While Gilgamesh is a revered, courageous, masculine king, the people of Uruk initially complain to the gods about Gilgamesh's unscrupulous, arrogant behavior. The citizens of Uruk complain that Gilgamesh takes every son away from his father, overworks the inhabitants of the city, and does not behave like a shepherd towards his people. The people also fear Gilgamesh and complain about him having sex with every virgin bride before they consummate their marriages with their husbands. The god Anu listens to the citizens of Uruk lament about Gilgamesh's brutish behavior and instructs the goddess Aruru to create another demigod that will challenge Gilgamesh's authority. Aruru ends up creating Enkidu, who attempts to defeat Gilgamesh but loses and becomes close friends with the king. Gilgamesh and Enkidu embark on a quest and perform miraculous feats together. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh attempts to achieve immortality by traveling to the ends of the earth to meet with Utnapishtim. At the end of the epic, Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with a new outlook on life and the wisdom to become a better king.
No comments:
Post a Comment