Humbaba

“The Epic of Gilgamesh” is an epic poem written by Morris Jastrow, Jr. that is centered around the character Gilgamesh and his many endeavors. He is best described as a great leader who is powerful, strong, and determined. Although there is something very different about Gilgamesh that we see in no other character throughout our readings, he is two-thirds god and one third man. Gilgamesh is on the edge of being a god, but his lineage causes him to be part human. Therefore, by being human, he is…

wild man and with great ferocity, the two battle for forty days until Gilgamesh proves himself to be the stronger of the two. Setting their differences aside, they become the best of friends. The two proceed to go on a journey to defeat the creature Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest. Though none who tried before…

Literary and artistic practices have long since given us an idea about the practices and culture within ancient civilizations, that we are still attempting to discover information today. Two civilizations that we have received the most knowledge about through their written text are Mesopotamia and Egypt. For the Egyptian perspective, The Instructions of Merikare, a letter addressed from a father to a son about how to be an effective pharaoh, is able to be analyzed to determine facts about…

one must know the story of the epic(duh). So long story short, a king named Gilgamesh meets a beast named Enkidu, they meet(they fight actually), and it was love at first punch. Gilgamesh now considers Enkidu as his equal. They fight a demon named Humbaba. They return. Ishtar, the goddess of love likes…

Essay Gilgamesh never experienced the feeling of sadness. He lived his life privileged as the king of Uruk, lavished by the gods. He acted lawlessly, avoiding any punishment at all. Then, the gods had retribution towards Gilgamesh for killing Humbaba. They killed his greatest friend, his brother, Enkidu. Enkidu’s death changes Gilgamesh’s disposition as he spends most of his time mourning, he noticeably becomes more industrious, and his decisions become more irrational; this changes his…

Power is the defining force in The Epic of Gilgamesh, but power comes in varying forms. In this essay, I will discuss the emphasis of power, how power is obtained, and the distinction of power in male and female characters and through this, it’s evident male power dominates due to Gilgamesh’s power as a king and his ability to defeat a god. The importance of power is what drives the tale of Gilgamesh. His desire for control over the people outside and within his country leads Gilgamesh on his…

loss, just like Gilgamesh grieved for Enkidu. But my mother was a very strong woman and accepted his death, for death is inevitable. Gilgamesh is bitter that only the gods can live forever, and says so when Enkidu urges him away from the fight with Humbaba. Enkidu’s death causes Gilgamesh to be so distraught that he seeks out Utnapishtim to learn the secret of immortality. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh the…

An individual’s understanding of death goes through various stages. In the beginning, one is consumed with abstract ideas pertaining to death, existing in thought but with no actual physical evidence. Then as one experiences life, their views on death begin to change and shape as they experience the world, thus forming a physical reality where everyone is subject to death. The tales of both Ivyn Ilych and Gilgamesh capture their experiences and subsequent confrontation with death. Each character…

Mesopotamia, better known as present-day Iraq. It was written on cuneiform tablets between 2,700 B.C.E. and 600 B.C. This story displays examples of love, religion, and sacrifice between two ancient heroes. In this epic, two kings, Gilgamesh and Enkidu go through many challenges that test their character, strength, and end up changing them by the end of the novel. This story is named after King Gilgamesh, who ruled the city of Uruk around 2,700 B.C.E. He was two-thirds divine and one-third…

and the seeming inevitability of death. The people had little idea of an afterlife and felt that a life’s actions did not affect its ultimate place. Gilgamesh felt that the only value in life was fame; when speaking to Enkidu about the battle with Humbaba, Gilgamesh states: “If I fall on my way, I’ll establish my name. (2.183)” Ideas such as this play into the daily mentality of the people as they struggle to find purpose in life. The nature of the gods also plays a role in this; the gods do not…