Gilgamesh and the Gods

Because the Babylonians believed that they were created from the blood of the slain god Quingu, it also gives them an inherently closer relationship with the gods than we can see in many other religions of ancient civilizations. With the people being born directly from gods rather than created indirectly by them, we can expect some god like traits to spring up from time to time in the average person living in Babylonia . The Epic of Gilgamesh shows clear evidence that the god's close relation to mankind has caused many humans to adopt godlike powers.

The first major example that is clearly evident in the Epic of Gilgamesh is the existence of Gilgamesh himself. Gilgamesh is described in the epic as a man with a massive amount of power, a man who rules a kingdom with an iron fist. We see examples of his great strength in the text, “Two-thirds of him was divine, and one-third mortal. Belet-ili designed the shape of his body, made his form perfect,” So it can obviously be concluded that Gilgamesh is partially a god, which is a perfect explanation as to how he got his super-human abilities. The existence of a man who is part god part man is able to occur because of the similarities between the gods and the regular humans. If the two groups of people were indeed anatomically similar, as is suggested in the text, they could reproduce and create hybrid beings as we see in the man Gilgamesh. If one such hybrid being exists it can be assumed that there are many more, “And Ishtar the princess raised her eyes to the beauty of Gilgamesh. ‘Come to me, Gilgamesh, and be my lover! Bestow upon me the gift of your fruit!” This supports this fact further by showing that gods or goddesses will sometimes attempt to become involved with a mortal. The gods intermingling with the humans is a major example of how the godly powers could be passed down onto regular humans.

The gods in the Epic of Gilgamesh interfere with Gilgamesh's evil doings to the people living under his rule by introducing a new godly creature onto the earth. Enkidu is supposed to be the one great force that can stop Gilgamesh, matching his physical prowess with animal instinct and raw strength. Enkidu is a creation of the gods, not created out of god's blood but rather from clay, “'Let them be regular rivals, and let Uruk be allowed peace!' When Aruru heard this, she created inside herself the word of Anu. Aruru washed her hands, pinched off a piece of clay and cast it into open country” In this quotation it is clear that Enkidu was created not from the blood of a god, but rather formed in the wilderness out of clay. This fact would seemingly have no impact on the god's blood abilities if it wasn't for what followed Enkidu's creation shortly after. Enkidu is led into having sex with a prostitute, causing much of his animalistic ability to fade: “His legs, which used to keep pace with his cattle, were at a standstill. Enkidu had been diminished, he could not run as before.” Unlike Gilgamesh, who could rape any woman he pleased and still maintain his strength, Enkidu was doomed to lose much of his ability after having sex with a single woman. It could be said that Gilgamesh could have such a promiscuous lifestyle because he was a direct link from the gods, while Enkidu was a mere fabrication. Likewise, regular humans did not suffer a loss in ability when they engaged in intercourse, presumably due to the god's blood within them. The ability to have intercourse could then possibly be seen as a godly ability granted to the mortal humans through blood.

Ut-napishtim was a regular human mortal at one point, who was granted the gift of immortality upon his survival of the great flood that the gods spread upon humanity. He has no real heightened status above any other mortal human is concerned, but the fact that he is immortal sets him apart well enough. Ut-napishtim has exiled himself, seemingly to avoid interaction with any other humans for reasons unknown. “They cast off the magillu-boat and sailed away. (After) a journey of a new moon and a full moon, on the third day.”

The amazing distance Ut-napishtim as put between himself and the rest of the world is absurd, and while he was only granted immortality by the gods, he got more than they may have anticipated. Ut-napishtim gained a godly ability beyond immortality, knowledge. He is a very wise man, having lived for many years longer than any other human, he gives Gilgamesh advice one might only ever hear from a god in any other tale. He gives Gilgamesh not only a lesson in living, but offers him the chance for immortality as well, so it could be assumed he has the ability to grant such a trait.” That you too may find eternal life which you seek? For a start, you must not sleep for six days and seven nights.” When Gilgamesh fails the trial he is then given the location of a plant which could give him renewed youth, something, once again, only someone with godly knowledge would know.

It is easy to see that the close relations the people had to their gods, in both relationships as well as in direct heritage, has on occasion imbued some people with god like powers. It can be said that the physical prowess of Gilgamesh, the loss of powers in Enkidu, and the vast knowledge of Ut-napishtim are all the results of godly powers being given to regular human mortals.

Bibliography

Dalley, Stephanie. (2000). “Gilgamesh”. Myths from Mesopotamia (50-125). New York : Oxford University Press.
Stephanie Dalley. Myths from Mesopotamia , New York : Oxford University Press. 51