The Epic of Gilgamesh characters

Gilgamesh

This character is the main one in the story. He is the protagonist there. He plays a role of the King of Uruk. His responsibility was to build the walls around the city to make people feel safe. He is very responsible for everything he does and tries to do everything for the benefit and interests...

Ishtar

Ishtar is the goddess of the most beautiful and awful things in the world – the first is related to Love, Fertility, and the second is related to War. Also, she is the daughter of Anu. Ishtar sends the Bull of Heaven to attack Gilgamesh. You may say – what? Are you okay? But...

Utnapishtim

Here we come to the character that can be easily described as a bad guy even antagonist. But first things first. His name is translated as “he who saw life.” Though we would like to interpret it in another way “he who saw death.” Why? This guy witnessed the death of the...

Engidu

Engidu is a good character in the story as well as. But talking about Gilgamesh, his character is developing and changing according to situations in his life. Engidu seems to be good all the time without any bad things or situations. In the most ancient story of all times, he appears as a good...

Aruru

The mother goddess who established life and death. A goddess of creation who fashioned Enkidu from clay and her spittle.  This goddess has a very important role and has a huge impact on the whole Mesopotamian mythology. If someone doesn’t know she is the creator of humankind according...

Anu

Briefly saying Anu is the father of the Sumerian Gods, also, the father of the gods and the god of the firmament. Ishtar appeals to him for help after Gilgamesh spurns her advances. But who wants reading briefly? Let’s get to know this character in more details. Anu is the god, who sits...

Ninsun

This character is Gilgamesh's mother and a goddess. She prays for Gilgamesh and Enkidu and their well ending as warriors against Humbaba. She is also called the Lady Wildcow Ninsun. She is a minor goddess, everyone respects and loves her for her wisdom. Her husband is Lugulbanda. Talking about...

Siduri

Siduri is a twofold character. In this story, she is a barmaid and an alewife that Gilgamesh encounters on his journey into the Underworld. Also, she lives in the cottage by the sea. She is the one who discourages Gilgamesh on his journey and his struggle to get immortality but ultimately directs...

Ur-Shanabi

Finally we get to the character who plays one of the most important roles in the story. He is the boatman who takes Gilgamesh over the waters of the dead to see Utnapishtim. Also, he is the guardian of the mysterious “stone things.” He is a very important and well-known personage...

Ea

He is the god of fresh water, crafts, and wisdom, a patron of humankind. Ea lives in Apsu, the primal waters below the Earth. It doesn’t even sound strange that the god of wisdom could be a good character in the book. He appears as a very fair, wise, smart and kind god in this story, and in...

Khumbaba

Khumbaba appears to be a fearsome evil demon in the Cedar Forest whose first aim is to protect it from any strangers he sees. The forest was forbidden to mortals’ entry. He is defeated and killed by Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the period of their quest. He was the character against who Ninsun...