Uruk The City Of Gilgamesh Analysis

Uruk: The City of the Ox

Uruk, the ancient city built by the mighty hands of Gilgamesh. The sheer height of it’s wall displays the city’s undeniable power, with each brick made to fit by the finest groove and laid by powerful hands. Entering through the tall cedar doors, of which intricate designs are carved, stone roads are laid out in organized lines. The buildings, much like the wall itself, shine as bright as copper. On every corner there are ornaments and potted plants, which provide a sense of livelihood to the otherwise bare streets. Further down the narrow path enclosed by buildings, there is a clearing where a market resides. Cabanas of every known color are present in this market, and each one holds wares from all around the world. Bright music filters through the air as street musicians play for coin. The smell, before clear and fresh, is now rich with spices, sweets, fruits, and more. The crowd of people moves past like schools of fish, all in a hurry to complete the day’s tasks. Further beyond the market and the houses, lies the vast fields of Uruk. Each and every one of these fields have been cultivated for …show more content…
He views himself as above regular mortals, and therefore has no empathy for their lives. As such he is a harsh king, and causes his people so much pain and suffering that they cry out to the goddess Aruru to create a man his equal- so that stormy heart may contend with stormy heart. Enkidu manages to bade his apathy for a brief while, but even then the city suffers. For example, Gilgamesh’s refusal of Ishtar results in the death of two-hundred people, yet he feels no remorse. Enkidu is slain by the gods as a result of Gilgamesh’s actions, yet guilt does not weigh on his heart. His inability to view himself as a mortal is the reason why the people of Uruk suffer so much: for a king that cannot empathize with his people, certainly cannot save them from