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Gender Roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a myth with various characters that embody the concepts of gender roles in several ways. The roles of male characters vary from that of female characters and both have positive and negative undertones. An example of the positive male gender influence is the way that Gilgamesh is looked up to by his men on the battlefield, “He was superior to other kings, a warrior lord of great stature… He marches at the front as a leader, he goes behind, the support of is brothers, a strong net, the protection of his men… Son of Lugalbanda, Gilgamesh, perfect in strength, son of the lofty cow, the wild cow Ninsun. He is Gilgamesh, perfect in splendor, who opened up passes in the mountains, who could dig pits even in the mountainside… (Coogan, pg. 40).” Gilgamesh was a powerful king in Sumeria. In this myth itself, Gilgamesh displays various qualities that are both good and bad.

The gender roles of males also show aggressive acts. Gilgamesh also took advantage of his power while he was king in Sumeria. “Gilgamesh would not leave any son alone for his father. Day and night his behavior was overbearing. He was shepherd. He was their shepherd. Powerful, superb, [knowledgeable and expert], Gilgamesh would not leave [young girls alone], The daughters of warriors, the brides of young men. The gods often heard their complaints. The gods of heaven, the lord of Uruk (Dalley, pg. 52).” Gilgamesh’s soldiers in his army and their families understood that Gilgamesh was king by the way that he used his authority among his people.

Many of the people that lived under Gilgamesh’s realm wanted some sort of change. “Did [Aruru(?)] create such a rampant wild bull? Is there no rival? At the pukku His weapons rise up, his comrades have to rise up. Gilgamesh will not leave any son alone for his father (Dalley, pg. 52).” Along with the change, many of his subjects wanted action to take place to tame him for his ways. “Anu often hears their complaints. They called upon the great Aruru: ‘You Aruru, you created [mankind(?)]! Now create someone for him, to match (?) the ardour (?) of his energies! Let them be regular rivals, and let Uruk be allowed peace (Dalley, pg. 52)!”

When Gilgamesh’s citizens request for peace, Aruru, who was known as the fertility goddess in Mesopotamia, created Enkidu to counteract Gilgamesh’s actions. “She created a [primitive man], Enkidu the warrior: offspring of silence (?), sky-bolt of Ninurta. His whole body was shaggy with hair, he was furnished with tresses like a woman, his locks grew luxuriant like grain. He knew neither people nor country; he was dressed as cattle are (Dalley, pg. 53).” Aruru creates life and displays it through her various creations with one of them being Enkidu himself (Harris, R., & NetLibrary, Inc. (2000). Gender and aging in Mesopotamia : The Gilgamesh epic and other ancient literature. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.).” Enkidu was created to rival Gilgamesh, Enkidu didn’t know anything and was uncivilized in terms that were used to measure Sumerian citizens.

Gilgamesh decides that he want to actually tame Enkidu, Gilgamesh then hires a prostitute to make Enkidu civilized. “And he, Enkidu, whose origin is the mountain, who eats vegetation with gazelles, drinks at the watering place with cattle, satisfied his need for water with wild beasts. Shamat looked at the primitive man, the murderous youth from the depths of open country. ‘Here he is, Shamhat, bare your bosom, open your legs and let him take in your attractions! Do not pull away, take wind of him! He will see you and come close to you. Spread open your garments, and let him lie upon you, do for him, the primitive man, as women do (Coogan, pg. 41).” The use of seduction by the prostitute is what is able to eventually turn Enkidu into a civilized human being.

The gender roles of how women are viewed are different than that of men in the Epic of Gilgamesh. An example of this would be how the prostitute is hired by Gilgamesh in order to tame Enkidu. “‘Go hunter, lead forth the harlot Shamhat, And when he approaches the cattle at the watering place, She must take off her clothes to reveal her attractions. He will see her and go close to her. Then his cattle, who have grown up in open country with him, will become alien to him.’ The hunter went, he led forth the harlot Shamhat with him… (Dalley, pg. 55).” Gilgamesh and the farmer both understand that this is one of the easiest ways to turn a wild beast into a man.

Shamhat is the prostitute that seduces Enkidu but is important in terms of gender roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Shamhat represents women that are from a lower class that were often trying to do the best they could with what was around them. “The prostitute Shamhat is an intriguing woman. She and Siduri, the tavernkeeper, are working women that support themselves. Shamhat belongs to a class with low low repute in society. Siduri is associated with a place of low repute. And Ishtar, not incidentally, is associated with both, as she is in the following hymnic passage: ‘When I sit at the entrance of the tavern, I am a loving prostitute (Harris, R., & NetLibrary, Inc. (2000). Gender and aging in Mesopotamia : The Gilgamesh epic and other ancient literature. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. Pg 121, 122).” Women had different experiences than that of men, this changed their outlook on life and how they essentially viewed it.