The protagonist or main character of the Epic of Gilgamesh. An historical figure who ruled Uruk around 2700 B.C., Gilgamesh is the child of Lugulbanda, a divine king, and Ninsun, and in the Epic's famous words, "Two thirds they made him god and one third man" (1. 61). Gilgamesh is the semi-divine king of Uruk; the special charge of Shamash, the sun god; sometime consort of Ishtar, goddess of love; and builder of the mighty city of Uruk and its great temple Eanna. Originally the subject of at least five ancient Sumerian myths, Gilgamesh becomes the main character in a Babylonian...
Source: Epics for Students, ©2013 Gale Cengage. All Rights Reserved. Full copyright.
(The entire page is 629 words.)
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