The story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu dates back seven millennia and is one of war and aggression balanced by friendship, loyalty and peace.
Gilgamesh’s story was found on 12 tablets in the Library of King Assurbanipal of Nineveh. His epic tale is over 7000 years old and reveals much about the cultural attitudes by the Sumerians, a civilization based in what is present-day Iraq.
The tale recounts how Gilgamesh matures from being a cruel and selfish king to becoming a monarch fit to rule his own kingdom. Gilgamesh’s personal development is encouraged by the people he encounters on his journey and the most intimate relationship he forges is with Enkidu. In this character Gilgamesh finds a true friend and together they embark on many adventures. In many ways Enkidu is the opposite of Gilgamesh – he was raised by animals while Gilgamesh is a pampered sovereign – but it is through this contrast that Gilgamesh learns to assess his own behavior and begins to change.
The friendship theme of the story is one of polarity: a way of interpreting the world in terms of opposite forces. Gilgamesh is half human and half divine and must come to terms with his own mortality through his friendship with Enkidu. By contrast Enkidu is wild and connected to all life. Like Adam in Eden, his holistic nature is corrupted by contact with a woman who represents the awakening of his inner polarity into male and female.
Gilgamesh is dedicated to separation, famed for building walls; he seeks to establish himself at the cost of others. Enkidu is dedicated to union, fighting to reconcile opposites, in order to have integration. Together they challenge their known world, the authority of the gods and the sacred beings of nature. The moral of the tale is that life perpetuates through the alliance of opposites.
One friend balanced the other in this legend from Ancient Sumeria. A tale of opposites, the two mythical men forged a bond so strong that one lay down his life in defense of the other.
Gilgamesh was the young King of Uruk, but he was not popular with his people. His total lack of compassion led him to rape and murder arbitrarily and the people lived in fear of him. When things had got too much for them, they appealed to the gods for help. In response, the gods created Enkidu, his opposite, in order that he might match Gilgamesh’s strength and temper his actions. “Let them contend together and leave Uruk in peace”, they proclaimed.
Enkidu was born on the wild steppes and raised by beasts. He was covered in thick hair and communicated with the animals and nature spirits of the forests. However, Gilgamesh sent a prostitute to seduce him and corrupt his innocent nature. Enkidu was angry at this and went to Uruk to confront the king. They battled bravely and for the first time Gilgamesh realized that he had met his equal in strength and valor. They immediately became inseparable friends and Gilgamesh agreed to no longer abuse his power.
Together they set off on many epic adventures. They battled many dangers, always matching each other in strength and bravery. On their return Gilgamesh’s new positive attributes were noticed by the goddess Ishtar who chose him as her personal consort. No mortal man could hold this position of great honor forever, so Gilgamesh knew that to accept Ishtar’s mighty love would eventually mean his certain death. Unwilling to make this sacrifice, Gilgamesh refused the Queen of Heaven. Enraged by his rejection, Ishtar sent the Bull of Heaven to wreak destruction and havoc on earth. Together the friends killed the Bull and Enkidu tore off its leg and hurled it at the goddess, engendering his own death at her hands.
