Very early civilizations around the world after learning how to communicate were in awe of the world around them. Many made up stories of how things came to be using larger than life beasts, events and humans which were later transformed into Gods.

The story of Gilgamesh begins with him as a tyrant. He rules very harshly, making his people slaves to building projects and murdered at his whim. The people of the city of Uruk, the place where Gilgamesh rules, beg the Gods for help from their awful ruler. The God’s answer the prayers by sending a wild man named Enkidu, who was part beast and part man to challenge Gilgamesh.

After there battle, Gilgamesh and Enkidu become friends and Gilgamesh realizes he must treat his people better. The two then begin a series of adventures.

What do you think that this early part of the story is telling us about early human civilization?

Why do you think his friendship with the wild man Enkidu turns him from being a mean ruler into a good one?

Gilgamesh and Enkidu, now friends set off for a famous forest in order to get wood for his city. The forest is guarded by a terrible demon named Humbaba. They defeat him and clear the forest.

After his slaying of Humbaba and the clearing and providing wood for his city, Gilgamesh becomes very popular, even the gods notice. One female goddess named, Ishtar, wants to marry Gilgamesh but he refuses and insults her. She sends a fever to kill not him but his best friend Enkidu.

After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh begins fearing for his own life and begins a quest for immortality. According to the story there is one person who has survived since the Gods had purged the earth, his name was Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh of how he survived the flood that destroyed humanity.

Does this story sound familiar to one that you may have heard?