Epic of Gilgamesh Characters
Meet the characters of the Epic of Gilgamesh: Gilgamesh, the tyrant king of Uruk; Enkidu, the wild man made from clay; Shamhat, who leads him into the human world; and the gods who set the story in motion. Each profile follows the original ancient text and explains who they are in plain language.
All characters6
Gilgamesh
The two-thirds-divine king of Uruk
Gilgamesh is the king of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Uruk and the hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest works of literature in the world. His mother is…
Appears in 2 episodes: Episode 1, Episode 2Enkidu
The wild man made from clay
Enkidu is the second hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, a wild man created from clay by the goddess Aruru. His whole body is covered in hair, and he lives in the wilderness…
Appears in 2 episodes: Episode 1, Episode 2Shamhat
The woman who made Enkidu human
Shamhat is a temple woman in the service of Ishtar, the goddess of Uruk, who leads Enkidu out of his life among the animals and into the human world.
Appears in 1 episode: Episode 2Ninsun
Gilgamesh's wise goddess mother
Ninsun is a goddess and the mother of Gilgamesh. Known as the "Wild Cow" goddess, she is portrayed as wise and all-knowing. Her husband is said to be Lugalbanda, a king…
Appears in 1 episode: Episode 2Aruru
Mother goddess who created humankind
Aruru is a mother goddess in Mesopotamian mythology, credited with creating human beings. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, she is the goddess who brings Enkidu into existence.
Appears in 2 episodes: Episode 1, Episode 2Anu
Supreme sky god, father of the gods
Anu is the sky god of Mesopotamian mythology, the supreme god regarded as the father of the gods. In Sumerian he is called An, a name that means "heaven." He was…
Appears in 2 episodes: Episode 1, Episode 2