Shamhat and Siduri Essay - 584 Words

Shamhat was the priestess of Ishtar, the great goddess of love and war. She was hired by Gilgamesh to tame Enkidu as Enkidu was not civilized in any way and had come to be Gilgameshs soul brother and companion. Shamhat was a hierodule and was asked to seduce Enkidu and use her charming ways to make a man out of Enkidu, the animal like. Shamhat, being a hierodule, is a woman dedicated to Priesthood and God. Hence, she would only deal with the godly. She was allocated the task of making Enkidu aware of the human nature and lifestyle, which was different from the animal world that he was coming from. Shamhat had tactically and implicitly understood the path that she would have to take towards the betterment of Enkidu. She revealed to him†¦show more content†¦Gilgamesh was devastated by Enkidus death. The immense grief and excruciating pain and also fear for death, that it caused to him had made him eager to seek immortality. Gilgamesh met Siduri in a very delicate state of mind . He had just witnessed the death of his soul brother and only friend. Life had brought him to a stage where he could gain some humanity and get rid of his selfish, arrogant attitude. He met Siduri by coincidence. Siduri came as a gift, which made him familiar with the simple ways of leading life. Her small words meant a lot that taught a lot about life. Gilgamesh was an arrogant ruler with no humanly feelings of love and compassion. Having lost Enkidu, his only friend, had stirred mixed feeling in his soul. On the one hand he felt grieved about Enkidus death but on the other hand he was going against the rule of nature. The fear for death made him feel that he was strong and powerful. So he would not want to die ever. And so he set out in search of Utnapishtim. Siduri tried to put light on him important aspects of life in that human life is ordained by God and that humans do not have a control over their own lives. She says to himquot; Remember always, mighty king, that Gods decree d the fates of all many years ago. They alone are to be eternal, while we frail humans die as you yourself must someday too.quot; (Gilgamesh, tablet 10, column 3, lines88-91, p.51) She explainsShow MoreRelatedThe Poem Epic Of Gilgamesh 891 Words   |  4 Pagesoccasions evidence their equality and sometimes superiority to man. Take Shamhat for instance, she was a beautiful temple priestess, who was used to seduce the beast Enkidu, with her beauty and charm. So Gilgamesh replied: Go set a trap; take back with you a fine lover, Shamhat, the sacred temple priestess who might let him see what charm and force a woman has. (The Epic of Gilgamesh I p. 7) Gilgamesh summoned Shamhat to seduce the beast Enkidu knowing that if she showeredEnkidu with her loinsRead More The Role of Women in The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay799 Words   |  4 Pagesboundaries are set by the harlot Shamhat, Ishtar, Siduri, the tavern keeper, Ninsun and Utanapishtims wife. By giving women this role of wisdom and boundary enforcement, The Epic of Gilgamesh reflects how Mesopotamian society actually valued women. The harlot, Shamhat, serves to establish the boundary between animals and humans. Enkidu, a creature on the border between animal and man is selected by the gods to balance out Gilgameshs power. Gilgamesh summons Shamhat to civilize Enkidu after a hunterRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 979 Words   |  4 Pagesis Shamhat. Shamhat is a prostitute of the temple of Ishtar. Even though she is only briefly in the epic she has a lot of influence on Enkidu. Enkidu was created in the image of Aruru to combat Gilgamesh’s arrogance. We first find him in the wilderness setting free animals that have been trapped by a hunter. The hunter eventually finds Enkidu at a watering place. He plots to tame Enkidu by venturing to Uruk and requesting Gilgamesh for aid. After speaking to Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh sends Shamhat toRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk2127 Words   |  8 Pagesthreat to the family unit and the community as they are the destroyers of peace and stability i n the society. However, this notion is reversed in the epic where the prostitute, Shamhat, is depicted as a wise woman who civilises Enkidu. In the epic, Shamhat act as the transmitter of civilisation. In order to civilise him, Shamhat has to tame his animalistic side. Hence, she has sexual intercourse with Enkidu. After the intercourse, when Enkidu saw the animals, â€Å"the wild beasts of the steppe shunned†Read MoreFemale Figures : The Epic Of Gilgamesh1863 Words   |  8 Pagescivilize: female figures instill into male figures new mentality and fresh understanding of their present lives; they also use their physical beauty to introduce heroes to sophisticated aspects of society, such as food, music, and fertility. While Siduri brings Gilgamesh back to life from his despondence after his severe grievance over his loss of Enkidu, Shamhat’s beauty and sophisticated sexualilty transformed Enkidu from his wilderness. Even though female figures employ different ways in orderRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : The Struggle For Women1183 Words   |  5 Pagesregardless of a variety of changes in rulers, religions, and time periods. The Epic of Gilgamesh might lead one to consider the roles of women small and insignificant compared to the man s role. In fact, throughout the epic tale, three women; Shamhat, Ishtar, and Siduri, were able to create and maintain a civilized Mesopotamian society using the uniqueness of their bodies, minds, and spirits. Even though Shamat does not have a large role in The Epic of Gilgamesh, she does shape how the story begins. ShamatRead MoreComparing The Epic Of Gilgamesh2123 Words   |  9 Pagesreality, the world could not possibly go round if it wasn t for the women and the minor, but crucial roles they play. Although the women in the Epic of Gilgamesh had minor roles, their roles were definitely important. The women, who are Aruru, Shamhat, Ninsun, Siduri, Ishtar, and the wife of Utnapishtim, represents not only great wisdom and power, but also temptation, which the men try no to fall victim to, and ruin. Just like the men in this epic, the women also have powers, of which the men were awareRead MoreThe Role Of Women In The Epic Of Gilgamesh1189 Words   |  5 Pagesimportant characters in this story. Without their wisdom and guidance, Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s journey would have ended a lot sooner, and Gilgamesh would have still rampaged in Uruk, never bringing peace to those who were be low him. Aruru, Shamhat, Ninsun, Ishtar, Siduri, and Utanapishtim’s wife all contribute to Gilgamesh’s journey, and in the end, provide Gilgamesh with the necessary tools in order to transform his character. These women in The Epic of Gilgamesh are essential to the plot, and provideRead MoreComparing Gilgamesh And Candid1225 Words   |  5 PagesEnkidu a man formed from clay and the saliva of Aruru, Goddess of creation. Enkidu was initially made to rid Gilgamesh of his arrogance and restore the city. He was raised by wild animals and very ignorant of human society until he was introduced to Shamhat, a sacred prostitute who humanized Enkidu. Shamhate also introduced Enkidu into civilization. Upon meeting the first time Gilgamesh Enkidu were far from smitten, they were destined to fight. So, that is what they did. It was not until after the fightRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh Essay991 Words   |  4 Pagesguarded by two scorpion like creature that had no intentions of permitting Gilgamesh to pass through the tunnel that lead to the other side, but his passion persuaded them to. After traveling for hours in the darkness he emerges and proceeds to meet Siduri, the tavern keeper, who tells him that his desire for immorality is futile, but seeing how determined he was to reach Utnapishtim, the only immortal man. He then advances to Urshanabi, the ferryman, who takes Gilgamesh to Utnapishtim, but not after