Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh was a legendary hero of ancient Mesopotamia and the main character of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of humanity's earliest surviving works of great literature. He may have been a historical king of Uruk who ruled during the Early Dynastic Period (c. 2900-2350 BC) and was later deified, becoming a major figure in Sumerian legend during the Third Dynasty of Ur.

The earliest tales of Gilgamesh appear in five Sumerian poems. These stories describe his adventures with his companion Enkidu, including helping the goddess Inanna by clearing creatures from her sacred tree, rebelling against King Aga of Kish, defeating the giant Huwawa, and slaying the Bull of Heaven. One poem also recounts Enkidu's ghost describing the grim realities of the Underworld to Gilgamesh.

These separate tales were later woven into the Epic of Gilgamesh by the scribe Sîn-lēqi-unninni during the Middle Babylonian Period. In this version, Gilgamesh is portrayed as a demigod of extraordinary strength who forms a deep friendship with the wild man Enkidu. After many adventures together, Enkidu's death forces Gilgamesh to confront his own mortality. His quest for immortality leads him to Utnapishtim, survivor of the Great Flood, but ultimately Gilgamesh must accept that eternal life is beyond his reach.

The epic was rediscovered in 1849 in the Library of Ashurbanipal. Its translation in the 1870s sparked controversy due to parallels with Biblical narratives. While Gilgamesh remained relatively unknown until the mid-20th century, he has since become an important figure in modern cultural references. Greek writer Aelian also preserved a fascinating tale of Gilgamesh's birth, describing how he survived being thrown from a tower thanks to an eagle's intervention, after his grandfather had tried to prevent his prophesied birth.