The gods
play very active roles in . Gilgamesh himself is the son of an immortal
mother and is often called two-thirds god and one-third man (although he was still unable to
achieve immortality). Gilgameshs best friend, and arguably the second most important character
in the Epic, is the wild man Enkidu, who is made out of clay and water by a creation goddess
named Aruru. Aruru creates Enkidu to be Gilgameshs equal in order to check his power and help
put an end to his arrogance.
Another goddess who involves herself in
Gilgameshs life is Ishtar. She is an important deity of love and war in Sumerian religion. In
The Epic of Gilgamesh, she proposes to the , but Gilgamesh refuses her.
Enraged by the rejection, Ishtar sends down a Bull of Heaven which wreaks havoc until Gilgamesh
and Enkidu succeed in slaying the divine beast. This event leads to Enkidus death and ultimately
propels Gilgameshs quest for immortality.
The gods in the world of Gilgamesh
can be petty, wrathful, merciful, and lovingbut they are certainly endowed with humanistic
qualities. They effect the mortal world directly at their leisuresimilar to the Greek
pantheon.
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