Who Is Ekindu

Who is Enkidu?

The demigod Gilgamesh, of Uruk, is portrayed as the great creator of the city and as the terrible and savage protector of it's inhabitants. The text says that "there was no withstanding the aura or power of [Gilgamesh]." The people of Uruk are painted as being scared of him, yet being unable to leave the city for various reasons. Therefore, they pray to Aruru, asking her to create another being of power that is equal to that of Gilgamesh's so that they may contend with each other and let the people of Uruk live in peace. Aruru heeds the call of the people and creates one to neutralize the "stormy heart" of Gilgamesh in the form of the hairy man, Enkindu by taking some earth clay and moistening it her her divine spirit. From the very outset of his creation, Enkidu seems to be the opposite of everything that Gilgamesh stands for. He is described as the "wild man of the grasslands" which is already a direct contrast to Gilgamesh, who, despite being called the "wild one," is the creator of a great city. Furthermore, the text depicts Enkidu as one with the gazelles and woodland creatures. He ranges the hills with them and joins them at the watering hole for drinking. Gilgamesh, on the other hand, is a being who has a need to overpower and be in control of those around him. This is evidenced by the fact that the citizens of his city are afraid of him and that he holds the right of the first night, among other things. Also unlike Gilgamesh, Enkidu is delighted by the simple things, such as water, whereas Gilgamesh will not be fully content with anything but immortality. And finally, Enkidu is painted as a kind-hearted individual; one that unset traps, filled pits, and allowed the creatures of the grasslands to escape the hunter. As one can see, everything about Enkidu, at least in its original form, seems to be from the opposite end of the spectrum as that of Gilgamesh's savage and overpowering personality and spirit so that it may have neutralized...