Sumeria: Gilgamesh. Half man, half god.

Gilgamesh was an ancient Sumerian king of Uruk, a powerful city-state in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), and the central character of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest known piece of epic literature in human history. The earliest versions of the story date back to around 2100 BCE, although the final, most complete version was recorded in Akkadian on clay tablets around the 12th century BCE. While there is evidence suggesting Gilgamesh may have been a real king who ruled sometime around 2700 BCE, his legend became deeply mythologized, blending historical elements with divine and fantastical themes.

In the epic, Gilgamesh is described as two-thirds god and one-third human, a giant in strength and stature, unmatched in power. He begins as a proud and oppressive ruler, abusing his people and invoking their cries to the gods for intervention. In response, the gods create Enkidu, a wild man of the steppes, to challenge Gilgamesh. After a fierce fight, the two become close companions, symbolizing the taming of nature and the power of human friendship. Together, they undertake dangerous adventures, including slaying the monster Humbaba in the Cedar Forest and killing the Bull of Heaven sent by the goddess Ishtar after Gilgamesh rejects her advances.

The death of Enkidu marks a turning point in the story. Gilgamesh, devastated by the loss, becomes obsessed with the question of mortality. For the first time, he understands that even someone as powerful as he must eventually die. This fear drives him to seek out Utnapishtim, a man granted immortality by the gods after surviving a great flood—a tale that bears a striking resemblance to the Biblical story of Noah. Gilgamesh travels through mountains, deserts, and dangerous realms, facing scorpion men, sleep tests, and hopeless tasks, only to find that the secret of eternal life is out of reach. Even when he obtains a plant that can restore youth, it is stolen by a snake while he bathes.

In the end, Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with a deeper understanding of life. He accepts his human fate and takes pride in the great walls of his city, a symbol of civilization and his lasting legacy. The epic concludes not with immortality of the body, but with immortality of memory and achievement.

The story of Gilgamesh explores timeless human concerns: the meaning of life, the inevitability of death, the power of friendship, and the search for wisdom. It reflects the values and beliefs of early Mesopotamian society, where gods intervened in human affairs, nature posed constant threats, and rulers struggled with their responsibilities. Gilgamesh’s transformation from a tyrant to a wise and humble leader makes him not only one of the first literary heroes in recorded history, but also one of the most enduring. Through his journey, the epic expresses a fundamental truth: though we cannot escape death, we can live meaningfully, love deeply, and be remembered for what we build and who we become.