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 in Mesopotamian mythology. But the author of the text made an accent on people’s knowledge about all those gods and goddesses that is why he didn’t open any of them in the story very much.

Now, let’s see in details who is that character and what will be with Gilgamesh without him. Urshanabi pilots a small ferryboat across the Waters of Death to the Far Away place where Utnapishtim lives. Also, getting Gilgamesh on his boat he immediately loses this privilege that is why he returns with him to Uruk.

Firstly we get to know this character in the myth of Enlil and Ninlil, where he is called SI.LU.IGI and described as a man. But in the Epic of Gilgamesh, he becomes a friend of Gilgamesh after the death of Enkidu. His appearance and existence in the text are very important. Without him, Gilgamesh will never get to the place he and Enkidu needed to get. Also, after Enkidu’s death, he helps the main hero to get through the forest, conquer all the animals and creatures. It shows us that Ur-Shanabi is a very helpful character who is always there for people he cares about.