In many epics, women play different roles. Some roles of women that occur are: The ‘Fatal Woman’/ The Temptress, The Earth Mother, The Unfaithful Woman/Whore, The Wife, and The Priestess/ Prostitute. In the epic, Gilgamesh, the Sumerian views of woman can be identified. Gilgamesh approaches different women on his journey to kill Humbaba/ Bull of Heaven and to find eternal life. Some of the woman help Gilgamesh while others repress his journey. Ninsun, Gilgamesh’s mom, helps Gilgamesh on his journey to kill Humbaba. Ishtar, goddess of love and war, tries to hurt and repress Gilgamesh. Utnapishtim’s wife, helps Gilgamesh by convincing Utnapishtim to help Gilgamesh on his journey. Ninsun, Ishtar, and Utnapishtim’s wife have certain roles in Gilgamesh
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Ishtar is the Goddess of love, fertility, and of war. As the unfaithful woman, they are not trustworthy and can ruin someone’s heart or someone’s life. Ishtar is an example of the unfaithful woman because she tries to ruin after Gilgamesh refuses to marry her. Gilgamesh refuses to marry her because she has done terrible things to other men. Gilgamesh explains that Ishtar “loved the lion and gave him pits to fall in and the horse whose back you wounded wit the whip, he shouted back at her. Your love brings only war”(Mason 43)! Ishtar has ruined the lives of other men besides Gilgamesh. She has made men hurt and suffer due to her own insecurity. Ishtar is not faithful to any man and Gilgamesh is aware of it. Gilgamesh refuses to marry Ishtar because of her being unfaithful and to save his own life. Ishtar in response to the refusal goes to her father and asks him permission to bring suffrage to Gilgamesh. Ishtar exclaims to Anu to not listen to the old gods. “But only to ask him [Anu] to make for her [Ishtar] the Bull of Heaven to destroy this man. I will send him something he would never wish to dream” (Mason 44). To get revenge on Gilgamesh, Ishtar wants to make Gilgamesh suffer by not only killing him but even more innocent people She has her emotions get the best of her and makes her summon a great beast to cause harm and punish Gilgamesh. Ishtar is unstable and unfaithful due to the fact that she cannot emotionally handle denial. Ishtar wants to marry Gilgamesh but after the refusal, decides to interfere with Gilgamesh and cause
Ishtar is the Goddess of love, fertility, and of war. As the unfaithful woman, they are not trustworthy and can ruin someone’s heart or someone’s life. Ishtar is an example of the unfaithful woman because she tries to ruin after Gilgamesh refuses to marry her. Gilgamesh refuses to marry her because she has done terrible things to other men. Gilgamesh explains that Ishtar “loved the lion and gave him pits to fall in and the horse whose back you wounded wit the whip, he shouted back at her. Your love brings only war”(Mason 43)! Ishtar has ruined the lives of other men besides Gilgamesh. She has made men hurt and suffer due to her own insecurity. Ishtar is not faithful to any man and Gilgamesh is aware of it. Gilgamesh refuses to marry Ishtar because of her being unfaithful and to save his own life. Ishtar in response to the refusal goes to her father and asks him permission to bring suffrage to Gilgamesh. Ishtar exclaims to Anu to not listen to the old gods. “But only to ask him [Anu] to make for her [Ishtar] the Bull of Heaven to destroy this man. I will send him something he would never wish to dream” (Mason 44). To get revenge on Gilgamesh, Ishtar wants to make Gilgamesh suffer by not only killing him but even more innocent people She has her emotions get the best of her and makes her summon a great beast to cause harm and punish Gilgamesh. Ishtar is unstable and unfaithful due to the fact that she cannot emotionally handle denial. Ishtar wants to marry Gilgamesh but after the refusal, decides to interfere with Gilgamesh and cause