that he did not defeat Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven by himself. He cried for days and forced the workers of Uruk to sculpt a statue of his friend. A man of arrogance would not demand this unless something or someone had caused him to
Gilgamesh states that the reason he wanted to fight and defeat the “ferocious giant” was because of the fame and glory that would follow. Enkidu replies with the dangers there are to fighting Humbaba and that Gilgamesh would get hurt. Gilgamesh, as arrogant as he was, denied his inevitable defeat and forced Enkidu to join him in battle. While during the battle, Gilgamesh realized he would not win without the help of Shamash, the God of the sun. Once getting help from Shamash and Humbaba surrendered, Gilgamesh changed his mind and did not want to kill Humbaba because he “was moved with compassion,” even though he knew he had won, thus, Gilgamesh becomes less arrogant and more …show more content…
On Enkidu’s death bed, “Gilgamesh had peeled off his clothes, he listened to [Enkidu’s] words and wept quick tears, Gilgamesh listened and his tears flowed,” (28). Once his friend died, he told the counsellors of Uruk about Enkidu, calling him “my hand’s strength, the sword in my belt, the shield before me,” (29) admitting that he did not defeat Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven by himself. He cried for days and forced the workers of Uruk to sculpt a statue of his friend. A man of arrogance would not demand this unless something or someone had caused him to