Ninsun's Role In The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Ishtar

In “Epic of Gilgamesh”, a myriad of characters Gilgamesh interacts with and spends time with have a very important role in his story and the development of his character. Many of the people in Gilgamesh’s life and who surround him are men; however, two significant roles in his life are that of the women, Ninsun and Ishtar. While Ninsun and Ishtar’s role in Gilgamesh’s life are both paramount, they each play a very different part in his story. Ninsun creates a positive environment for Gilgamesh and provides wisdom and insight; however, Ishtar has a more devastating impact on Gilgamesh. Ninsun is the wise goddess mother of Gilgamesh; she is extremely devoted to him and shows consistent loyalty to her son throughout the Epic of Gilgamesh. One of the first instances Ninsun’s character is revealed is when Gilgamesh goes to her to interpret his dreams he has had about a rock he is attracted to “as if it were a woman” and a dream about an axe lying in …show more content…
Gilgamesh denied her and insulted her, which put Ishtar into a rage and sent her to her father Anu and asked for the Bull of Heaven who was then sent to battle Gilgamesh and Enkidu. They killed the Bull of Heaven, but Enkidu had a dream about Anu saying that because Enkidu and Gilgamesh killed the Bull of Heaven and the Humbaba, “one of the two must die” (Gilgamesh, 51). After this, Enkidu lay in sickness for twelve days and died. The death of Enkidu shook Gilgamesh so much that Gilgamesh fled Uruk in search of his failed mission to find immortality. Ishtar’s rage caused the death of Enkidu and ultimately sent Gilgamesh on his journey. Ishtar is selfish and full of anger and love for herself, so much that she hurts anyone she falls in love with who does not provide for her what she