The Coming of Enkidu #

Gilgamesh is king of Uruk; he is ⅔ god and ⅓ man and is a tyrannical ruler and big-time rapist.It’s going to be a challenge to find philosophical and stoic parallels, I think!

His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble; yet this is the shepherd of the city, wise, comely, and resolute.

The Gods Create Enkidu to Counterbalance Gilgamesh #

A trapper is upset about Enkidu freeing all of his game. 

The trapper goes to Urku to ask for a harlot from Gilgamesh. Wow, first impressions after just a few pages in the portal of women are bad. I understand that it is expected for the time, but wow! Give me a whore so that I can seduce this wild man and tame him.

Take with you a harlot, a child of pleasure. At the drinking hole she will strip, and when he sees her beckoning he will embrace her, and then the wild beasts will reject him.

So much to unpack here! Men have no power against the seductive woman, lol.

Enkidu challenges Gilgamesh to fight, and of course, they become close friends after the fight.

The Forest Journey #

This is where more philosophical parallels begin to emerge with Partnership in Virtue, Facing Mortality,  Mutual Accountability,  Shared Purpose, Facing Fear, and Glory Through Action.

Gilgamesh gets counsel from his mother before going off to kill Humbaba.

Ninsun, “she put on a dress becoming to her body, she put on jewels to make her breast beautiful”. Lol this is Gilgamesh’s mother. I see how it is in this family….

On the journey to the land of Humbaba, they travel 150 miles on foot in one day. Yikes, they would have to walk 6 miles per hour nonstop for 24 hours.  I guess if you want to build on their prowess, this will do it.

They reach the forest, and Gilgamesh calls Enkidu a coward. However, the following day, Gilgamesh has a dream of terror and confusion. Instead of braiding Gilgamesh, Enkidu comforts him, ensuring that things will be okay.

Gilgamesh chides Enkidu’s fear:

Dear friend, do not speak like a coward. Have we got the better of so many dangers and traveled so far to turn back at last?

Gilgamesh then encourages Enkidu:

You, who are tried in wars and battles, hold close to me now and you will feel no fear of death; keep beside me and your weakness will pass, the trembling will leave your hand.

Later by the forest’s edge, Enkidu rallies Gilgamesh:

O Gilgamesh, remember now your boasts in Uruk. Forward, attack, son of Uruk, there is nothing to fear.

They alternate between supporting each other, with Gilgamesh first pushing past Enkidu’s doubts and then Enkidu later encouraging Gilgamesh to live up to his bold words. Their mutual encouragement helps them face Humbaba together.

Partnership in Virtue #

Parallels with Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations emphasize supporting fellow humans in their pursuit of virtue. Gilgamesh and Enkidu strengthen each other’s courage and resolve, saying, “When two go together, each will protect himself and shield his companion.”

Facing Mortality #

Marcus Aurelius frequently reflects on facing death with dignity. Similarly, when Enkidu says “Would my friend rather stay behind?”, Gilgamesh responds with Stoic-like resolve about confronting their fears and accepting potential death for a worthy cause.  

Mutual Accountability #

Marcus writes about the importance of friends holding each other accountable to their principles. Enkidu reminds Gilgamesh of his “boasts in Uruk” to hold him to his declared values.

Shared Purpose #

Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations and the Epic emphasize how shared noble purpose strengthens resolve. Gilgamesh says to Enkidu:

Let your courage be roused by the battle to come; forget death and follow me.

Enchiridion parallels when Gilgamesh and Enkidu prepare to face Humbaba

This again is interesting considering that the Enchiridion was written in the early 2nd century AD, and the Epic of Gilgamesh was written between 1600 and 1150 BCE. 

Facing Fear #

Gilgamesh

If your heart is fearful throw away fear; if there is terror in it throw away terror. Take your axe in your hand and attack. He who leaves the fight unfinished is not at peace.

Enchiridion discusses facing what appears terrible without letting fear control your actions.

Glory Through Action #

Gilgamesh

Then if I fall, I leave behind me a name that endures.

Enchiridion discusses how a noble person should approach challenges and maintain dignity regardless of outcome.

Ishtar and Gilgamesh, and the Death of Enkidu #

Ishtar Proclaims her Love of Gilgamesh #

Gilgamesh rejects Ishtar, listing her previous lovers as failures. (Slut shaming her. Lol what about all the rape of  his taking all women)

No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all; yet the king should be a shepherd to his people. His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble; yet this is the shepherd of the city, wise, comely, and resolute.

His Rejection #

Your lovers have found you like a brazier which smoulders in the cold, a backdoor which keeps out neither squall of wind nor storm, a castle which crushes the garrison, pitch that blackens the bearer…

Ishtar goes to her father Anu to request the Bull of Heaven after Gilgamesh rejects her romantic advances.

My father, give me the Bull of Heaven to destroy Gilgamesh. Fill Gilgamesh, I say, with arrogance to his destruction; but if you refuse to give me the Bull of Heaven I will break in the doors of hell and smash the bolts; there will be confusion of people, those above with those from the lower depths. I shall bring up the dead to eat food like the living; and the hosts of dead will outnumber the living.

Enkidu and Gilgamesh kill the bull of Heaven, angering the Gods.  Enkidu pays that price and becomes ill.

O my brother, so dear as you are to me, brother, yet they will take me from you. Again he said, “I must sit down on the threshold of the dead and never again will I see my dear brother with my eyes.”

My friend, the great goddess cursed me and I must die in shame. I shall not die like a man fallen in battle; I feared to fall, but happy is the man who falls in the battle, for I must die in shame.

Enkidu has very strong emotions about his declining health. He curses the trapper and gate and the harlot as well.

The Gate Curse #

You there, wood of the gate, dull and insensible, witless, I searched for you over twenty leagues until I saw the towering cedar. There is no wood like you in our land. Seventy-two cubits high and twenty-four wide, the pivot and the ferrule and the jambs are perfect. A master craftsman from Nippur has made you; but O, if I had known the conclusion! If I had known that this was all the good that would come of it, I would have raised the axe and split you into little pieces and set up here a gate of wattle instead.

The Trapper Curse #

Sun God, I beseech you, about that vile Trapper, that Trapper of nothing because of whom I was to catch less than my comrade; let him catch least, make his game scarce, make him feeble, taking the smaller of every share, let his quarry escape from his nets.

“O my brother, so dear as you are to me, brother, yet they will take me from you.” Again he said, “I must sit down on the threshold of the dead and never again will I see my dear brother with my eyes.”

The Harlot Curse #

As for you, woman, with a great curse I curse you! I will promise you a destiny to all eternity. My curse shall come on you soon and sudden. You shall be without a roof for your commerce, for you shall not keep house with other girls in the tavern, but do your business in places fouled by the vomit of the drunkard. Your hire will be potter’s earth, your thievings will be flung into the hovel, you will sit at the cross-roads in the dust of the potter’s quarter, you will make your bed on the dunghill at night, and by day take your stand in the wall’s shadow. Brambles and thorns will tear your feet, the drunk and the dry will strike your cheek and your mouth will ache. Let you be stripped of your purple dyes, for I too once in the wilderness with my wife had all the treasure I wished.

Enkidu does not fully accept his death. There is no Stoicism with him.  He finds a small glips of Stoic when Shamash scolds him for cursing the harlot.

When Enkidu heard glorious Shamash his angry heart grew quiet, he called back the curse and said, “Woman, I promise you another destiny. The mouth which cursed you shall bless you! Kings, princes and nobles shall adore you…”

However, he remains fearful of his mortality saying to Gilgamesh in his final words that he “die in shame” rather than gloriously in battle.

The Search for Everlasting Life #

Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality becomes a journey that reveals how he stands in his own way by his flaws and limitations. He does not achieve immortality but finds meaning in leaving behind achievements and wisdom for future generations.  Utnapishtim’s teaching is that life is temporary and nothing lasts forever. Only true legacy comes from how one lives.

Gilgamesh rejects Siduri’s wisdom:

Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking… As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things; day and night, dance and be merry.

Gilgamesh ignores this and demands directions from Utnapishtim.

Failed Sleep Test #

But while Gilgamesh sat there resting on his haunches, a mist of sleep like soft wool teased from the fleece drifted over him.

He sleeps for 6 days, proven by the loaves of bread: “Count these loaves and learn how many days you slept.”

Lost Youth #

Gilgamesh saw a well of cool water and he went down and bathed; but deep in the pool there was lying a serpent, and the serpent sensed the sweetness of the flower. It rose out of the water and snatched it away.

The serpent stealing the plant after Gilgamesh stops to bathe is the culminating moment when his own actions prevent him from achieving immortality.

Parallels with the Enchiridion #

With regard to whatever objects give you delight, are useful, or are deeply loved, remember to tell yourself of what general nature they are… If you embrace your child, remember that they are mortal.

Gilgamesh

When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping.

Focus on What We Can Control #

Some things are in our control and others not.
—Enchiridion

Gilgamesh learns this through failed attempts to control death, ultimately accepting his mortal nature and focusing on what he can achieve in life

Letting Go of Desires #

Don’t demand that things happen as you wish
—Enchiridion

Gilgamesh’s journey from demanding immortality to accepting his fate:

This, too, was the work of Gilgamesh, the king, who knew the countries of the world. He was wise.

The parallels between the Epic and the Enchiridion show that wisdom comes from accepting natural limitations rather than fighting against them.

Parallels with The Bible: Story of the Flood #

Divine Decision #

• Gilgamesh: Gods decide to destroy mankind due to their clamor/noise

• Noah: God decides to destroy mankind due to their wickedness

Warning and Instructions #

• Gilgamesh: Ea warns Utnapishtim to build a boat and provides specific design instructions

• Noah: God warns Noah to build an ark and gives detailed specifications

Boat Construction #

• Both stories include detailed measurements and construction methods

• Both vessels are coated with pitch/bitumen

Survival Mission #

• Both are tasked with preserving animal and human life

• Both bring family members and “seed of all living creatures”

The Flood #

• Both describe a catastrophic flood that destroys all other human life

• Both mention the waters coming from above and below

Bird Reconnaissance #

• Gilgamesh: Utnapishtim releases a dove, swallow, and raven

• Noah: Releases raven and dove

Mountain Landing #

• Gilgamesh: Boat lands on Mount Nisir

• Noah: Ark rests on Mountains of Ararat

Divine Resolution #

• Gilgamesh: Gods reflect on their actions and Enlil blesses Utnapishtim

• Noah: God promises never to flood the earth again, blesses Noah

Aftermath #

• Both offer sacrifices after the flood

• Both receive divine blessings

Similarities of a shared cultural memory of a great flood in ancient Mesopotamia. However, Gilgamesh version precedes the Biblical.

Conclusions of the Epic Of Gilgamesh #

The Story starts out having anti-Stoic elements.

Emotional Excess #

• Gilgamesh’s extreme grief over Enkidu contradicts Stoic emotional restraint.

• His rage and impulsive actions against Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven The dramatic displays of mourning

Rejection of Fate #

• Gilgamesh’s refusal to accept mortality

• His quest to defy the natural order

• Struggling against divine will

Gilgamesh’s journey from anti-Stoic behavior to a more Stoic acceptance suggests personal growth through hardship.

Acceptance of Mortality #

• Finding meaning in duty (returning to rule Uruk)
• Recognition of natural limits