Analyzing Gilgamesh and Enkidu: A Look into Mesopotamian Society

This essay provides a detailed comparison between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, two central figures in the Epic of Gilgamesh, to illuminate aspects of Mesopotamian civilization. It examines their initial encounter in a wrestling match, their development of a strong friendship, and their shared cou...Read More

Running head: COMPARISON OF GILGAMESH WITH ENKIDU
Comparison of Gilgamesh with Enkidu
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Author Note

1COMPARISON OF GILGAMESH WITH ENKIDU
Gilgamesh is considered to be one of the oldest written stories in the world. The story
is obtained from the country of ancient Sumeria and is said to have been written on the
surface of 12 clay tablets in the form of cuneiform. The epic tells the readers about the heroic
and historical adventures of King of Uruk. The epic is considered to be one of the best epics
in the modern world tells the readers not only about the lifestyle of the people of Gilgamesh
but also about the Mesopotamian Civilization in general to the readers as well. Therefore, it is
essential for the readers to understand the comparison between Gilgamesh as well as that of
Enkidu to ensure that the readers get to understand the major difference between the two
elements about which it has been stated in the Mesopotamian Civilization itself.
The purpose of this essay is to describe the comparison between Gilgamesh with
that of Enkidu to understand about the Mesopotamian Civilization itself.
In the epic of Gilgamesh, the readers get to know about the characters of Gilgamesh
and Enkidu and to find out how these characters are separate from each other. This
comparison will also form the basis of the information that the readers will be able to gather
about the Mesopotamian Civilization as well. This is evidenced by the characteristic traits
which both the characters display in the epic itself. It is seen by the readers themselves that
Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu first encounter each other in a wrestling field, where both of
them wrestle and Enkidu wins the contest. From this instance, it is clear that the ancient
Mesopotamian Civilization had contests like wrestling matches which the townspeople
themselves enjoyed very much. Similarly, the theme of friendship is also seen to be present in
the epic of Gilgamesh itself, as is seen in the instance of the friendship which develops
between the characters of Gilgamesh as well as Enkidu, after Enkidu wins the wrestling
match himself (Ausch, 2015). From this, the readers get the idea that both Gilgamesh as well
as Enkidu become good friends for the rest of the epic itself.

2COMPARISON OF GILGAMESH WITH ENKIDU
The characters are also compared and contrasted from each other on the basis of the
courage and the power which both of the characters seems to face in the epic itself. In the
epic, it is seen by the readers themselves that both Gilgamesh as well as Enkidu are men who
seemed to be very powerful as well as courageous. It is because of the courage and the power
which they have within each other makes them stand out from the rest of the crowd itself. It
is also these qualities inside these two men which causes them to always stand for what is
right in the world without tolerating any forms of evilness that the world throws at them.
These tells the readers that both the protagonists of the epic, both of them are heroic in nature
and both of these characters know how to resist evil. Apart from these comparisons and
contrasts, both the characters can also be compared and contrasted on the basis of their
attitude towards life and all the things which comprises of life itself (Postgate, 2017). This is
evidenced in the way in which both of their personalities clash when Enkidu opposes
Gilgamesh taking away brides on their wedding nights. This clashes in their personalities
leads to another fight between them in which Gilgamesh himself becomes the victor. Apart
from the confrontation which both of them share in the epic, they remain lifelong friends till
the end of the epic itself when Gilgamesh manages to defeat and conquer Humbaba.
From all the comparisons and the contrasts of the characters of Gilgamesh and
Enkidu, it can be stated that although they are similar to each other almost in all respects,
however, there are also difference between their characters as well. This is seen in the
character of Gilgamesh who never thinks about taking bribes, but Enkidu on the other hand,
stays true to his character and never for once falls for any kind of wickedness in their life. It
is because of these reasons that the character of Enkidu is said to be morally stronger than
that of the character of Gilgamesh. Apart from this , the epic also talks about the lifelong
friendship which these two characters share from the time that they first met each other in a
wrestling field. Enkidu is the perfect example of being a good friend for life to Gilgamesh

3COMPARISON OF GILGAMESH WITH ENKIDU
(West, 2016). This is seen in the epic in the way in which the Enkidu constantly provides
support to Gilgamesh in his quest of defeat of Humbaba. Gilgamesh is also seen to be sharing
the feelings of friendship with Enkidu in the way that he did not think that he will be able to
defeat Humbaba without the moral support of his friend Enkidu. Thus, the epic clearly states
the friendship that both these characters share with each other (Postgate, 2017). Thus, this
also forms an important point of comparison between the characters themselves in the epic.
Other than the friendships and the personalities that have been shared in the epic, it
also deals with the fears of both these characters as well. This is well evidenced in the epic
itself when it is found that both the characters experience fear at some point in their journeys
and need the support of each other in order to overcome each of their fears itself. This is
clearly presented in the epic when Gilgamesh is timid about killing Humbaba ad needs the
support of his friend in order to accomplish the objectives. This is the instance in the text
which proves the fact to the readers about the personal fears and the ways in which these
characters manage to overcome these problems themselves and come out winners of the
conquest. Thus, it can be said that the characters through their comparisons and contrasts,
tells the readers about the various ways in which the story of the epic progresses (West,
2016).
It is from the characters presented in the epic itself that the readers of the epic also
gets to know a lot about the ancient Mesopotamian Civilization, on which the epic is based.
This epic is one of the reasons that the readers of the modern era gets to know about the
adventures of Gilgamesh, also known as the heroic king of Uruk. Despite the time period of
the epic, it can be realized by the readers that the civilization was fairly advanced of its time
as is evidenced in the examples of the boats and the cities with houses and palaces in it
(Ausch, 2015). The epic also gives the idea to the readers that the ancient Mesopotamians

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have their own distinctive form of culture as well as their own particular language to
communicate with each other in the epic itself.
The readers also get the idea from the epic itself that the people of the city were fans
of the combat sports which were very prevalent in the Mesopotamian society during those
times. It is because of their love for the combat sports that they enjoy the wrestling matches
that used to take part in those days. The readers get the idea that even the kings used to
participate in such sports (Oppenheim, 2013). Another important factor which the epic tells
the readers about the Mesopotamian Civilization is the fact that the people used to believe in
Gods and Goddesses a lot. It is because of their faith and belief in God itself that the readers
find Gilgamesh as well as Enkidu being helped by Shamash and a number of other Gods and
Goddesses.
Thus, it can be seen that the epic of Gilgamesh has truly informed the readers about
the life and the times of the Mesopotamian Civilization and how such civilization has
influenced the life and the activities of the people who had lived around that time. This is
indeed one of the best ways of knowing about the civilization of a particular country in which
the author tells the readers about all the important developments in the country at the time the
epic was written by the author himself. This is basically what has been presented in the epic
itself by the author of the epic through his narration of the epic (Postgate, 2017).
From the above discussions, it can be concluded that the epic of Gilgamesh is indeed
one of the best epics written of all times. This is because this epic deals with a number of
subjects ranging from the politics in a country to the beliefs of the people as well as the
friendships between the protagonists which play an even important role in the whole epic
itself. Thus, it can be concluded by saying that The Epic of Gilgamesh truly explores the

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themes of friendship between the protagonist but at the same time, also tells the readers about
the times and situations of the city in those days as well.
Reference List
Abusch, T., & West, E. (2014). The Tale of the wild man and the courtesan in India and
Mesopotamia: the seductions of Ṛśyaśṛnga in the Mahābhārata and Enkidu in the Epic
of Gilgamesh. Melammu: The Ancient World in an Age of Globalization, 7, 13.
Cregan-Reid, V. (2015). Discovering Gilgamesh: Geology, narrative and the historical
sublime in Victorian culture.
Eknoyan, G. (2016, May). Beginnings—The Kidney and Nephrology in Ancient
Mesopotamian Culture. In Seminars in dialysis (Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 236-246).
Gadotti, A. (2014). Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld and the Sumerian Gilgamesh
Cycle (Vol. 10). Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Haubold, J. (2013). Greece and Mesopotamia: Dialogues in Literature. Cambridge
University Press.
Kriwaczek, P. (2014). Babylon: Mesopotamia and the birth of civilization. Atlantic Books
Ltd.
Oppenheim, A. L. (2013). Ancient Mesopotamia: portrait of a dead civilization. University of
Chicago Press.

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Postgate, N. (2017). Early Mesopotamia: society and economy at the dawn of history.
Routledge.