The Epic of Gilgamesh Characters

A goddess of fertility and creation. Aruru creates Enkidu out of water and clay.

The Trapper lives a simple life trying to capture wild animals. After finding that Enkidu has been destroying his traps, he is intrigued by such a strong and wild man.

The trapper’s father provides the Trapper with advice. He seems to understand the true relationship between civilization and nature, explaining that once Enkidu sleeps with Shamhat, the wild animals will reject Enkidu.

Shamhat is a temple prostitute. By sleeping with Enkidu, she begins the process of bringing him into civilization.

Ninsun is a goddess and Gilgamesh’s mother. She helps her son and Enkidu on their quest by praying to Shamash.

Humbaba is an ogre-like giant assigned by Enlil to guard the Cedar Forest. Once defeated by Enkidu and Gilgamesh, Humbaba begs for his life and offers to serve them, but they kill Humbaba anyway.

Anu is the lord of the gods, and a god of the sky and heavens. He is more sensible than his daughter Ishtar, who asks him to release the Bull of Heaven, but he gives in when she threatens him.

Shamash, the sun god, is a major alley on Gilgamesh’s quest. Gilgamesh and Enkidu often pay him homage, and he appears generally as a benevolent deity.

Siduri lives in the Garden of the Gods. She is a deity, and produces ale that is sold in the underworld. Wary of Gilgamesh’s quest, she cautions him not to try to cross the sea to meet Utnapishtim.

Urshanabi is the ferryman who takes Gilgamesh across the sea to visit Utnapishtim. For bringing Gilgamesh there, Utnapishtim banishes Urshanabi permanently from his land.

Along with her husband, Utnapishtim’s wife survived the flood and was granted immortality. More helpful and generous than her husband, she tells Gilgamesh about the plant that restores youth growing from the bottom of the sea.